This week’s also been busy, with news from abroad that Porsche - fresh with new ideas like a hybrid track car – that it will launch the new Cayenne in two wheel drive form. While the local market gets introduced to the new Volvo S60, available in 2011, some new Mercedes diesels, a Fiat Sed… Suzuki SX4 four-wheel drive and a new Renault Clio. Listen to the whole show for the ZA Car Show head-to-head of what the team believes to be two of the most influential cars in a compact sedan segment.

Episode 66 direct download (25MB) – or subscribe via iTunes here.

As an experiment, we’re going to offer a low-quality version of the show for a few episodes. A few listeners have expressed disdain at having such “large” files, so we’re offering a very compressed version of the show, at roughly half the file size of a regular show.
So, click here to download the low-quality version of ZA Car Show, episode 66 (13MB)

Again, we encourage feedback from you, our faithful listeners! Please e-mail us with your comments or queries, and we’ll respond via mail or on the show. Our e-mail address is info [at] zacar [dot] co [dot] za. Alternatively, we can be reached (or read) on the Twitter microblogging service (where we post all our breaking news in between shows) – simply go to http://twitter.com/zacarshow.

For news, show notes and pictures click ‘more’ New Porsche Cayenne accidentally leaked on its car configurator site? [via: MotorCrave via Motor Authority]

Silly configurators, last week it was the BMW F10 pricing in SA, this week it's an entirely new model

Porsche plans to make a run at a 23 percent cut in efficiency for its petrol engine range. Toward that end, Porsche will equip the new Cayenne with three engine options: a 300 hp 3.6-liter V6,  a naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V8 worth 400 hp for the Cayenne S and a twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8 churning out 500 hp for the Cayenne Turbo. A 240 hp 3.9-liter V6 turbodiesel and a Cayenne S Hybrid packing a 330 hp 3.0-liter V6 with a 47 hp electric motor will join the pack later on.

South African Volvo S60 lineup [via Wheels24]

Three engine derivatives will be on offer: T6, 2.0T and D5. The flagship 3.0-litre inline six T6 produces has an output of 224 kW and 440 Nm while a turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-litre will be the initial entry point into the range with 149 kW and 300 Nm on tap. The 2.4-litre D5 engine kicks off the model’s diesel assault with power of 151 kW and 420 Nm of torque.

Famous Renault Clio S model designation to make a comeback in South Africa (we never really had the original in the first place I guess, but it’s good to bring back the heritage) [via: Renault.com and World Car Fans]

Renault's bid to market cars that deliver sporty appeal at affordable prices has led to the return of a version of Renault Clio that proved highly popular in the 1990s, namely Renault Clio 'S'. Like its predecessor, today's Renault Clio 'S' features an overtly sporty feel thanks to a competitively-priced package of exclusive and distinctive design details.

Merc’s 4 cylinder, twin-turbo diesel engines

To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the diesel-fueled engine, the manufacturer releases a brand new twin-turbo diesel engine for its C- and E-Class models. In its most powerful variant, the new four-cylinder twin-turbo unit for the E250 CDI BlueEfficiency musters up 150 kW, while torque is up by 25% from 400 to 500 Nm.

2010 Suzuki SX4 Four-Wheel Drive [via: Suzuki]

Fuel Levies increased in SA while government imposes 120g/km emissions tax. Craziness since there are few new cars which will comply.

Driven: Kia Cerato 2.0

Driven: Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LT

- a happy place to be

Forget about Polo Sedans and Corollas, this is where the future lies.

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]

Patrick has a point...listen to find out

Links, pictures and more after the jump.

Direct file download (26MB)

Driven: BMW Z4

Driven: Hyundai H1

Driven: Audi S4

The ZA Car Show – Cars of the year

The new Sorento. A handsome beast - bits of Subaru Forester and Mitsubishi Outlander, in there.

More notes and pics after the jump!

Direct file download (21MB)

Kia’s new Sorento briefly discussed. Watch this space for a road test.

Volkswagen’s Amarok pick-up is now the official Dakar competition vehicle, replacing Giniel’s championship-winning Touareg.

A practical interior. They're gonna need those walkie-talkies.

A huge load bed. Strangely, they have all the wrong tools in there.

Perhaps the racecar won't have those lights. Or wheels. And way more stickers.

Mercedes Benz sets up five AMG performance centres in SA. To give customers a special experience. You know, unlike what they’re going to get a regular dealership. Just kidding – apparently these performance centres will be for enthusiasts of the brand. You know, unlike… nevermind.

The new AMG Performance Centres even have their own website.

Could this AMG brand exercise have something to do with the new Mercedes Benz GP team – formerly Brawn GP? We also discuss other F1 drama, including the driver shuffles and possible speculation about Herr Schumacher returning to the thro… we mean wheel.

The original Mercedes racecars - the Silver Arrows.

Road tests:

The fantastically zingy and fun-to-drive Renaultsport Twingo. 98kW from a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated motor always spells fun. But it’s not perfect…

A cute little city runabout. With dynamite under the bonnet.

The Dynamite.

Unfortunately we will not be able to get this playful pedal set as an option in SA.

A huge big rev counter. With a shift light. Just what your sporty hatch needs.

Tuck, our resident bakkie expert, spent a week with a Daihatsu Gran Max pick-up, to see how it stacks up to other vehicles. He likes it, and sings its praises.

This is NOT the SA-spec Gran Max. We're just making sure you're paying attention, here.

Is this BMW a future classic? Listen to the show to hear why we think so and why we think the newer M3s will not be.

Direct file download (25MB)

For Show notes and links to news stories click ‘more’ below:

Is the KIA Cerato Koup hitting SA shores soon, we think so but KIA SA won’t say [Aussie microsite: Kia Cerato Koup]

What a pretty coupe. KIA is standing out from the crowd these days

Mercedes-Benz GL gets a mid-life face lift, nip and tuck – Nip and Tuck like it a lot.

Lexus announces that its IS converitible will be in South Africa by the end of 2009 [via: Business Day]

Challenge: What makes a car iconic? The ZACS crew members choose their favourite future classics!

The bridge of the HMS Audi

Still handsome after all of these years. It gets a Nip here and Tuck there...

More news and show notes after the click

Direct file download (27.8MB)

• VW announces the VW Scirocco R. Audi S3 powerplant in one of the best looking VW’s of late
• 

  Pretty

  2009 BMW Z4, not yet launched but prices tell a scary tale

• Kia Soul has thankfully not been affected by Kiaoverpricealitis, but again models available at dealers to test drive ahead of the press official press launch. Manual reported to sell for R189 000.00 (click the hyperlink for the mini-site)
• Test Driven: Audi A6 3.0 TDI
• ZA Car Show Challenge: can we find a large executive luxury saloon for under R50 000.00?

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.

Stands were visited, and here’s what they saw:

• Cadillac Provoque
• Chevrolet Beat
• Chevrolet Trax
• Chevrolet Orlando
• Chevrolet Camaro
• Chevrolet Corvette Z06
• Honda Civic Type-R
• Honda Jazz
• Honda Accord Tourer
• Fiat Linea
• Land Rover Defender SVX
• Range Rover Autobiography
• Ford Fiesta
• Ford Focus
• Ford Ranger
• Mazda 2
• Mazda 6
• GWM Peri
• GWM Hover Limo
• Toyota Yaris TS
• Subaru 
• Hyundai i10
• Hyundai i20
• Kia Soul
• Kia pro_cee’d
• Tata Indica Vista
• Proton Satria Neo turbo
• Bentley Speed
• Maserati
• Lotus
• Ferrari