For once, the back end of a new BMW is not its worst angle. It officially unveiled pictures of the new BMW X3 and then outdid itself by releasing photos and pictures of the MINI Countryman. The team also reviews the a BMW X1 sDrive 2.0d with almost all the option packs fitted. Is it worth the nearly R500 000 asking price?

Very pretty

Episode 84 hi-fi download (29MB)
Episode 84 lo-fi download (16MB)

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Show notes and links after the jump.

2011 BMW X3 officially revealed. We think the new X3 has officially taken over the reins from the original X5 as the prettiest BMW SUV. [via MotorTrend]

Bangle introduced the styling elements to shift design perceptions, BMW has now refined them. Very handsome/pretty car.

Even the interior has become more 'normal' but better.

No doubt it will sell and have a following, but we think it’s pants. The Mini Countryman [via AutoExpress]

Ergggg, not sure what else to tell you...

Another big Peugeot: the 508. It probably won’t sell all that well, but it sure does look good. South Africa will get this in 2011 [via Car Magazine UK]

Very pretty. Very French

South Africa’s Ford Figo Pricing -  comment and opinion to come in next week’s show.

Local launch of the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Gullwing – more info in next week’s show.

Test Driven: 2010 BMW X1 sDrive2.0 diesel

Only 17 more episodes to go until we hit the magic 100 mark! We think its safe to say that podcasts are finally catching on in South Africa, and if you’re like Trevor van de Ven, who uses public transport these days, what better way to make time go by faster on this bus and train rides?

Christo van Gemert joined BMW for its annual Innovations Day at its Munich headquarters. Yes, in Germany. He gives us the inside scoop on BMW’s planned electric car – known as the MegaCity Vehicle – as well as the other advanced technologies ze Germans are working on. We also say good bye to some iconic cars and welcome some new one – who said the patrol engine is dead?

Awesome little car except it doesn't sound like a Ducati

Episode 83 hi-fi download (29MB)
Episode 83 lo-fi download (16MB)

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

Show notes and links after the jump.

The brand we love to hate here in SA, Fiat, launches its 500 Twinair: a 900cc two-cylinder turbo engine. Will we see it in South Africa? It’s unlikely, but the technology is fabulous and makes the TwinAir one of the most efficient cars on the road today, bar those electric goodies. [via: AutoExpress]

Clever little car; clever little engine

We’ve seen this shape before from Alfa Romeo, with its 156 and 159 Sportwagons. Now Volvo presents its V60 Sports Wagon: a bit more sports but too little wagon [via: Volvo]

Sexy. Trevor van de Ven is in love - Swedish and a wagon!

Bugatti Veyron SuperSport sets a new world record for production cars – 430-odd km/h. Madness. [via Bugatti and TopSpeed]

Mercedes launches a face lift to its CL model complete with LED daytime running lights [via Motor Trend]

BMW M5 production ended. We bid a legend goodbye.

Christo attended the BMW Innovations Day in Munich. Listen to the podcast to get the lowdown on all of the new tech from BMW. Join the ZA Car Facebook fan page, for a gallery of pics from the BMW museum!

Episode 82 is packed with fun, featuring cars both fast and slow. With speed and lap records were being broken, it provided a bit of solace for those of us who thought that the era of big engines and crazy horsepower is nearly dead. Happily, it’s quite far from that.

Mercedes Benz SA: If you're listening, we want one of these...

Instead, we see Mercedes Benz’s C63 DR520, and the Mercedes-powered Pagani Zonda which broke smashed the Nurburgring lap record. The team also takes a look at (probably) the slowest cars to ever tackle the task, measuring the time in months rather than minutes. Trevor van de Ven reviews the Polo Vivo and comes away with some fresh, new views on the budget hatch segment. Listen to the show to find out more.

Episode 82 hi-fi download (29MB)
Episode 82 lo-fi download (16MB)

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

Show notes and links after the jump.

The standard C63 AMG has 450 horsepower, so nobody was accusing it of being slow. Not content with having the most powerful sedan in its class, the Mercedes Specialist Products Division, headquartered at the Brooklands race track in England, has released the new limited-production DR 520, complete with matte paintwork [via Autoblog]

Wagon please!

Pagani’s Zonda R smashes the ‘Ring record recently set by the Ferrari 599XX; not by miliseconds, but by 11 full seconds. Do you think Ferrari will take this lying down? Probably not…[via Evo]

So fast even the picture blurred

Slowest Ring cars

Audi A7 spied [via World Car Fans]

ZACS Test Drive: 2010 Polo Vivo 1.4 5-door

Plain... yet perfect.

Familiar, in a few ways.

Click here for prices and options or here for a worthy competitor

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)

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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

Fresh from the Easter break, Christo van Gemert and Trevor Tuck are joined in studio by Trevor van de Ven. Again. They bring us the announcement news for  the 2010 World Car of the Year, Renault, and a partnership that might give birth to a Mercedes-Benz Twingo or Smart NP200.

Tuck and Christo have also driven the Mistubishi Pajero Sport. Find out why it’s name lets it down a bit, and why Tuck derides it but also wants one so badly…

Letting the name down or holding the side up, that is the question.

Episode 70 hi-fi download (20MB)
Episode 70 lo-fi download (10MB)

Oh and HEY! Why haven’t you mailed us? Or started following us on Twitter? Remember – ZACS loves you. Without our loyal listeners, and their feedback, we’d be nothing. Tell your friends, ask us questions, share the podcast, go hog wild.
Follow us on Twitter, here.
Join the ZA Car Show fan group on Facebook, here.

Show notes and links after the jump.In episode 70 we discuss:

World Car of the Year for 2010, and quite possibly South Africa’s next car of the year: the Volkswagen Polo [via: World Car of the Year]

Polo Wins

Renault, Nissan and Mercedes Benz join forces for the development of new small engines and platform sharing [via: New York Times] – great blog post on the partnership here

Renault launches the Laguna Coupé in South Africa [via Wheels24]

Think of it basically as a Nissan 350z...

...but much prettier.

Ford invests R3-billion in South Africa for exports  [via: Business Day]

Driven: Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. Is it good enough to command a premium over the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest? What about it’s name, is the Pajero moniker enough?

ZACS Car of the year challenge: This episode we cover cars from 1970.

Slowly getting back into the groove, after a short absence from the internet airwaves, the three-strong ZACS team congregates once again to bring you the latest motoring news and history. The new and the old, all in one podcast. Where else can you get quality programming like this?

Before we start with this week’s show notes, let us first CONGRATULATE our fine co-host, Trevor van de Ven, on becoming a dad. Again. His son joined the family last week and Trevor has used this as an excuse for not featuring the latest episode of your favourite motoring podcast.

In his absence, we’ve discussed things as exciting as the new Mercedes Benz E-class estate and as dreary as the Lexus LFA, which will be making its debut as a production race car in the 24-hours of Nürburgring endurance race.

Lexus LFA at the 'Ring

Also featured in episode 69 are a duo of Japanese sports cars, in the cars of the episode’s year (1969), the actual Car of the Year winner, and Fiat’s new additions to the 500 model range.

Episode 69 hi-fi download (21MB)
Episode 69 lo-fi download (11MB)

Oh and HEY! Why haven’t you mailed us? Or started following us on Twitter? Remember – ZACS loves you. Without our loyal listeners, and their feedback, we’d be nothing. Tell your friends, ask us questions, share the podcast, go hog wild.
Follow us on Twitter, here.
Join the ZA Car Show fan group on Facebook, here.

More links, pics and words after the jump!

Fiat has added the 500 Cabriolet and 500 Sport MTA to its stable. After reviewing pricing on the 500 range (an entry-level 500 can be had for just under R136 000, rather than the R150 000 it was before) the Italian auto maker has added two exciting, fully-packed 500s to the model lineup. The Sport MTA has an automatically-actuated manual transmission, while the Cabrio has an electrically operated fabric roof that can be used at speeds of up to 60km/h. Pricing for both new models is competitive at R197 600.

Hyundai has launched the i30 – it’s competitor for the segment dominated by the VW Golf. Available with either a 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre engine, the i30 has fresh, but conservative, styling. Ride is comfortable, highway cruising is relaxed and spec levels are surprisingly good – USB connectivity for iPods, airbags and safety features galore. Pricing starts at R189 900 for the i30 1.6 and R229 900 for the i30 2.0.

At the Wesbank South African Car of the Year banquet, mid March, the 2009 Car of the Year was unveiled. To much fanfare, but little surprise, the Volkswagen Golf Mk6 1.4TSI took home the honours. One lucky winner also got to take the Golf home for a whole year, complete with petrol and insurance bills covered. While some would have liked the Alfa Romeo MiTo to have won, the Volkswagen is definitely a worthy titleholder. Interestingly, it’s also the first time in the model’s 35-year history that it has been awarded the honour (in South Africa).

For those who want a little more E-class for their money, Mercedes Benz has launched the E-class estate. Available with most of the engines as offered in the sedan (save for the hot, V8-equipped E63 AMG), the new wagon doesn’t really leave us wanting more. Perhaps a bit too refined and luxurious to be a Q-car, like the Audi RS4 Avant, BMW M5 Touring, Honda Accord Tourer and Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon. Pricing starts at R507 000 for the E200 CGI and ranges all the way to R833 000 for the E500.

A lucky group of students at the University of Cologne were given a Ford Focus RS, by Ford, to prepare for racing. The race? Well, 24 hours of the Nürburgring. Let’s hope they actually do go race it, instead of hooning around the parking lot at Cologne McDonalds.

Honda has released some interesting figures for its CR-Z sporty hybrid hatch. Apparently 10 000 orders have been placed, thus far, for the spiritual successor to the CR-X. Of those, 50% are customers new to the brand, and 4 000 units have been ordered with a manual transmission – which really confuses our hybrid advisor, Patrick Gearing.

A bit late – thanks to a few technical glitches – ZA Car Show brings you the latest in motoring news from around the world, the Geneva Motor Show and South Africa.

Trevor Tuck’s excitement is piqued with the announcement that the Mercedes Benz AMG SLS will do its duty as the official pace car for the F1 season.

A very green, green Ferrari

We also give a brief  round up of the noteworthy cars from the Geneva (Auto Salon) Motor Show. A local launch in the form of VW’s Citi successor, the Polo Vivo is followed by a review of the new Polo 1.4 Comfortline. Could this just be the car that VW should have in its lineup to secure world domination?

Episode 68 hi-fi download (34MB)
Episode 68 lo-fi download (16.5MB)

Remember, we WANT your feedback. Send us your questions, requests, complaints and spy photos to info [at] zacarshow [dot] co [dot] za.
Or follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacarshow, where we break news, post updates and share info.

Links to news, show notes and more after the jump

Mercedes Benz AMG SLS will do its duty at the hands of Bernd Maylander (click for Wiki Page)as the  F1 Safety Car [via: Wheels24]

Nice change from the C63

Geneva Auto Salon Wrap Up

• For the official website of the show click here
• For UK Car Magazine’s wrap up click here [via: Gavin Green's Blog]
• For our awesome wrap up with Tuck salivating over a green Ferrari and Patrick Gearing going gaga over hybrids listen to the show
• South Africa disappoints SA with the Joule at the show. Not enough electricity to power SA so why the big deal to develop an electric car

Lexus Luxury LX570 off road crusher launched in SA [via: Carblog]

Like a giant LS460 that can climb mountains and carry militants

Volkswagen’s Citi replacement, the funky new Polo Vivo.

A slight facelift for what we know as the old Polo!

ZA Car Show Driven: 2010 Volkswagen Polo Comfortline

• Click here for the official VW minisite
• Click here for prices and options

The team has nothing but love for VW's best Polo ever.

ZA Car Show Driven: 2009 Chevrolet Captiva 3.2 LTZ

• Specs and pricing when you click here

Our intrepid Tuck was very Captiva(ted) by this car.

ZA Car Show’s cars that changed the world from 1968

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]

Show notes and links to news after the jump

Direct file download (18MB)

South African Guild of Motoring Car Of the Year 2009

Alfa Romeo Giulietta [via: World Car Fans]

Italian Beauty

Sexy Behind

VW Amorok [via: Autoblog]

Whichever way you say it: "I'm a rock" is going to be the next best thing for the general population of Boksburg, Bellville and Brakpan

Mercedes Benz C63 Edition

M Class Sports Pack

If road rage is a problem, listen to this interview with Carmen Du Preez from Rager an SMS based anger management service.