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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)
Episode 104 lo-fi download (15MB)

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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)
Episode 100 lo-fi download (15MB)

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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)

Episode 92 hi-fi download (32MB)
Episode 92 lo-fi download (17MB)

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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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Episode 80 hi-fi download (28MB)
Episode 80 lo-fi download (16MB)

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Show notes and links after the jump.

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