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

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.

The final version of this is actually one of the prettiest Mercs in recent times

More show notes and additional news after the jump.

Direct file download (31.5MB)

Abarth 695 TributoFerrari

A normal 500 is a bit effeminate

... But we don't think that sexuality can be questioned in this 695 Ferrari Tributo

McLaren Supercar[via Wheels24]

Moving back to custom supercars, McLaren has severed ties with Merc to deliver this...

Mercedes-Benz SLS – First thought to be electric, it still has a stonking huge AMG V8 and lots of power. Good. [Via: Carblog]

Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio [via Pistonheads]

Driven: Golf  VI GTI

Spot the difference

It has the same outputs but at the heart of the car, VW's new 2.0 turbo powerplant

Driven: MINI JCW

This a feisty little terrier, also very impractical

NOTE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, sound quality of this recording may not be perfect. We experienced a glitch in our hardware and tried our best to salvage the recording.

In episode11 of ZA Car Show, the team of Christo van Gemert, Patrick Gearing, Trevor Tuck and Trevor van de Ven  (the hollow man) tackle another challenge, this time its executive family sedans for under R300 000.   The team also goes over some new car news for SA a lot of other chats about everything mooring related. 

Renault launches the Renault Koleos in South Africa, the only car to talk all about the interior without actually showing any images of the interior

Alfa reveals the 149 – a successor to the legendary 147

Mazda announces plans to develop a Renesis rotary engine that runs on hydrogen   

Listener challenge: What was the first production car in the world with a Wankel engine?  

ZACS Challenge: Family sedans for under R300 000 – once again, the results are surprising

Visiting the licensing departments in South Africa reveal a couple of other surprises

And more…

Direct file download (30,3MB)