Our dear Trevor van de Ven, fan of strange cars and unofficial economy run champion, decided not to join the team this week. Instead, he took the early train home, to see if this is the future of commuting in Johannesburg. That left the  remaining three hosts of your favourite motoring podcast to take to the microphones and be concise about the motoring news for the week that was. Except, the waffle on. Like right now.

Old and new - hard to believe it's been ten years with the X5.

This past week marked the production of the one millionth BMW X5. It’s been ten years since the first X5 rolled off the production line in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and now number 1 000 000 (a black one xDrive35i, with tan leather) has been delivered to its happy owner in Beijing, China.

The terrible trio also talk about some local arrivals, spying VW’s Amarok, a sporting weekend and review a big, fat diesel monster from Audi.

Episode 79 hi-fi download (28MB)
Episode 79 lo-fi download (16MB)

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Show notes and links after the jump.

Hondas CR-Z hybrid sports coupé will be making it to South African shores later this year. Hopefully this fantastic-looking successor to the CRX will be priced aggressively and sell like hotcakes. Speaking of: no word on pricing… yet.

Some cues from the belated S2000 in that front grill.

And a definite nod to the CRX, out back.

More cars need space shuttle dashboards like this.

Mitsubishi’s ageing Pajero (the big one, not the sport) gets a new diesel engine. Power is up from 121kW to 140kW, while torque jumps from 373Nm to 441Nm. Power is now transferred to the wheels via a new 5-speed automatic gearbox, while satnav and Bluetooth become standard features on all models. GLS models feature a premium Rockford Fosgate sound system. Pricing starts at R533 900.

A trusty old steed... but falling behind the pack.

For those who are really keen to get a glimpse of Volkswagen’s Amarok pick-up, it’ll be doing a countrywide sneak-peak tour. Check out the table below for venues where you’ll be able to see it parked in a high traffic area of the mall.

•    10-13 June 2010         Johannesburg, Eastgate Shopping Centre
•    17-20 June 2010         Pretoria, Menlyn Shopping Centre
•    26-27 June 2010         Nelspruit, Ilanga Shopping Centre
•    3-4 July 2010             Polokwane, Savanna Shopping Centre
•    9-11 July 2010         Durban, Pavillion Shopping Centre
•    16-18 July 2010         Bloemfontein, Loch Logan Shopping Centre
•    23-25 July 2010         Port Elizabeth, Walmer Shopping Centre
•    29-01 August 2010         Cape Town, Tygervalley Shopping Centre

While we revealed the pricing info a while ago, Lexus has finally “officially” announced the Lexus LS600hL hybrid limousine. 323 kilowatts in a super-luxury sedan? Yes, please. All of the 12-centimetre longer wheelbase is exclusively for rear passengers, who now get more legroom, Ottoman-designed massage seats, Mark Levinson DVD entertainment and a ton of stuff you don’t even find in First Class on an Airbus. Yours for just under R1.6-million.

The business end.

Notice the reclining backrest and raised legrest? And the (usually invisible) massage motors?

The view that matters most.

Motorsport news

While some men were gathered in a calabash outside Soweto, for some kickball, some men in France were driving around town for a whole day.

Some of those men were driving a new Jaguar car, the first official entrant in a long while, and marking Jaguar’s 75th birthday. Happy birthday old chaps, wot wot.

Then, in French Canada, in a town called Montreal, some other guys were racing go-karts for a few laps. Apparently they’re quite fast.

While they were in Montreal, Ferrari signed up some eleven year old kid called Lance Stroll. He was not quoted as saying, “I’ll be the next Schumacher”, but Ferrari says he shows promise.

Review

Each of the team have driven it, and only one of them really loves it. In fact, he gives it a very big score… The car in question? Audi’s monstrous, 500-horsepower Q7 V12 TDI. Enough torque to help you move house. Literally.

Move over!

Oval tips - a nod to the RS line of Audis.

In in 1954-5 you may have been born as a certain Mr. William Gates or Steven Jobs. In 1973  you would have been around 19 or 20, with an idea that, when you have made your millions, you might like something flashy in the garage. Poor example, we suppose because at least one of these men drives a fuel-sipping hybrid. However, 1973 was the year the sensible car was launched at the start of the oil crisis: the VW Passat. What would your car of 1973 be?

Witness the fitness of the sensible family car

With very little in the way of news, the team quickly skims over local and international happenings, before jumping right into the meat of the show: a car review, for a very funky – yet flawed – turbo hatch, and the “episode’s car of the year” challenge.

Episode 73 hi-fi download (28MB)
Episode 73 lo-fi download (14MB)

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Some more notes, pics and links after the jump!

Another rational car this week comes from Bavaria. It’s a pretty BMW, plus it’s also quite sensible: the BMW GranCoupe Concept. [via: BMWBlog]

This week the team also drives and reviews the 2010 Daihatsu Materia Turbo. Good or bad, you be the judge: the guys just couldn’t make up their mind for this feisty number.

110kW, limited to 40 units. Something special for R220 000?

Slowly getting back into the groove, after a short absence from the internet airwaves, the three-strong ZACS team congregates once again to bring you the latest motoring news and history. The new and the old, all in one podcast. Where else can you get quality programming like this?

Before we start with this week’s show notes, let us first CONGRATULATE our fine co-host, Trevor van de Ven, on becoming a dad. Again. His son joined the family last week and Trevor has used this as an excuse for not featuring the latest episode of your favourite motoring podcast.

In his absence, we’ve discussed things as exciting as the new Mercedes Benz E-class estate and as dreary as the Lexus LFA, which will be making its debut as a production race car in the 24-hours of Nürburgring endurance race.

Lexus LFA at the 'Ring

Also featured in episode 69 are a duo of Japanese sports cars, in the cars of the episode’s year (1969), the actual Car of the Year winner, and Fiat’s new additions to the 500 model range.

Episode 69 hi-fi download (21MB)
Episode 69 lo-fi download (11MB)

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More links, pics and words after the jump!

Fiat has added the 500 Cabriolet and 500 Sport MTA to its stable. After reviewing pricing on the 500 range (an entry-level 500 can be had for just under R136 000, rather than the R150 000 it was before) the Italian auto maker has added two exciting, fully-packed 500s to the model lineup. The Sport MTA has an automatically-actuated manual transmission, while the Cabrio has an electrically operated fabric roof that can be used at speeds of up to 60km/h. Pricing for both new models is competitive at R197 600.

Hyundai has launched the i30 – it’s competitor for the segment dominated by the VW Golf. Available with either a 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre engine, the i30 has fresh, but conservative, styling. Ride is comfortable, highway cruising is relaxed and spec levels are surprisingly good – USB connectivity for iPods, airbags and safety features galore. Pricing starts at R189 900 for the i30 1.6 and R229 900 for the i30 2.0.

At the Wesbank South African Car of the Year banquet, mid March, the 2009 Car of the Year was unveiled. To much fanfare, but little surprise, the Volkswagen Golf Mk6 1.4TSI took home the honours. One lucky winner also got to take the Golf home for a whole year, complete with petrol and insurance bills covered. While some would have liked the Alfa Romeo MiTo to have won, the Volkswagen is definitely a worthy titleholder. Interestingly, it’s also the first time in the model’s 35-year history that it has been awarded the honour (in South Africa).

For those who want a little more E-class for their money, Mercedes Benz has launched the E-class estate. Available with most of the engines as offered in the sedan (save for the hot, V8-equipped E63 AMG), the new wagon doesn’t really leave us wanting more. Perhaps a bit too refined and luxurious to be a Q-car, like the Audi RS4 Avant, BMW M5 Touring, Honda Accord Tourer and Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon. Pricing starts at R507 000 for the E200 CGI and ranges all the way to R833 000 for the E500.

A lucky group of students at the University of Cologne were given a Ford Focus RS, by Ford, to prepare for racing. The race? Well, 24 hours of the Nürburgring. Let’s hope they actually do go race it, instead of hooning around the parking lot at Cologne McDonalds.

Honda has released some interesting figures for its CR-Z sporty hybrid hatch. Apparently 10 000 orders have been placed, thus far, for the spiritual successor to the CR-X. Of those, 50% are customers new to the brand, and 4 000 units have been ordered with a manual transmission – which really confuses our hybrid advisor, Patrick Gearing.

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]

But we’re back on Episode 53 one week fresh from our anniversary and still pumping on all three cylinders. The fourth cylinder was too busy trying to sort out a sticky goo pudding situation, which left the other three to chat about the local motoring industry, the South African Motor Industry Development Programme and whether it will hurt South Africa’s standing in the global manufacturing world. We also found time to review the Honda Civic Diesel.

A Toyota sports car - it's been a while

For links to the news stories and show notes click on the little “more” under this here sentence.

Direct file download (19.9MB)

Toyota FT86 concept unveiled at Frankfurt [via Autoblog]

Pretty

The world’s only SUV tourer: Mercedes-Benz R-Class,  spied. We thought this model would not continue. [Via: Motorauthority]

As useful as an X6

BMW invests R2Bn into its plant in Rosslyn Pretoria for the new 3-series. How has the MIDP affected all the other manufacturing businesses in South Africa?

Driven: 2009 Honda Civic 2.2 CDTi

Good diesel or bad diesel? It looks like a Type-R which can only be good, but is there a case for a car that uses more fuel than its petrol counterpart?

The motor industry also celebrated a significant milestone, hybrid and electric vehicles and some Chinese investments.

The union of Autos has hit the ton.

Underrated, crazy power.

Underpowered, overrated.

Direct file download (27.2MB)

More pictures, news and show notes after the jump.

In Episode 43 we discuss:

Audi hits the ton. 100 years of sensible cars.

Honda’s producing a hot hybrid and confirmed it will be coming to South Africa [via Motoring] but the FRV is being canned [via Wheels24].

China’s Chana is committed to investing in South Africa.

BMW makes the X6 Xdrive50i available. Twin turbo V8 power for the coupe-like, four door, four seater SUV.

Right engine.

Wrong car.

Driven: Chrysler SRT8.

Underrated, crazy power.

The heart of the beast. Great value for money this is.

Driven: Renault Sandero 1.6 Dynamique.

Great car, kind of, just don't get the top spec - better cars at that price.

Familiar place to be, if you've driven an old Renault Clio.

Driven: Renault Logan.

Suprising car, Trevor Tuck liked it...

Despite an interior that is not so hot.

This 188kW hatch with 4WD not only drives well, it looks bloody good too

The family man's hot hatch. Quick, sticks like chewing gum to your shoe

For some awesome wallpapers for your desktop, courtesy of Waldo, expand this here blog post.

Direct file download (26.9MB)

Wallpapers download (1.5MB)

In Episode 27 we discuss:

• SA Car of the Year 2008: Honda Accord 2.4 Executive
• Toyota’s new 1.3 Corolla (replaces 1.4)
• Formula 1 rule changes
• Motoring Photography – a couple of hints and tips from an expert. He’s even kindly given us some images to offer you as desktop wallpapers. Thanks Waldo. If you would like your car photographed and live in Gauteng, drop the ZA Car Show a line and we will put you in touch with him.
• Test Driven: Audi A3 Sportback – Audi’s four wheel drive and practical hot-hatch

and more…

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…

. This little mite can pack a lot of stuff inside. Click in ‘more’ so see…er..more”]

The little Honda that can [hopefully turn the US auto industry around

In this episode we also discuss:

• SAAB on the skids – not the good ones either – Chapter 13. SAAB says “it’s the right way to go”
• Renault Sandero launches in South Africa. Is there room for these budget cars?
• Mercedes Benz E-Class Coupe shown ahead of the Geneva Auto Show

Witness the fitness

• BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo shown ahead of the Geneva Auto Show

Er...yes...well...we'll miss you Chris Bangle...

• BMW 7 series teases with ads flighted in South Africa – when is it coming?
• Subaru WRX Price Drop – Cheaper new than they are second hand. Legendary – not so much if you already own one.
• Chrysler’s Hail Damage special – save up to R100 000 on list price – too bad there’s no 300C Tourings on sale
• The A1 GP in Johannesburg for the first time
• We cover a couple of other F1 related news, including Renault, Honda Filipe and Virgin…oops did we say Filipe’s a Virgin? [no, thank goodness]
  

• Test Driven: Audi A3 2.0TDI S-Tronic Sportback

This car has a very nifty party trick – check out the video from 5th Gear above.

• Test Driven: Honda Jazz

Clever seats will allow multiple configurations to swollow up elephants whole

Luckilly it does not look like an elephant's back end though.

In this show we discuss:

• Honda F1′s bailout request to the British Government
• A superfast biofuel Bentley
• Porsche GT3 RS
• South African Car of the Year
• World Car of the Year
• Performance Car of the Year
• David Piper International/Legends of the Nine Hour at Zwartkops raceway in Pretoria, South Africa
• Your last chance to win a TomTom One V4 GPS – Competition closes 3 February at 12h00