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As we wind down into the end of the year we start to get a little more festive, we mock Patrick about his new car a bit, give John a hard time and Trevor gets things wrong again.  The trio also bring you the latest from the Tokyo Auto Show, and reviews of Chevrolet Orlando 1.8 LS and Alfa Romeo 159 1750TBi.

The ZACS team agrees that most people could benefit from these types of cars rather than SUVs, but the rest of the market tends to disagree. It's a Passat with raised-ride-height, go anywhere looks and the comfort of a car. In a market that once featured the Audi Allroad Quattro and Volvo XC70, is VW crazy to suggest something like this even though it will be the better choice against an SUV. Click on the image to see a full gallery of the VW (you will be redirected away from the page. Alternatively right click and select "open in new tab")

in our opinion far more successful as a design execution than the BMW X6. VW's Cross Coupe Concept will likely become a reality and also shows of the changing corporate face that we're likely to see in future VW model facelifts. Click on the image to view a full gallery. (You will be redirected away from this page. Alternatively right click on the image and select 'open in new tab')

Trevor loves the Honda NBox. Yes, we know that it's just plain weird, but we;ve come to expect such lunacy from someone with his car history. What do you think? Click on the image to view a full gallery. (You will be redirected away from this page. Alternatively right click on the image and select 'open in new tab')

This is not a Toyota. It is not a Scion either. It is a Subaru, the new BRZ to be precise and you will notice that it has very little to differentiate itself from the other two. Time will tell whether the Scooby will get a turbo and four wheel drive in the future, leaving the other two in the current rea wheel drive, naturally aspirated guise.

Spot something different? Yes, it's the addition of two extra doors. And in this case it actually works at retaining the funky proportions of the A1. Click on the image to view a complete gallery of the A1 Sportback in various trim levels and in its exclusive Sportback colour, Samoa Orange.

Volvos with little blue Polestar stickers = not to be buggered around with.

Part crossover, part MPV. Click on the image to see the full gallery. Listen to the podcast for the full review.

A real beauty, this much we cannot deny. Even late on in its model-life this is a magnificent looking car that should outsell the BMW 320 and Merc C200. It won't, though, mainly because people think it will break, but probably won't. Ever. Click on the image to see a fully gallery of what you are missing out on if you dont consider a 159. Shame.

Episode 143 hi-fi download (18MB) 
Episode 143 lo-fi download (9MB)

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Too many dials, gauges and buttons can be distracting. The new Ford Focus and Renault Megane both suffer from this – buttons, button everywhere!. Sometimes… simplicity is the best. And that’s the theme for this week’s selection of wallpapers. Something plain and elegant, where the objects of our automotive desire are the main focus.

*All photos are property of their respective copyright holders. If you see a photo that is yours, please get in touch and we can credit you, or remove it from this posting.

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In ZACS 134, John, Patrick and Christo discuss the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show - each picking their personal highlights from the many awesome vehicle on display.

Christo backs Germany and picks three not quite road-legal cars; Patrick chooses three Italians; and John tips his hat to three English arrivals. To make sure all bases are covered, our intrepid trio also selected some “pity cars” – vehicles that are noteworthy, but didn’t quite fall into their “we want one now” criteria.

The Lambo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale. Click here for a gallery.

The Landy DC100 concept - a possible Defender replacement. Click for gallery.

The Ferrari-engined Maserati Kubang is a Jeep underneath. Click for a gallery!

After all that mega-horsepower excitement, they try cool down by reviewing the Volkswagen Passat. The consensus is that it’s not a bad car. But also not one you’ll remember having driven or owned. Listen to the show for all the details.

Episode 133 hi-fi download (20MB) 
Episode 133 lo-fi download (10MB)

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Since it’s getting a bit colder, here in Johannesburg (where all of the ZA Car Show team is based), we figured it only made sense to have a winter-themed Wallpaper Wednesday. And since snow is the most obvious visual component of winter, we’ve gone and selected a few of the web’s photographers’ finest snowy photos.

We’ve got it all: from rally cars drifting in the  white stuff, to yellow Volvos just parked on it. No doubt, this selection is bound to have a winter warmer that’ll make your desktop a bit more exciting.

Just click to enlarge, and drag the photo to your desktop to save it.

*All photos are property of their respective copyright holders. If you see a photo that is yours, please get in touch and we can credit you, or remove it from this posting.

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Trevor van de Ven is a turkey, in Turkey, this week, which means that Patrick Gearing and Christo van Gemert get to sit around and talk about fast cars that aren’t economical at all. They start their speed show at the Nürburgring, where there’s a 24-hour race being held (or rather, was being held – this past weekend). Toyota was there with a hybrid sports car and MINI entered a one of its recently-announced Coupés into the race.

In episode 121 we mentioned the Renaultsport Megane Trophy, a 195kW, rip-snorting hatchback that will only see 500 production units. Well, to prove its credentials, Renault took the car to the ‘Ring and gave it to a Frenchie to flog. He sure can pedal, though: he set a new FWD production car record of eight minutes and eight seconds. Check out the video below.

Citroen has said South Africa will get only ten DS3 Racing hot hatches. It’s got a 153kW and properly sorted suspension, but you’re gonna have to pay Scirocco R money – an eye-watering R400 000 – for one of these mad garlic grocery carts.

Staying on the topic of hatches, but maybe not as spicy: Lexus has confirmed the very green, very posh CT200h for local launch in August.

Audi’s also decided to go all-out on its luxury models. The A8 is now available in a long-wheelbase version, because it obviously was not big enough in the first place – keep an ear out for our road test, soon, as we have one on test at the moment.

The second Audi in the news is the all-new A6. It’s available in three models, a 3.0 TFSI quattro (225kW), a 3.0 TDI (150kW) and a 3.0 TDI quattro (180kW). Prices for the new A6 start at R520 000 – quite competitive when compared to the competing Mercedes and BMW models. It’s also a bit of a looker…

Finally, Patrick and Christo go wild and review the Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV – the fastest of the new Alfas. 173kW, good looks, competitive price and a bit of Alfa magic. Listen to the show to hear what they thought of it.

Episode 122 hi-fi download (20MB)
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Tips or suggestions for the ZA Car Video of the day? E-mail us, catch us on Twitter or leave a message on our Facebook page!

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It’s an insightful week in the ZACS studios with Patrick Gearing and Trevor van de Ven running the show. From some special one-off cars, the duo – well, maybe just Patrick – also give you a good history lesson in exotic cars and badging and also update on the recently launched Nissan Micra, Bentley Continental Supersports SSR, and  review the Honda CRV 2.4 Auto Executive.

In this episode the show covers:
Mercedes-Benz’s SLS Roadster [via: TopGear]

Roadsters - good for a bit of sailing too.

Lamborghini’s super-expensive supercar, the Siesto Elemento. There are only 20 and they will cost 20 million Euro a piece. [via Autoblog]

Very very pretty, but oh so very expensive.

Alfa Romeo TZ3 which ia built on a Dodge Viper platform – it was commissioned by a wealthy German collector. [via NetCarShow]

Not bad for a Dodge Viper

Trevor van de Ven gets very excited about the diesel Porsche Panamera [click for a link to the website for price and specs]

A huge car, but it looks better and better each time we see one. Click on the for a wallpaper gallery of the Porsche Panamera

The Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible ISR is one very fast, very bold and pimping Bentley which is…very un-Bentley-like.

Bentley meets Porsche in a back alley in Boksburg. Click on the image to be transported to a wallpaper portal of this car.

April South African sales figures for NAAMSA and TransUnion’s new and used car price inflation index.
ZACS Launch Drive: 2011 Nissan Micra (click for a link to the model page for detailed prices and specs)

For its price it is the only entirely new car in its class. Not a rebadged old model

ZACS Review: 2011 Honda CR-V 2.4 Executive Automatic

Episode 115 hi-fi download (24MB)
Episode 115 lo-fi download (12MB)

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It was probably one of the most exciting weeks in the past year, not only because the Geneva Auto Salon was on, but because it was so full of exciting cars. Something which has been rather rare for the past two years. We discuss some of the cars that will get loads of airtime and some of those that wont…

• Lamborghini Aventador
• Rolls-Royce 102EX – silent as… er… well… an electric car.
• Fiat 500 Zagato Coupe.
• Alfa Romeo 4C.
• Toyota FT86 – the long awaited return of the ‘fun’ Toyota.
• Nürburgring Edition Lexus LFA.
• Schnitzer Z4 – a powerful diesel coupe that emits less carbon dioxide than the car it shares an engine with while still being more powerful.
• Brabus Widestar G-Wagon. Lunacy in a 39 year old off-roader.

Episode 107 hi-fi download (19MB)
Episode 107 lo-fi download (9MB)

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We’re five episodes into the new year and still we’ve not found Trevor Tuck. He’s stuck on a racetrack or a garage trying to make an old Alfa go quicker. In any event, the show goes on and in this episode we discuss:

• McLaren MP4 12C and South Africa’s Greg Levine who’s heading up sales and marketing for this surefire sales winner.
• Fiesta Sport+ Do you think we need a quick Fiesta? [via: World Car Fans]
• New engines for Mercedes Benz E-class vehicle.
• The new Mercedes Benz C-Class coupe.
• Porsche announces its Panamera Hybrid – well more of a mild hybrid, and if you don’t know the difference between a mild hybrid and full hybrid then you need to listen to the show. Click here for a clever little Porsche Panamera Hybrid Microsite.
• New BMW M5 will possibly be automatic only – why autos are better than manual transmissions despite the purist view on manuals.
• ZA Car Show Review: Alfa Romeo Giulietta MultiAir 125kW.

Episode 105 hi-fi download (22MB)
Episode 105 lo-fi download (12MB)

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Considering the show has been around for a little over two years, you might not have picked up the first couple of episodes, so for the newer listeners we run over a little ZACS101. Find out more about the show, the format and the presenters. Episode 101 covers:

• ZA Car Show 101
• The motoring year ahead
• North American International Auto Show in Detroit
• Local launches over December 2010 and January 2011
• Now Models Launch Drive: Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Episode 101 hi-fi download (21MB)
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(Choc) 99 is the name of the ice cream with the Cadbury’s Flake in it, but it’s also the number for the last episode before ZA Car Show hits the ton. ZA Car Show has been around for a little over two years now, having kicked off in September 2008 and it has culminated into what we have here. There is a lot more in-store for you with ZA Car Show 101, which will launch in 2011 refreshed with a new website and huge amounts of insight into the industry, car reviews and awesome stories that are not just regurgitated press releases.

This episode though, we had the pleasure of hosting Marc Webb from Langston Motorsports the official importers of Akrapovic automotive exhausts in South Africa; provided our kidneys were not pickled, we’d certainly be happy to give one up for one of these titanium beauties.

The episode also covers the new BMW 6-series and the  new Lamborghini V12 engine…

Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta

… and finally Patrick and Christo review Ford’s mean, green and manic Focus RS. Is it worth the half-bar asking price?

Episode 99 hi-fi download (17MB)
Episode 99 lo-fi download (9MB)

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