Only 17 more episodes to go until we hit the magic 100 mark! We think its safe to say that podcasts are finally catching on in South Africa, and if you’re like Trevor van de Ven, who uses public transport these days, what better way to make time go by faster on this bus and train rides?

Christo van Gemert joined BMW for its annual Innovations Day at its Munich headquarters. Yes, in Germany. He gives us the inside scoop on BMW’s planned electric car – known as the MegaCity Vehicle – as well as the other advanced technologies ze Germans are working on. We also say good bye to some iconic cars and welcome some new one – who said the patrol engine is dead?

Awesome little car except it doesn't sound like a Ducati

Episode 83 hi-fi download (29MB)
Episode 83 lo-fi download (16MB)

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Show notes and links after the jump.

The brand we love to hate here in SA, Fiat, launches its 500 Twinair: a 900cc two-cylinder turbo engine. Will we see it in South Africa? It’s unlikely, but the technology is fabulous and makes the TwinAir one of the most efficient cars on the road today, bar those electric goodies. [via: AutoExpress]

Clever little car; clever little engine

We’ve seen this shape before from Alfa Romeo, with its 156 and 159 Sportwagons. Now Volvo presents its V60 Sports Wagon: a bit more sports but too little wagon [via: Volvo]

Sexy. Trevor van de Ven is in love - Swedish and a wagon!

Bugatti Veyron SuperSport sets a new world record for production cars – 430-odd km/h. Madness. [via Bugatti and TopSpeed]

Mercedes launches a face lift to its CL model complete with LED daytime running lights [via Motor Trend]

BMW M5 production ended. We bid a legend goodbye.

Christo attended the BMW Innovations Day in Munich. Listen to the podcast to get the lowdown on all of the new tech from BMW. Join the ZA Car Facebook fan page, for a gallery of pics from the BMW museum!

Things have not been going Italy’s way recently. While the Azzuri in South Africa were out drowning their sorrows after dropping out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Italians had at least one thing to celebrate: Alfa Romeo’s Centenary.

With one soldier down – Trevor Tuck couldn’t join us, thanks to the football loss and Alfa celebration – Christo, Patrick and Trevor (van de Ven) discuss a special edition Ford Focus RS, a European sell-out success and a couple of local models.

The team also debates the cars that made the difference to the motoring world in 1981.

Very pretty Fords. You can do it yourself for much less though.

Episode 81 hi-fi download (28MB)
Episode 81 lo-fi download (16MB)

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Show notes and links after the jump.

On 24 June 2010, Alfa Romeo celebrated its 100th birthday. Trevor Tuck celebrated so much, he could not make it to ZACS for this recording. The loss of the Italian team in the FIFA World Cup 2010 might have something to do with his absence, too.

Audi cannot keep up with demand in Europe. We hope the Audi A1 comes to SA soon, so we can see what all the hype is about.

To pay homage to a Le Mans racer you can do two things. Develop a road going version of the race car – which a lot of manufacturers have done in the past – or, like Ford did most recently, put together a sticker pack for the Focus RS, and call it a limited edition. [via: Insideline]

Engine of the Year awards – every good engine is in here. Best Engines in various capacities: A few BMWs. Best New Engine: an Alfa. Best Performance Engine: an AMG.

Opel’s Corsa 1.4 variants excluding the Essentia, get a new engine and some suspension tweaks to improve, consumption and emissions while raising the power ever so slightly.

Suzuki’s Swift Sport is to Suzuki what the RenaultSport Twingo is Renault. Small, compact and huge amounts of fun in the spirit of the traditional hot-hatch. After nearly two years of promises, South Africa finally gets it.  [via: Suzuki]

Not quite a fizzled out electric storm, GM has refreshed the Spark lineup and brought forth the Spark Lite – a revision of the current Spark. It has done this in anticipation of the new Spark which South Africans will get soon. Another car to hot up the entry-level segment. [via Chevrolet]

The New Spark

The team is down to two people this week, with Christo watching some Afrikaans rap star while Tuck works on a race car for the weekend of historics (or is that hysterics?) racing. Patrick Gearing and Trevor van de Ven, man the mics and mixing desk to bring you the one of the leanest ZACS episodes in a long time.

In this episode we talk about the South African launch of the Alfa MiTo MultiAir-engined models as well as the introduction of a new roadster from Nissan, the 370Z. Most notably, however is the review by Trevor on the Hyundai i30, a car which can [and should] change the motoring landscape of South Africa.

Episode 71 hi-fi download (28MB)
Episode 71 lo-fi download (16MB)

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Show notes and links after the jump.

New Jeep Grand Cherokee breaks cover in the US [link to the US microsite]

South Africa sees the introduction of the Nissan 370Z Convertible

Local launch: Alfa Mito Quadrifoglio Verde and Multiair [via: Times Live]

Spot the difference, er yes, the press car didn't have any options so you can't.

Driven: Hyundai i30

Pretty, but a bit bland

The design is distinctly European

So cushy in here, it's like being in bed

In 1975 Mercedes Benz released a huge stonking engine that placed it at the forefront of quick, fast luxury-barges. It was incidentally the same year that Volkswagen unleashed the GTi on the world. Both were revolutionary cars for their own reasons and changed the motoring landscape for years to come. What is your car for 1975, what changed the face of motoring in your opinion? Listen to Episode 75 for the team’s views, along with those of Drive Magazine’s editor, Russell Bennett.

Cars have certainly moved on, and in this show we discuss a new project by Ford of America where its little [for the USA] Fiesta is tweeting and staying connected to social media all on its own. It’s very cool, so if you are a Twitter user, go to AJtheFiesta and follow his updates on a trip to the West Coast .

This week, together with Drive Magazine, we also review the saviour of the Gulf states, the Range Rover Vogue Supercharged V8.

One great car; perhaps the downfall of the ozone layer?

We also discuss Alfa’s new model choice, a fast BMW, fast Porsche, expensive rust and ugly off-roader.

Episode 75 hi-fi download (28MB)
Episode 75 lo-fi download (16MB)

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Show notes and links after the jump.

AJ The Ford Fiesta plots his own updates on a trip across the United States – AJ is the most connected car in the world at the moment [via Autoblog]

Quite the opposite is the announcement that BMW has introduced the M3-GTS – 440lbs lighter, 4.4l V8 producing, 444HP – there’s a whole lot of 4′s in this.

Very Orange, Very Fast.

This week also sees the most expensive car in the world sold, the Bugatti  Type 57SC Altantic – At between US$30M and US$40 Million it’s still cheaper than that piece of art which was recently sold for US [via: Autoblog]

The most expensive car ever sold

Alfa Romeo announces another sexy model this time with legs, arms hair and er…well we’ll leave it at that. The company has announced that Uma Thurman will be the brand ambassador for its Giulietta [via Eurocarblog]

Two sexy behinds

Driven: Range Rover Vogue Supercharged V8

Range Rover Instruments

Nothing seems to be going right for Toyota

On the local front SA sees an upswing in new car sales at the beginning of 2010, VW fans get a new power plant in the popular Scirocco while we welcome some new Frenchies to the Peugoet stable.

Direct file download (27MB)

News links and show notes after the jump

Toyota’s massive recall. How will it affect the brand. No link, just Google: Toyota.

Kia Sportage to be unveiled at Geneva [via The Telegraph]

Dodgy Wheels, but other wise a handsome looking SUV/SAV/?

Bertone Alfa Coupe Teaser [via: Car Body Design]

It will probably look far less dramatic--a restyled Brera perhaps?

After a lengthy break Jaguar returns to Lemans [via: Autoblog]

A return of a legend.

NAAMSA Sales Figures

VW Scirocco get’s the new Golf VI 155Kw eingine [via Motoring.co.za ]

Lexus GS Update [via Motoring.co.za]

Spot the difference and win a prize...

SA sees the new Peugeot 3008 [via: Peugeot]

Patrick has a point...listen to find out

Links, pictures and more after the jump.

Direct file download (26MB)

Driven: BMW Z4

Driven: Hyundai H1

Driven: Audi S4

The ZA Car Show – Cars of the year

Show notes and links to news after the jump

Direct file download (18MB)

South African Guild of Motoring Car Of the Year 2009

Alfa Romeo Giulietta [via: World Car Fans]

Italian Beauty

Sexy Behind

VW Amorok [via: Autoblog]

Whichever way you say it: "I'm a rock" is going to be the next best thing for the general population of Boksburg, Bellville and Brakpan

Mercedes Benz C63 Edition

M Class Sports Pack

If road rage is a problem, listen to this interview with Carmen Du Preez from Rager an SMS based anger management service.

This week is no different, while lean on news from both local and international shores, is still filled with humour and opinion thanks to the ZA Car Show Challenge to purchase a car for R350 000. Without discussing it beforehand we’ve still managed to be more inconsistent than Jenson Button’s winning streak.

For more news and show notes click “more”

Direct file download (25MB)

Land Rover confirms that the LRX concept will go into production [via: Jalopnik]

Toyota develops self regenerating paint.  Catch a parking lot scratch and all it requires is a little car wash and buff. Clever.  [Via: UberGizmo]

BMW announces the availability of its “Performance Pack” upgrade for the 135i and 335i

Driven: 2009 Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4 T-Jet

ZA Car Show Challenge: The average entry-level executive car costs around R350 000 these days. We have had a couple of them on test recently. What would you buy with R350 000 burning a hole in your pocket.

South Africa's first hypercar - Porsche-powered LeMans lookalike for the road

Italian design, American power, South African labour. The Perana name is revived and will be showcased at Geneva home of the United Nations - how apt.

Hello. What's this? Click 'More' to find out

Direct file download (21.1MB)

In this episode we discuss:

• A tribute to City Press motoring journalist, Steve Dlamini-Kabini, who passed away in a motorcycle accident
• Bridgestone Motorsportsman of the Year and Colin Watling Award
• South Africa’s super-cars
• Eastern Cape-built Perana Z-one Zagato
• Bloemfontein-built Barnard
• Alfa Romeo MITO GTA – serious power
• Renault launches its Sandero to local markets – the first locally produced Renault since the ’80s
• Audi Q5
• Test Driven: Honda Accord Tourer

Beautiful for just about any angle. The honda Accord Tourer is a seriously large car.

The Tourer and its brother, the Accord Sedan. The Tourer is far more handsome.

More modern and luxurious than the C-Class and 3-Series, plus its loaded to the hilt with technology as standard.

• and more…

Show notes

• North American International Auto Show 2009 – The Detroit Auto Show launches more models than ever before. More of the same is what it really was.
• Chrysler 200C EV
• Dodge Circuit ENVI – can you say Lotus
• Chrysler Voyager EV
• Jeep Wrangler EV
• Lexus HS250h
• VW Concept Bluesport
• And many more… for more news go here and here [thanks IOL Motoring and Road & Track]
• Alfa Romeo’s CEO resigns
• You bought the wrong car…what makes it wrong? This debate can carry on for pages, what do you think makes cars “right” or “wrong”?
• Test Driven: Hyundai i10 1.2 High-Spec
• Test Driven: Kia Pro_Ceed
• Win a TomTom One V4 GPS.