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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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Porsche reached out to its fans, and achieved something special. Running a Facebook campaign to reach 1 000 000 fans, in the shortest time possible, the German automaker thought of a unique way to say thank you to those who supported it.

The engineers at Zuffenhausen prepared a special 911 GT3R – the hybrid version – with a paintjob consisting of all the names of the first 1-million fans. Then they made a video of it.

(Thanks to ZA Car reader, Nafisa, for the tip off!)

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!

What happens when you ask Porsche engineers to develop hybrid tech for a race car? Simple, they come up with the flywheel-based kinetic energy storage system used in the GT3 R hybrid – a car that went on to successfully compete in the 24 hours of Nürburgring and American Le Mans Series.

Now, what happens when you ask those same, giddy engineers to fit that race-proven tech into last year’s hottest hybrid concept? Answer: feast your eyes on the 918 RSR hybrid.

Porsche’s latest creation, debuting at this years Detroit Auto Show, has a variation of the 3.4-litre engine that powered Porsche RS Spyder Le Mans car. It now produces 563 horsepower (419kW) at 10 300RPM (!) and and unspecified number of torques. What’s even better are the two electric motors – one in each front wheel – producing an additional 200 horsepower (75kW) combined.

No word yet on what this monster’s ‘Ring time is – we kid, we kid – but those claims will be made on race day. Porsche has made no bones about this being a spiritual successor to the 917 racecar of years gone by, and given the many references to race scenarios in the official press material, we wouldn’t be surprised to see this making pitstops at the big races any time soon.

Meanwhile, the real 918 Spyder is set for limited production, with a hefty $650 000+ pricetag being touted.

(Images courtesy of Porsche.)

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.

Download audio file (zacs51.mp3)

Our roving reporters stayed put, for the entirety of the Frankfurt Motorshow 2009. In this episode, they cover the more important models that were unveiled, and go straight into local news, followed by motoring reviews.

Bugatti Galibier: Eight exhausts for your supersaloon.

And lots of shiny chrome bits, too!

Click “more”, and get more pics, plus a wrap-up of other news in this episode.

Direct file download (28MB)

Frankfurt roundup:

Bugatti Galibier

Aston Martin Rapide

Audi R8 V10 Spyder

Bentley Continental GT Series 51

BMW X1

BMW EfficientDynamics Concept

BMW 5-series Gran Turismo

Ferrari 458 Italia

Forza 3

Ford CMAX

Lamborghini Reventon Roadster

Volkswagen Golf R

Mini Coupé

Mini Roadster

… and a few others.

More of Bugatti's new grand tourer...

Audi's electric R8 concept, the E-Tron

So hot. Obviously, because the sun is beating down on you.

The Continental GT Series 51. Looks sorta plain, doesn't it?

The Rapide, from the outside...

... and a less-boring interior than you'd expect.

The maddest car in the whole wide world.

A Mini with a bigger boot.

BMW's answer to Audi's A5 Sportback.

A baby off-roader. Will no doubt be bested by a Jimny.

The hottest hatch of all? Who knows?

A game... about cars.

Local launch:

Chevrolet Cruze

The new Cruze, from Chevrolet. A bold choice for people in the Corolla segment.

It has a sexy interior to match the striking exterior.

Reviewed:

BMW 323i

The facelifted E90 3-series. This time, in 323 guise.

Lexus GS450h

Lexus' full-hybrid luxury saloon.

Download audio file (zacs49.mp3)

Welcome to the 49th recording of the ZA Car Show. This is a very full week packed with international and, of  course, breaking local news news. We suspect if manufacturers actually launched cars at auto shows instead of  leaking pictures on the ‘net, half of the sparkle will not be lost at the actual events.

Jeep kindly gave ZACS a Jeep J8 for a bit of a comparative test…with a Suzuki Jimny, we’re still trying to work out of we are surprised about the Jimny or the Jeep  both of which equally thrilled when thrown into ridiculous off-road situations.

Jeep J8 and some of its siblings.

For more show notes, pictures of the Suzuki and Jeep excursion and other interesting news  clickerize ‘more’ under this post.

Direct file download (31.6MB)

• Under new VW ownership Porsche plans to kill off non-core models like the Panamera and Cayenne to focus on sports cars [via World Car Fans]
• Porsche then promptly announces the 911 Sport Classic – a model which harks backs to the early 70′s Porsche Carrera RS [via Carscoop]

Arguably better looking than the original

• Fiat Punto Evo: as its name implies it is the next generation Punto with a little more obvious FIAT 500 DNA and FIAT’s Multiair engine [via Eurocarblog]

Still good looking, but many people prefer the original

• Volvo C70 undergoes a bit of a controversial nip and tuck [via Autoblog]

The Volvo corporate styling comes to the C70

• Lexus models also go under the knife and get minor spec changes[via: World Car Fans]
• BMW Vision Concept,  a truly fast hybrid car from BMW with proper hybrid credentials [via: Wired.com]

Remember the orange BMW M1 "Concept"? This bares more than a striking resemblance

• Audi A5 Cabriolet, not yet officially launched in SA, but ZACS breaks the news [Audi A5 Microsite]
• FIAT’s budget saloon car the Linea is officially launched to local press, ZACS drives it

It's good looking, more stylised than the Ford Ikon. Poor choice of engine Christo says though.

• The Nissan Murano’s shows its ugly face in South Africa

Looks like it fell out of a dow and got smacked by the ugly samurai...

The Qashqai DNA runs strong in this one

• Google starts mapping SA, more importantly in Toyota Prius Hybrids

Poles sticking out of Prius roofs became a problem...

• Driven: Suzuki Jimny and non-civilian Jeep J8

Looking a little our of place amongst the Jeeps...

The little Jimny that thought it could...could

Who needs a Jeep for this stuff...

Unless, of course, it's a Jeep J8.

Download audio file (zacs43.mp3)

What an interesting week. At ZA Car Show we cater for everyone – how else are you supposed to make an informed purchasing decision? In one week the ZACS team experienced one of the most raw, fun cars complete with a 6.1 Litre V8 HEMI engine and at the same time the two entry level 1.6 litre four-pots from Renault; the Sandero and Logan.

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.

Download audio file (zacs42.mp3)

We are not entirely convinced that manufacturers ever plan on a global unveiling anymore because it seems every new model is leaked well before the official launch. It’s no different this week with at least three new models revealing what lies beneath the duct tape and dustbin bags.

Good homage to the original 300SL, not entirely sold on the design yet

Have you ever considered an MPV? It might seem like a strange question, but one that is rarely anwered in motoring magazines. They have their place and we have out reviewer: Tuck – sometimes race car driver, sometimes race consultant, “just like Schumi.” All we know is that for an unmarried man with one kid he has an unusual fetich for MPVs. He reviews the Chrysler Voyager while the rest of the team  share their opinions on the motoring industry, new Hybrids, dodgy Italians and frisky Fords.

Tuck loves vans, we love him for that. Otherwise who else would review it?

Show notes and more pictures of the cars and links to the news after the jump

Direct file download (29.9MB)

In Episode 42 we discuss:

Dodge Viper production resumes, to the relief of petrol heads everywhere. Like a crotch rash, it’s difficult to deny that the Dodge Viper has had some impact on your livelihood and ability to pull women. Wait, that’s not right.

Spy shots, spy shots everywhere: In one week, pictures of the new Jaguar XJ were officially released, along with the Alfa Romeo Milano (149) [via: Autoblog] and Mercedes-Benz SLS [via: Autowereld - if you speak Dutch, fortunately van de Ven does] were leaked – it’s a bit like finding out the sex of your unborn child before birth. There are so few surprises these days, maybe some of us would like to be surprised by unveilings at auto shows rather than go: “Oh, finally.”

Alfa 149 (Milano), more than a resemblance to the new Lancias

Tasty rump

Official XJ pics: looks like some borrowed lines from the Maserati Quattroporte and Bentley Continental. It can't be bad.

Very unlike Jag + very much like the XF = big success (hopefully)

This past week also saw the launch of the Hyundai i20, the Korean maker’s compact hatch, but will it still have fight in it to compete against the established brands like Ford, Mazda, Toyota and VW. Some of us don’t think so. [via: IOL Motoring]

Alfa Romeo MiTo press launch. If you were sharp, you could have driven it before the press about two weeks ago, Patrick and Trevor were sharp, Christo not so much.

Alfa's pretty little one

Italian in black leather

New Lexus RX launched. A down to earth affair for a launch of a premium SUV and the press didn’t get any gifts. That is unheard of in SA media, but something the ZACS team supports. Christo gives his impressions of the new RX350 and RX450H – H for Hybrid.

It's a performance hybrid, need more proof?

A good place to be

Driven: Chrysler Grand Voyager LX 2.8 CRD – A van that had Trevor Tuck in a rage thanks to its lack of cupholders and thirsty disposition (though he should be the one to talk with the amount he drinks). But compared with its competitors, on paper it provides a rather different story.

If you thought the Renault Scenic was clever and practical, you clearly haven't been to a Chrysler dealer recently

Driven: Ford Focus 1.8 Si – We’ve never thought a bunch of Italian car drivers could be so impressed with a Ford. They were and we are surprised. Should you consider this when looking for a mid-sized hatch?

New style front really lifts the design

...while the tail is tight and tidy

Not uncomfortable, but also not great. Should cars be good to look at or comfortable to drive?

Long term update: FIAT Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet: This week we discuss the engine…

Download audio file (zacs19.mp3)

The second instalment of motoring tomfoolery for the year has the team covering a lot of news form the global motoring industry. From the law and legislation on to mergers and aquistions – this is not a financial business show just more of the same opinion from Christo, Patrick and the Trevors.

In this episode we discuss:

• Fiat has announced that it would like a 35% stake in Chrysler – what are the ramifications? Fiat 300C’s, Dodge Californias or Alfa Romeo RAMs?
• Ford announces its Powershift transmission – DSG for the non-jargonheads
• AMG expresses its interest in more environmentally friendly power antics. Can we expect Diesel or Electric AMGs?
• License plate legislation, the good, the bad and the short sighted…[via IOL Motoring]
• Car Insurance, the UK crushes unlicensed cars, South Africa puts them on the roads
• New Car Launch: FIAT Grande Punto T-Jet

A Very Good Looking Alternative a VW Polo

• Win a TomTom One V4 GPS: Details inside

And more…

Direct file download (24.6MB)

Download audio file (zacs17.mp3)

We’re back on track coming at you with the great sounds of smooth soothing voices…who are we trying to kid? The regular team of Trevor Squared, Patrick Gearing and Christo van Gemert do a final wrapup of the show for 2008. There is a competition giveaway of a TomTom One V4 which we will detail in a separate post together with some really insightful banter.

In this episode we discuss:

• The US auto industry bailout plan, there is hope for Chrysler and GM or is there?
• Update: GM could be bankrupt within weeks
• Tesla the electric car people beg for dough
• Volvo announce plans for a micro-hybrid for 2011…while Ford enters discussions to sell the car brand to the Chinese
• Volkswagen Golf VI pricing for SA. Some good some bad, suddenly the Scirocco will be the pick for hot hatch fans
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class pictures leaked
   

   

  

  Concept: Beauty

•  
  

  Reality: Beige.Matches your hearing aid.

• Audi R8 V10 revealed. V10 Power sourced from the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, but why not a diesel V12?
• Formula one standardising engines, tender issued to Cosworth; is this the move that saves the A1 GP?
• Race of Champions 2008 this weekend 14 December, no not the breakfast of champions
• ZACS Challenge: Choose a hot/warm hatch for under R220 000
• And more…