The team is down to two people this week, with Christo watching some Afrikaans rap star while Tuck works on a race car for the weekend of historics (or is that hysterics?) racing. Patrick Gearing and Trevor van de Ven, man the mics and mixing desk to bring you the one of the leanest ZACS episodes in a long time.

In this episode we talk about the South African launch of the Alfa MiTo MultiAir-engined models as well as the introduction of a new roadster from Nissan, the 370Z. Most notably, however is the review by Trevor on the Hyundai i30, a car which can [and should] change the motoring landscape of South Africa.

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

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

Show notes and links after the jump.

New Jeep Grand Cherokee breaks cover in the US [link to the US microsite]

South Africa sees the introduction of the Nissan 370Z Convertible

Local launch: Alfa Mito Quadrifoglio Verde and Multiair [via: Times Live]

Spot the difference, er yes, the press car didn't have any options so you can't.

Driven: Hyundai i30

Pretty, but a bit bland

The design is distinctly European

So cushy in here, it's like being in bed

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.

In case you were wondering where the show was last week, we had such a good chat with Des Fenner of General Motors, we decided we could not let you hear it until all the top-secret stuff he mentioned to us has been officially announced. That’s our story anyway. The interview with GM will be broadcast towards the end of August right before it launches the Cruze (oops).

This week our hybrid expert is on leave which saves us from focussing too much on the environment and instead ponder about the stupidness of the evergreen Citi Golf from VW, some green BMWs, a pretty Merc station wagon and some Audi prices. We also go off-roading in a Jeep Wranger Rubicon and Land Rover Defender 110 SVX60.

Direct file download (23.9MB)

For links to news and more show notes click on the little ‘more’ under this sentence.

BMW Vision Concept [via Bimmerpost ]

Sleek profile, looks practical too. BMW marketers go WTF?

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon[via CNet Car Tech]

As far as wagons go, this is very pretty

You could fit a coffin in there without any conversions

Schumacher’s return to racing [Update: he's out again, Tuck sheds a tear]

Nissan GTRs set tyres on SA soil…er tarmac. South Africans only like silver it seems.

Silver's a popular colour; white, not so much.

Driven: Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 3.8

The front view. 4x4 can be fun in one of these.

That's some articualtion and I dont mean the way Christo speaks

Driven: Land Rover Defender SVX 60

Rather than being a war hero, this should be charged with war crimes. It's just too old now.

If petrol drinking competitions were being held...

...the Jeep would be right up there. Not much power from this 151kW petrol.

The R8.00 solution to a R1300.00 problem Skyslider sunroof

More show notes after the click

Direct file download (26.4MB)

In this episode we also discuss the Porsche/VW merger, Jag and Land Rover’s Indian Expansion and the Parys to De Aar motorcycle adventure.

Direct file download (29.3MB)

Show notes

• North American International Auto Show 2009 – The Detroit Auto Show launches more models than ever before. More of the same is what it really was.
• Chrysler 200C EV
• Dodge Circuit ENVI – can you say Lotus
• Chrysler Voyager EV
• Jeep Wrangler EV
• Lexus HS250h
• VW Concept Bluesport
• And many more… for more news go here and here [thanks IOL Motoring and Road & Track]
• Alfa Romeo’s CEO resigns
• You bought the wrong car…what makes it wrong? This debate can carry on for pages, what do you think makes cars “right” or “wrong”?
• Test Driven: Hyundai i10 1.2 High-Spec
• Test Driven: Kia Pro_Ceed
• Win a TomTom One V4 GPS.

This week the ZACS team tackle the European Car of the Year, have a look at the vehicles eligible for South African of the year and discuss GM’s fate – the American auto-builder is looking for a bailout from the US government.

In this episiode:

• Chrysler South Africa offers Flex-Fuel vehicles with the 2009 Dodge Journey 2.7 V6.
• European Car of the Year 2009, these are the nominees: Alfa Romeo MiTo, Citroën C5, Ford Fiesta, Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, Renault Mégane, Škoda Superb, Volkswagen Golf.
• And the cars that didn’t make it: Audi A4, Audi Q5, BMW X6, BMW 7 Series, Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler Grand Voyager, Citroen Berlingo/Peugeot Partner, Citroen Nemo/Fiat Fiorino/Peugeot Bipper, Dacia Sandero, Dodge Journey, Ford Kuga, Honda Accord, Honda Jazz, Hyundai i10, Hyundai i800, Jaguar XF, Jeep Cherokee, Lancia Delta, Mazda6, Mercedes-Benz GLK, Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Murano, Opel Agila/Suzuki Splash, Renault Kangoo, Renault Koleos, Seat Ibiza, Subaru Forester, Toyota Land Cruiser 200, Volkswagen Scirocco, Volvo XC60
• South African Car of the Year speculation: ZACS guesss which might be the picks from local manufacturers, hedges bets and will check when the announcement is made 28 November 2008.
• General Motors Deathwatch – with a request to the US Government for a financial bail-out, what will happen to porfitable regions like that in which South Africa finds itself.

And more…

Direct file download (23MB) ]]> http://www.zacar.co.za/za-car-show-episode-14/feed 2 http://www.zacar.co.za/za-car-show-jims-special-day-1 http://www.zacar.co.za/za-car-show-jims-special-day-1#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 03:51:18 +0000 christo http://www.zacar.co.za/?p=77 The ZA Car Show crew report back on day 1 of the Johannesburg International Motorshow. Media unveilings, world exclusives and more – they saw some fantastic new models that’ll be making their way to South Africa in the next year.

Some of the cars we looked at include the following:

• Mercedes Benz SL65 Black Series
• Mercedes Benz ML63 AMG
• Mercedes Benz Viano V6
• Mercedes Benz BlueTec
• Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
• Mitsubishi Pajero 
• Mitsubishi Evo X Prototype
• Chrysler Voyager
• Chrysler 300C SRT-8
• Dodge Caliber
• Jeep Wrangler
• Jeep Compass
• Jeep Patriot
• BMW 7-series
• BMW X6 ActiveHybrid
• BMW M3
• Renault Logan
• Renault Sandero
• Renault Koleos
• Renault Laguna Coupé Concept
• Renault Twingo
• Audi Q5
• Audi TT-S
• Audi RS6
• Audi S3 Sportback
• Volkswagen Scirocco
• Volkswagen Passat CC
• Volkswagen Up Concept
• Volkswagen Citi Wolf
• Koenigsegg CCXR 
• Lexus LS600hL
• Lexus IS250 Sport
• Alfa Romeo MiTo
• Nissan GTR
• Nissan Nuvu Concept
• Nissan NP200
• Daihatsu Materia DRD