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.

It’s been a while. We apologise. We’ve been working hard on rounding up more high quality hoonage from around the web, and the return of this regular feature sees us start off with a twist.

We’ve asked the folks from the Forza 4 thread, over at the Something Awful Forums, to let us have their best snaps from that game. The game looks great, and it has the option to output some high-resolution images (great for printing out, or using as your desktop wallpaper). So we asked some of the Forza photographers to give us their best, err, shots.

Now this is the part where you have to read carefully: we want you to vote for your favourite wallpaper in this week’s selection. Voting will close at 23h59 on the 30th of November. And we’ve arranged a nice, game-related prize for the winner. See? We do like giving back to the community that supports us.

So get with the downloading and voting, as you feast your eyes on these.

Cinque, by AK Gara

 High res download

Javelin, by biglads

High res download

512, by Cute as Heck

 High res download

DBR1, by Ether Frenzy

High res download

Coronet, by I said come in

Z, by Kilonum

 High res download

Pantera, by Sunday Punch

High res download

Modern? Classic? Does it really matter? Well, some would argue that the mid-90s gave us some of the worst American cars in the history of forever, so it kinda does matter. But if we look at the pony car revival of the 2000s, some nice cars have come out of it. The new Mustang is brilliant, the Camaro is – for lack of better words – shit hot, and even some struggling Chrysler’s offerings are pretty sweet.

Lest we forget, the classics are what these modern heroes owe their heritage to. The GT40, classic Vettes, and all those fat-tyred monsters are still sought after, and can easily shame their high-tech offspring on the quarter mile. So here’s a selection of both old and new, to celebrate displacement.

*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.

Sometimes the selection of colours from a manufacturer doesn’t quite cut it. If it’s not bland, it’s just not crazy enough. Since those who love cars see their vehicles as an expression of themselves, it only makes sense for them to be a little custom…

We’re not talking about “Fast and Furious” levels of insanity, here. Just a nice paintjob, or vinyl wrap for those who don’t have the balls to permanently drive around in a pink Bentley. Today’s selection of wallpapers shows off some of the eye-catching finishes on some exotics and a few limited-availability paint options on some other cars. What colour would you paint your car, given the chance? Sound off in the comments, on Twitter or join us for the discussion on Facebook.

*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.

Sometimes a car has to bare it all for us to see what really makes it so appealing. That machine under the bonnet (or bootlid, in Porsche’s case) can be responsible for stomach-churning acceleration, hair-raising wails and many joyous victories. And sometimes – just sometimes – they can also be pretty spectacular to behold.

So here’s to the internal combustion engine. May its many thousands of explosions per second continue delivering thrills for the next few decades.

*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.

A sexy tail light. A badass wheel. Perhaps it’s even just the little glass louvres on the engine cover. Most cars have awesome little design details that make them a little special. This week’s Wallpaper Wednesday selection showcases some awesome closeups of a few cars that have some great design details, along with a few just-plain-cool macro shots of iconic badges. Hopefully one can find a home on your desktop.

What’s your favourite detail on your car? Or details other cars you like? Let us know on Twitter] or Facebook.

As always, just click on a picture to enlarge it and drag it 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.

It’s Monday, so why not take a few minutes of your time and get some nostalgic chills running down your spine?

This is the story of Marlowe, and old man from California, and his bright green Dodge Charger 440 R/T. Rather than harp on and share a motoring anecdote, we’ll just let you get on with watching this great video.

Marlowe from ALCHEMYcreative on Vimeo.

This week we thought it would be prudent to pay attention to important developments in the motoring world. Green motoring is all about saving fuel, energy efficiency and low carbon emissions. With that in mind, we hope this week’s selection of the greenest cars we could find, find a happy home on your computer’s desktop.

As always, just click on the pic for a bigger version, and drag it 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.

64kbps stream Download audio file (zacs117.mp3)

32kbps stream Download audio file (zacs117_low.mp3)

We’re joined this week again by well travelled and infinitely cooler John Beale from Trendspotting again who lends his thoughts and opinions into the week’s motoring news which includes the International Engine of the Year Awards for FIAT and Ferrari, the unlikely or perhaps appropriate, agricultural show unveiling of Ford’s new Ranger, Toyota’s FJ Cruiser and VW’s Amarok single cab. We also review two of VW’s fuel fairies, the VW Polo BlueMotion and VW Golf BlueMotion. So, take a listen and as always, offer feedback.

Small twin pot, puts out more power than most 1.4 engines. Click on the image for a link to the news

Cool to the power of lots. Is it too late, though?

Built Ford tough, just like the old days, no doubt. Will be a hit in the East Rand and Mpumalanga

Good brand, good bakkie, but does the Amarok have the ability to sway the buyer to go with a smaller diesel engine in South Africa?

Completing the corporate-face for the Hyundai lineup, the i10 still offers value in a tough market, even if it's basically a prettier AtoZ.

South Africa became the laughing stock of the American's when they hear Chrysler launched this in South Africa, what do you think?

ZACS Test: VW Golf BlueMotion (click the text for a link to the specs, listen to the podcast for the review)

ZACS Test: VW Polo BlueMotion (click the text for a link to the specs, listen to the podcast for the review)

Both are very good cars, but one is much better than the other, listen to the podcast to find out why.

Episode 117 hi-fi download (24MB)
Episode 117 lo-fi download (12MB)

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Join the ZA Car Show fan page on Facebook, here.

It’s been a busy week, which is unusual of late. From the Mercedes CLS-like Audis to sexy hybrid Porches, but nothing confuses us more than MINI‘s decision to re-enter the WRC with a Cooper Countryman. On the local front it’s hypercars, super-saloons, repmobiles and… er Mercedes CSL-like Volkswagens.  Listen to the podcast to get all the insight and arguments that you will never get from a magazine.

Classically Italian, far better looking than its German and Korean counterparts

64kbps stream
Download audio file (zacs86.mp3)
32kbps stream
Download audio file (zacs86_low.mp3)

Episode 86 hi-fi download (23MB)
Episode 86 lo-fi download (11MB)

Follow us on Twitter, here.
Join the ZA Car Show fan page on Facebook, here.

Show notes, links, pics and wallpapers after the jump!

Hot on the heels of the Audi A8 in South Africa, the Audi A7 Sportback hits the scene. It’s a coupe-like saloon that looks a ton better than the BMW 5-Series GT. [via TimesLive ]

Er... not sure what to say...

MINI, after a very long hiatus, is back in WRC. Why did it choose the Countryman, though? We argue it out. Now if only DSTV would stop being muppets and air WRC coverage at a decent hour, instead of the national jukskei championships. [via WRC]

The wrong Cooper.

Porsche has announced that the 918 will go into production:  hybrid reality that will surely filter down to it’s other models.

Next year is 2011. It is also the launch of the new Ford Focus. Please don’t all get too excited at once.

Not bad. More evolutionary than revolutionary. The change is inside...

Like a cockpit, you'll feel more like a pilot than a driver.

Thanks to NetCarShow for these images.

Missing out a diesel in the range, Chevy has introduced a Cruze diesel to its lineup. Honestly, this was a very good car in the petrol variant, so this can only be better for high-mileage users.

Cruze around in a diesel now; get further on a single tank

Though they probably wont sell a single one, FIAT held its media launch for the Bravo Sport. Look at demo stock for good deals on a great car that no one will buy. Christo tells us more about the face lifted Golf competitor.

Classically Italian, far better looking than its German and Korean counterparts

It's even nice inside - but no-one will buy them

Are the words sexy, sedan and Volkswagen three mutually exclusive terms? Well, the Volkswagen CC disproves that theory and has now been made more practical, with the addition of an extra seat to seat five. There’s no extra cost despite the extra leather, head restraint and seat belt. Click here for a full overview of the VW CC Saloupe or here for our podcast review of the four seater one.

Audi’s new A8 super-saloon – the executive saloon for the discerning buyer who wants to stand out from the crowd rather than blends in – never thought we’d say that about an Audi. [click here for our review of the previous generation A8 3.0TDI ]

Not offensive, not boring, every bit different to the competition.

We've always loved these as alternatives to the usual 7-series and S-Class options

Even Audi drivers can be adventurous

The big Mac has a new dealer in SA and it doesn’t have a big yellow M outside and a bunch of fat kids inside. The Daytona Group will sell the McLaren MP4-12C alongside its Aston Martin, Rolls Royce and other exclusive brands.

Return of the Mac?

And finally, some tyre news: Christo gets all excited over the new kevlar-construction on Good Year‘s Wrangler A/TR off road tyres.