There was a time where Americans had to wait until Big Game Day to see what the country’s most creative marketers had been working on to air in the singularly most expensive advertisement slots on prime-time TV. But with that ‘internet thing’ you can’t keep anything under wraps anymore. A full couple of days ahead of the big day most of the adverts are available online so there isn’t really any reason to have to hang in there and watch the game unless, of course, you like the American version of  rugby. We’ve collected and put all of the auto manufacturers’ Superbowl 2012 ads right here in one place. Aren’t we a nice bunch? Be amazed, be appalled, be disappointed. Let us know what you think?

It looks as if Toyota invests as much creativity in its ads as it does in designing dull and boring family cars. The one’s titled ‘It’s Reinvented!’ but we’re still trying to figure out what, you can’t reinvent boring obscure rubbish.

Another one from Toyota although, as with its cars, Lexus is more exciting than its parent, if only just a little bit. Lexus has even gone as far as calling its advert, ‘Beast,’ in the way that people ironically call their lapdogs ‘Beast.’ Very edgy for Lexus.

Hyundai: Hey, it’s different we guess. Hyundai has included people from its plant in here, so it gets a couple of points for company involvement, but the alignment to ‘Rocky,’ yeah, we’re just not so sure.

Hyundai, then, provides us then with a the perfect segue into the adverts involving movies, movie references and old movie stars. No one seems to have realised that if  they’d include Ryan Gosling, ladies will be in the dealership while the men watch the game.

Honda’s piss-take on Ferris Beuller’s Day Off gets Matthew Broderick clearly looking 25 years older than he did in the original Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and and places him in an ad that he will surely regret  one day.  What are out-of-work actors supposed to do, we suppose? We’d certainly fake an illness to spend a day in a Ferrari 250, notsomuch in a Honda CR-V.

Honda redeems itself (only slightly) with this remotely funny advert involving the Saab-loving, in the Seinfeld series at least, Jerry Seinfeld and car-nut funny man, Jay Leno. But it’s actually only the sound of the NSX that makes this advert worth watching — a pure tease.

Volkswagen’s ‘The Force’ advert last year with mini-Darth took the ad world by storm (49 million views on YouTube to-date) and went viral by virtue of the fact that it was cute and clever. VW had some pretty big shoes to fill and showed some promise with the teaser, “The Bark Side”…

…but ultimately let the side down with, “The Dog Strikes Back.” Poor form after last year’s great success.

Volkswagen shows that its alright to use pets, and so Suzuki also gets in the action with some pooches, these being some huskies in for a head-bopping time…

These are the ones that are actually quite good. Cadillac is first up with ‘Green Hell,’ a reference to the Nurburgring that unashamedly punts its performance credentials and actually communicates the values of the car. Imagine that? There’s the crafty inclusion of the advertising boards stating “Wir sind Opel,” “We are Opel” for the english types, which is important because this is the BMW 3-series/Mercedes-Benz C-Class/Audi A4 competitor. It’s clearly intent on telling the Germans that Cadillac is no longer a fat American pig and it’s roots, in fact, lie very close to home.

The former king of Superbowl ads, Budweiser has once again produced a hit and it only gets a mention here because there’s a car in it, a very famous car. And that’s what makes it funny and causes a smile to crack across even the most hardened 30 year-old’s face. The younger kids probably won’t get it, though.

Vampires are the rage. Everyone loves them, don’t they? Even Volvo. Audi pulls off a clever ad and actually ties it into one of its product’s selling features, the LED headlamps. Amazing what sticking to the basics can do, of all the leaked adverts so far, this is one of the best in our opinion.

Update: Chevrolet has held out until now so showcase five ads for Big Game Day and all of them are BRILLIANT, well four of them are. In our humble opinion, of course.

Chervrolet Sonic’s Bug Advert hits the cute spot with this one…

Chervrolet’s Volt advert gets the message across succinctly, “Smartest car in the galaxy” while dispelling the myth that electric cars have a very limited range. Clever.

Hitting the youth market and doing something clever, simple and effective but more of a teaser for the full new Chev/OK Go video on Sunday.

A very funny graduation video for Chev’s Superbowl Sunday madness.

Very emotive, brilliant. Very Clever. The advert for the Chevy Sonic.

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It’s the last show from the team for the year and what better way to wrap it up than with the ZA Car Show Car of the Year awards? Whether you’re looking for a hatchback, sedan, fun car, practical car or want to find out what each of the team picked as their overall car of the year for 2011, then go on take a listen, the results will surprise you, that much we are sure of.

The third and fourth doors are deceptively hidden in this image. Click on the image to see a full gallery and decide whether you like this new BMW or not (you will be redirected to another page -- right click and select 'open in new tab' to avoid this.)

The smart fortwo pickup expected to be unveiled in the US early in the new year. Our Trevor van de Ven is really excited about this. He really is strange.

The ZA Car Show Car of the Year features a Lexus, Honda, Citroen, BMW, to name only a few. Take a listen to find out what each member of the team chooses for their favourite cars of 2011.

Episode 144 hi-fi download (18MB) 
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131 is an iconic FIAT that both Trevor and Patrick would love to have in their garages one day in Ralaye form. It also had a Spanish twin in the form of the SEAT 131. But of course it’s also the latest episode of ZA Car Show.

What a week of beautiful cars it was too. We talk about the Ferrari 458 Spider, KTM X-Bow with a hardtop kit, the Porsche 911 (991), the Mercedes-Benz A-Class AMG, Toyota FT86′s twin the Subaru BRZ, New Mercedes-Benz SLK and Hyundai Elantra. You can’t disagree with that that, or can you? Hmmm, have a listen to find out.

If you’re considering a new SUV, something like an BMW X5, then do yourself a favour and take in the review of the 2011 BMW X3 2.0d before you make your choice. We might just sway your decision.

Not quite as pretty as an Alfa 8C Spider, but still in the ZA Car Show team's top three most beautiful convertibles. For a full gallery of the Ferrari click on the image.

Very sleek, very sexy, very Porsche. What do you think of the new 911 (991). Click on the image for a full gallery of this car.

The Subaru collaboration with Toyota on this car has spawned a model for each manufacturer, the Subaru has been quite shy though. At least we know it will be called the BRZ, but click on the picture and you can see what the Toyota looks like.

"The best SLK to-date" is what a lot of motoring journalists are calling it. It's certainly the most beautiful. Click on the image for a full 50+ image gallery showcasing many of the new technologies in this car.

In the compact sedan segment we're used to boring or awkward, rarely ever beautiful, have a look at the gallery by clicking on the picture and let us know what you think, we think it's a bit OMG jaw on the floor stuff!

Episode 131 hi-fi download (19MB) 
Episode 131 lo-fi download (9.5MB)

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John Beale in a Lexus joins Christo in a Mercedes Benz and Trevor in a Suzuki to talk about new Lexus’, new Mercs and small VWs. We also tackle the eternal question “What to buy if you have R300 000.00″ to spend and the results are quite surprising.

Join the team this week for more fun, news and reviews of the 2011 Honda Jazz 1.3 Comfort and Citroen DS 1.6 THP. Go on, have a listen or better yet, subscribe by clicking here and you will have ZACS delivered to iTunes every week without the hassle for free.

Cute little car. For a complete gallery click on the image.

This is the angle that you'll mostly see but very magazines seem to show. Still awesome looking. Right click on the image and click "open link in new tab" for a full gallery of the SLK55 AMG

Cars don't get better than this when looking at practicality versus space versus price. Click on the image to be transported to a full gallery of images.

Trevor loved it, Christo not so much and John was on the fence. Find out why by listening to the podcast. There are few things prettier than this picture.

Episode 130 hi-fi download (25MB) 
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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)
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ZACS is joined by a guest from Hyundai this week, Ettienne Du Preez. Having just won the North American Car of The Year with the Sonata, we gain some valuable insight into the company’s local operations and plans for Southern Africa.

In episode 104 we also discuss:

• Mazda’s 900 000th iconic roadster, the Mx5
• The Ferrari and Ford spat over the use of “F150″
• Rolls Royce Spirit of Ecstasy’s Centenary
• Nissan Esflow concept
• Volvo V60
• Jeep’s new Cherokee
• Interview: Hyundai – Ettienne Du Preez

Episode 104 hi-fi download (30MB)
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While the rest of the motoring press have been going on about the Hyundai Veloster and Curb, both which have little bearing on the auto market for now, it was the comment by Hyundai’s CEO for the US that raised a good point and held more gravitas on Hyundai’s future than the new models on show…

When asked by a reader of US automotive blog, Jalopnik, Hyundai’s US CEO John Krafcik whether Hyundai planned to bring its latest Accent to North America, he not only confirmed it but said “it will kick the Fiesta’s butt.”

Hyundai as a brand in South Africa has gained massive traction recent years. And while it does not report its individual sales numbers to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers South Africa (NAAMSA) it’s volumes we believe are fairly significant. Significant enough to worry the likes of the established players in the local market, in fact.

The Hyundai Group owns both Hyundai and Kia brands and the story is similar around the world. In China the company had a 94 per cent year-on-year growth in 2009.  Globally it sold 5.74 million cars in 2010 a 24 per cent increase on 2009’s number and look set to increase these figures a further 10 per cent to 6.33 million in 2011. These figures put Hyundai in the top five manufacturers globally.

So while the Veloster and the Curb are still significant announcements, it’s the bread-and-butter cars that hold the sales growth cards in the territories within which Hyundai operates, which is why Krafcik’s comments that the Accent (which is known as the Verna in China) will kick the Fiesta’s butt is significant. The Ford Fiesta was developed as a world car for Ford – a car to be sold in the US as well as the rest of the world and a segment that is growing in popularity in the “bigger is better” land of the United States.

In South Africa the compact car segment is hotly contested. Competing with the likes of the Fiesta, Mazda 2, Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Yaris is worth a good couple of thousand sales per month. So popular is this segment that was typically filled with hatchbacks that most manufactures in the past six months have launched sedan versions. The Hyundai i20 has been a great successor to the popular Getz but it’s also not a direct competitor with these cars (although these manufacturers might like to believe so). The Accent is. And it will surely arrive on SA shores this year. It will likely be a sedan too, rather than the hatchback for now and fill the gap between the R167 900.00 i20 1.6 and the R197 900.00 i30 1.6.

The Veloster and the Curb are cool cars, showing the design direction that the brand has taken and certainly won it a number of new customers, but it’s the Accent that will be the meal ticket for the brand. Sedan versions of the Mazda 2 and Ford Fiesta have not exactly lit up the sales charts which I don’t feel will be the case with the Accent.

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Well it’s finally here, our ton; centenary; landmark or one hundredth show. It’s been a great ride for two and half years and we’ve had some great rides too thanks to support from a select few motor companies who started to believe in this ‘internet’ thing; thanks go to Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, FIAT, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Renault, Suzuki and Volkswagen — some pretty conspicuous absences there. Still, we could do better to offer you, our loyal listeners and social media followers more in-depth reviews, opinions and feedback on the South African motoring landscape.

This is why in the New Year, ZA Car Show will go live with episode 101 and deliver a ZACS 101 show together with a new website (which does look quite tasty, if we have to say so ourselves)  — for now we’re not going to try and regurgitate the same stuff that the multitude of other online SA motoring website do so you can look forward to some unique content. Yay!

Sadly, Patrick Gearing was not present for the 100th episode, but the two Trevors and Christo were. In this episode they discuss the South African launch of the MINI Countryman (click to launch the microsite) – the four wheel-drive, four door MINI which left Christo in awe of the R400 000 machine. We also cover the Opel Corsa Colour Edition which successfully targets with youth/young buyers with interesting OEM options like black wheels and dark windows.

South Africa also saw the introduction of a face-lifted Nissan X-Trail, and also arrived at the North Pole in the form of the South African-built Arctic Trucks Toyota Hilux.

In other news, the Lexus IS250C gets a fully-specced limited edition, the Fiat 500 launches in the US, Ford launches a Fiesta Sedan and Audi announces its next rennsport model, the RS3.

So there you have it. We will be off line until January 2011 where you will see all the new stuff and an interview with Hyundai SA.

If you have any questions for Hyundai SA, feel free to send them to us – our contact details are below!

Episode 100 hi-fi download (30MB)
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Back in full swing is not only the full team at ZA Car Show, but also the pre-launch unveilings for the Paris Motor Show which seems set to be a cracker this year. First on the list is the new 2012 Ford Focus ST, which has a more important brother in the form of the regualr Focus – something the reswt of the media seems to be ignoring. Also set for launch within the year is the Hyundai ix20 and MINI Cooper S Diesel which we discuss.

Locally, the media has been busy with its launch of its Peugeot RCZ which, we assume, featured more celebrity guests than motoring media as this seems to be its publicity strategy if @PeugeotZA on Twitter is anything to go by. This coupe features a TT-like profile and some efficient turbo engines.Its also R140 000 less dear than the Renault Laguna Coupe. Sure they’re different types of cars, but we see a flaw in Renault’s strategy. ZA Car also reveals the rpicing of the Alfa Giulietta (click for a cool car configurator), while Tuck laments why it’s wrong for an Alfa. Finally we wrap it up with the Total Economy run and Christo’s comparative review of the Suzuki Swift Sport and his very own RenaultSport Twingo. The results will surpise and delight.

Head to head against a RenaultSport Twingo, which would you choose?

Photo credits: Quickpic (Ford Focus, Peugeot RCZ) and Motorpics (Suzuki Sport)

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1980 heralded in an exciting era for the motor car. For most of us listening to ZACS, its the era of motoring that we grew up with. 2010, 30 years later, is no less exciting. This week we discuss the Gautrain, new technology from BMW and the leaking of the new Volkwagen Jetta images.

Slightly less boring than the old Jetta.

We also review the BMW 530d GT and discuss the cars that changed the motoring landscape for 1980′s. Trevor van de Ven, of course, chose the most sensible option while the rest battled it out with mediocre to rubbish cars.

Google's clever street view technology is enabled by these clever Toyota Prius Hybrids

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Show notes and links after the jump.

The Gautrain, how will it transform the motoring landscape in South Africa.

BMW develops and showcases MicroNavigation – a technology which just wowed Tuck and Gearbox so that they were speechless for half the show checking out Google Maps which recently launched Street View in South Africa.  [Via AutoBlog and BMW]

Secret Jetta VI pics leaked to the motoring press. Looks like a Polo/AudiA4 mixture [via Autoblog]

2011 VW Jetta

VW announces new engines for its local Jetta V lineup

Hyundai looks set to launch an i30-based MPV – probably to replace the horridly named TraJet [via: World Car Fans]

Range Rover plumps the new diesel engines from the Land Rover Discovery into its Bag-Daddy Vogue [via: World Car Fans]

Driven: BMW 530d GT