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The Johannesburg International Motor Show kicked off for the public at NASREC in Gauteng, South Africa on 8 October. We attended the press days two days prior to the public show, and came away very impressed. In episode 136, John Beale, Christo van Gemert and Trevor van de Ven discuss the highlights and the surprises of the of the show. If you’ve not attended yet, perhaps this might prompt you to make a turn past there, and if you already have, maybe you disagree. Let us know what you thought about the show.

Take a look at the gallery of highlights from Day 1 of the Johannesburg Motor Show…

This Honda CRZ despite being labeled a 'Concept' was built in South Africa to prove that hybrids need not be boring. Click on the image to see the modifications under the hood of this car and some of the other highlights of Day 1 at the Johannesburg International Motor Show.

…and a gallery of Day 2′s highlights.

Another concept on show at the Johannesburg Motor Show, the awesome little Suzuki Swift Sport Concept. The real deal will be coming to South Africa soon, but click on the picture to see what the highlights of day two were.

The J, C and T also review the Land Rover Discovery TDV6 HSE and the Opel Corsa Colour Edition, a good value car for the youth or not? Listen to find out more.

We review this car in this episode, click on the image to view a complete gallery of the details that grace the Corsa Colour Edition

A rare sight is one of these cars off-road, but it's equally good on-road so we don't mind that, that is where most of them will reside. Click on the image to go to a full gallery of some magnificent photography of the Landrover Discovery TDV6 HSE that ZA Car Show had on review.

Episode 136 hi-fi download 
Episode 136 lo-fi download

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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)

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There’s such a varied array of news this wee,k from a very fast record at the 2011 Pike’s Peak hill climb (click on that link, do it) to an off-roader of an entirely different, a sixty year old sort. ZACS also covers the new Efficient BMW X1 and Fiat’s Panda baby before wrapping it up with a review of Christo van Gemert and John Beale‘s favourite tech-packed car, the MINI Cooper S with MINI Connected.

BMW announced efficient engines and other technology for the X1. Click on the image for a link to the gallery

BMW's lighter E90 M3. All the weight reduction from carbon composite body panels has made it as light as...and M3 Coupe. Hmmm. Click on the image for a full gallery of 25+ images and data sheets.

Land Rover's Defender Limited Edition. Nothing new here at first glance. Click on the image for a link to the full gallery.

Fiat's new baby. Great car, bad name. Click on the image for a link to the entire gallery.

ZACS Review: 2011 Mini Cooper S with MINI Connected.

Episode 123 hi-fi download (27MB)
Episode 123 lo-fi download (14MB)

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Tips or suggestions for the ZA Car Video of the day? E-mail us, catch us on Twitter or leave a message on our Facebook page!

Since it’s getting a bit colder, here in Johannesburg (where all of the ZA Car Show team is based), we figured it only made sense to have a winter-themed Wallpaper Wednesday. And since snow is the most obvious visual component of winter, we’ve gone and selected a few of the web’s photographers’ finest snowy photos.

We’ve got it all: from rally cars drifting in the  white stuff, to yellow Volvos just parked on it. No doubt, this selection is bound to have a winter warmer that’ll make your desktop a bit more exciting.

Just click to enlarge, and drag the photo to your desktop to save it.

*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.

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It’s no economic crisis in China, judging by some of the vehicles that were unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show, but it’s brands like Lamborghini and Rolls Royce that seem to impress the most in this (if we can we call it) emerging economy. ZACS also looks at a special model – the E63 AMG – from the New York International Auto Show too. The special cars from Brabus, Opel and Porsche that really impress.

In this show we also discuss the impending launch of Nissan’s New Micra;  the virtues of a notoriously unreliable brand like Land Rover sponsoring the Rugby World Cup 2011 and SA players, Bryan Habana and John Smit; a mini MINI bicycle and a review of the surprisingly pleasant Renault Sandero Stepway.

So very pretty (compared with the old one)

Well that's impressive...

A little less impressive is what it looks like once it has been unfolded.

Episode 114 hi-fi download (15MB)
Episode 114 lo-fi download (7MB)

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1976 was the year that South African’s were introduced to TV, it was also the year that many South Africans died in riots. Subsequently, another key cause of death and policing is the discussion the team has when talking about their landmark cars from 1976.

In this episode we also review the Lexus RX450h Hybrid SUV,  discuss the move to two-wheel drive Land Rovers and give you a first drive through the mouth of Christo van Gemert of the new BMW 5-series.

Episode 76 hi-fi download (30MB)
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Show notes and links after the jump.

LandRover to join the ranks of 2- wheel drive by 2012 with the LRX [via Motorauthority]

If this is what 2WD Landies will look like, we're not complaining

BMW in the Netherlands slipped with a teaser of the next BMW X3 ahead of its unveiling at the Paris Auto Show [via: worldcarfans]

BMW X3 Teaser. Not really revealing much, but don't buy the old one anymore because this is coming soon.

The lovable offroader, the Suzuki Jimny turns 40 [via: Cars in Action]

Old and new, together for the first time in 40 years.

Porsche’s GT2 RS… finally featured on ZA Car Show. Sorry for the delay!

Mazda Turns 90 [via: Mazda]

New Launch: BMW 5 Series

http://www.lexus.co.za/gallery/images/RXh_09/RXh-New-Gen-04.jpg

Qrigami meets SUV.

Download audio file (zacs52.mp3)

Episode 52 mean that we have officially passed one year of podcasting. Truth be told we’ve been at it a little longer and have actually put out around 57 episodes including out Johannesburg International Motor Show special editions and race meet outside broadcast. It’s not always been as smooth as Trevor Tuck’s lines through ‘Potters’ at the East London Grand Prix Circuit, but it has, for the most, part been as fun.   We’ve helped you choose cars, challenge opinions and hopefully give you more insight than Honda in the last year.

This week is no different, while lean on news from both local and international shores, is still filled with humour and opinion thanks to the ZA Car Show Challenge to purchase a car for R350 000. Without discussing it beforehand we’ve still managed to be more inconsistent than Jenson Button’s winning streak.

For more news and show notes click “more”

Direct file download (25MB)

Land Rover confirms that the LRX concept will go into production [via: Jalopnik]

Toyota develops self regenerating paint.  Catch a parking lot scratch and all it requires is a little car wash and buff. Clever.  [Via: UberGizmo]

BMW announces the availability of its “Performance Pack” upgrade for the 135i and 335i

Driven: 2009 Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4 T-Jet

ZA Car Show Challenge: The average entry-level executive car costs around R350 000 these days. We have had a couple of them on test recently. What would you buy with R350 000 burning a hole in your pocket.

Download audio file (zacs45.mp3)

Seven more episodes to go and the ZA Car Show team will have produced a year’s worth of motoring goodness direct from the shores of South Africa – that place south of Botswana, for Kim Kardashian.

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.

Download audio file (zacs_jims2.mp3)

The ZACS team report back on all the happenings, unveilings and news on the second day of the Johannesburg International Motor Show.

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