64kbps stream Download audio file (zacs142.mp3)

32kbps stream Download audio file (zacs142_low.mp3)

Our friend and contributor John Beale needs a new car so Thomas Falkiner, Christo van Gemert, Trevor van de Ven, Patrick Gearing and journalism student Dean Venter put their collective heads together to show what sensible options can be thought up if you crowd source.  The team, without Mr Beale who was eating sushi without us, also review the new Honda Accord 2.4 automatic and give you the low down on the motoring news from the past week.

The rebirth of the exciting Toyota. This flat four developed in conjunction with Subaru looks as if it has all the right ingredients to steal customers from the hot-hatch market. Click on the image to see a full gallery (you will be redirected away from this page).

Machbach is dead, Merc is pulling the plug. They are not the most handsome or striking cars but Trevor van de Ven still gets a bit teary eyed knowing that he will not see another all-white Landaulet again.

Patrick and Trevor love wagons. They also love Jaaaaags, so this car should put them both in a flat love-induced coma.

The new Honda Accord sports a dramatically revised front-end even if it's only the hawk-eyed that will spot the changes. Under the skin, this car is phenomenal. Take a listen to the show to find out what we think. Click on the image to view a full gallery (you will be redirected away from this page).

Episode 142 hi-fi download (18MB) 
Episode 142 lo-fi download (9MB)

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

64kbps stream Download audio file (zacs135.mp3)

32kbps stream Download audio file (zacs135_low.mp3)

What a week. With the start of the Johannesburg Motor Show kicking off at the NASREC show complex on 6 October, there is a lot to get excited about. Brent Ellis, a freelance motoring journalist and photographer, is a the special guest this week and he joins Trevor van de Ven, John Beale and Patrick Gearing (who isn’t on twitter so his name isn’t underlined) for the 135th recording of South Africa’s only dedicated motoring podcast. They discuss the local launches of the Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel, a sub-R500 000 entrant into the Jaguar model lineup that is sure to throw the [leaping] cat amongst the pigeons (do you see what we did there?) and the local launch of the Audi RS3 Sportback a sub-5 second 0-100km/h smack upside the head the bigger, quick hyper-saloons.   Finally they wrap the show up with road tests of the 2011 Mercedes Benz C250 CDI Coupe and the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi manual.

Is that the handsome Jaguar XK? No, it's the updated XF and if you thought it could not get any more handsome, it just did. Click on the picture to see a full gallery of the updated Jaguar XF.

Sit back, think about the fact that is replaces the three-door hatchback CLC and then marvel in how much better it is in every respect, from looks to performance and more. Click on the image to go to a full gallery of this handsome car.

Objects in this picture appear are much larger than they appear. What did the team think of the new Suzuki Kizashi? Listen to find out. Click on the picture to see a full gallery of this car.

Episode 135 hi-fi download 
Episode 135 lo-fi download

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

64kbps stream Download audio file (zacs134.mp3)

32kbps stream Download audio file (zacs134_low.mp3)

In ZACS 134, John, Patrick and Christo discuss the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show - each picking their personal highlights from the many awesome vehicle on display.

Christo backs Germany and picks three not quite road-legal cars; Patrick chooses three Italians; and John tips his hat to three English arrivals. To make sure all bases are covered, our intrepid trio also selected some “pity cars” – vehicles that are noteworthy, but didn’t quite fall into their “we want one now” criteria.

The Lambo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale. Click here for a gallery.

The Landy DC100 concept - a possible Defender replacement. Click for gallery.

The Ferrari-engined Maserati Kubang is a Jeep underneath. Click for a gallery!

After all that mega-horsepower excitement, they try cool down by reviewing the Volkswagen Passat. The consensus is that it’s not a bad car. But also not one you’ll remember having driven or owned. Listen to the show for all the details.

Episode 133 hi-fi download (20MB) 
Episode 133 lo-fi download (10MB)

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

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.

64kbps stream
Download audio file (zacs94.mp3)
32kbps stream
Download audio file (zacs94_low.mp3)

Three men, seven cars, countless individual views. Episode 94 of ZA Car Show features local and international news on BMW and SAAB, Chevrolet’s South African plans, Mazda’s booted 2 and two new concepts from Jaguar and Lamborghini.

Very pretty and non-German looking, what are Germans supposed to look like anyway?

...tasty rump...

Christo also reports back on the launch of the face lifted BMW X5 and Opel Atra while the Patrick and Trevor review the 2010 Suzuki SX4 4X4.

Episode 94 hi-fi download (25MB)
Episode 94 lo-fi download (13MB)

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

64kbps stream – Download audio file (zacs71.mp3)
32kbps stream – Download audio file (zacs71_low.mp3)

We’re back in full swing this week, joined by Russell Bennett from Drive Magazine online (link goes to magazine), South Africa’s free online motoring publication. It’s been a slow week on the international front, but we at two significant models introduced in South Africa, the BMW X1 and Mercedes Benz E-Class Cabriolet.

Nice chassis... apparently.

Episode 71 hi-fi download (28MB)
Episode 71 lo-fi download (16MB)

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

Show notes and links after the jump.

Lexus GX 460 SUV has been pulled from sale in the US. The ZACS team discusses the lunacy of this idea and all the other recalls taking place in the US of A.  However, this is essentially the new Toyota Prado, which Toyota has remained very quiet about. [via: MSNBC]

Be careful, you might just get the tail to slide out in which case you will die says the US magazine Consumer Report

BMW X1 – Christo believes this SUV actually has a purpose, listen to find out why… it’s got nothing to do with the girl in the main post [images via Timeslive]

Mercedes Benz E-Class Cabriolet – the return of the elegant cabrio [images via Timeslive]

Nissan has facelifted the Qashqai for 2010, and the range now includes a model with a CVT ‘box – hopefully better than the dreary manual in the 1.6-litre. Also new to the range is a Qashqai+2, a seven-seater model of this class-leading crossover hatchback. Perhaps a ZACS road trip is in order to test out its new seating arrangement…

Volkswagen – perhaps in an attempt to remind us that it still makes this model – has revised its Transporter and Caravelle T5 minibuses. The lineup now includes a newer 2-litre turbodiesel mill, DSG gearboxes and about seventeen thousand different models, see below if you don’t believe us.

Caravelle and Transporter lineup

ZACS Cars of the Episode’s Year: The team chooses their most memorable cars from the year 1971

Download audio file (zacs64.mp3)

It was a fun show with Tuck back in chair for his inaugural show for 2010. This week we discuss Toyota and Honda’s woes, news from the upcoming Geneva Auto Salon and some motoring racing updates.

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]

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…

BMW's new Z4 - driven.

More pics and details after the jump!

Direct file download (25.7MB)

Hummer’s highest bidder hails from… China!

Opel (also known as Vauxhall and Saturn) has been sold to a Russian and Canadian consortium known as Magna.

Fiat and Chrysler have finally wrapped up negotiations, announcing the formation of a new company focused on cleaner vehicles (which will hopefully make them some money).

Tuck expresses disdain for yet another minivan he doesn’t “get”: the Peugeot 5008.

Tuck doesn't luck those doors...

... but the rest of us like the pretty face.

Jaguar unveils the 2010 model year XF and XF-R.

A big, bold British bully.

BMW makes the M3 Edition models available for exclusive order in SA – only 25 units will be brought in.

A new limited-edition BMW M3 - available in yellow, too!

The gorgeous, but confused, new Z4 is driven by Christo – he reports back on the Cape Town launch.