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ZA Car Show: Episode 84

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:29:34 +0000

64kbps stream –
32kbps stream –

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)

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

ZA Car Show: Episode 62

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:44:47 +0000

The motoring industry is starting to become a bit more energetic with a couple of previews of new models ahead of the Geneva Motor Show; hot on the heels of models unveiled in Detroit. We also decided, in the lead up to the 100th, that every episode from 62 onwards we will pick our favourite car from that model year. This is quite a good nostalgic exercise, so if you have any suggestions of your own, please feel free to reply here or mail us – our contact details are under the contact us tab at the top of the page.

This week we saw the reveal of the MINI Cooper crossover, the Countryman, and are not sure what to think…

Weird, awkward, refreshing, we're not sure what to think...

…see a preview of the face-lifted Mazda 5 ahead of it’s Geneva launch…

Pretty. The best execution of this new design language. Look at the sheet metal folds in the door

…while South Africa gets the new Polo

A bit bland but will probably age very well. Not Walter Da Silva's best work.

Direct file download (19MB)

Links to news stories and show notes after the jump

Crazy concept will become a reality; the MINI Countryman [via World Car Fans]

The pretty Mazda 5 has photos and details released ahead of its Geneva launch [via: Autoblog]

South African Volkswagen Polo unveiled to local motoring press [via Wheels24]

Driven: Facelift Audi Q7 4.2 TDI

ZACS’ favourite cars from 1962

ZA Car Show: Episode 60.5

admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:45:40 +0000

In the final episode of ZA Car Show for 2009 the team wraps up a couple of outstanding reviews and goes through a list of their favorite motoring experiences for the 2009. With South Africa’s Car of The Year coming up in the new year find out what motors changed the landscape for Trevor, Trevor, Patrick and Christo.

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

ZA Car Show: Episode 48

christo — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:40:37 +0000

Wow we’re already at Episode 48. The South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) bursar, Richard Macaskill joins us this week to see another side of motoring journalism. He even brought with some of his own news and insights. We are without Tuck this week, while he struggles to get his race car ready. We told him cannot be referred to as the tame/professional racing driver if he doesn’t actually ply his skills. It was motivation enough to get him back on the track.

An intimidating view

International news dominates with many new vehicles breaking cover ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show. If you are in the market for a new car for around R400 000 (BMW 325 money) then you have to listen to review of the Chevy Lumina SS.

For more images, links to news stories and other show notes, please click on the tiny ‘more’ below

Direct file download (25MB)

MINI Coupe [via CNet Car Tech]

Looks like Chip Foose got a hold if a MINI

Maserati GranCabrio [via Maserati]

Probably one of the sexiest drop-tops

Hyundai IX35 [via Autoblog]

Volkswagen Gol-based bakkie – Saveiro [via Carscoop and Carblog]

Sadly not headed to SA, but would make a worthy replacement for the Caddy

Chevrolet reveals its pricing for the upcoming Cruz

Like the Lumina, another good looking Chevrolet

A very modern interior a-la-Ford Fiesta

Facelift for the Ford Ranger

The Ranger has lost it's "butchness"; looks more like the Mazda BT-50 again

The business end

Not much has changed in here

New Kia Cerato spotted in SA

Chevrolet Lumina SS

This is a 7-series sized car for 3-series money

ZA Car Show: Episode 38

admin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:33:07 +0000

Finally after all the bunking by various members of the ZA Car Show crew we have a full house of Patrick, Christo and Trevors. The doom and gloom of the auto industry is…well…gloomy, so we dicided to all but ignore it and talk about happy things instead. Happy things in our books include: auto CEOs who know nothing about cars, Renault being cautioned in China for producing unsafe cars (oh the irony) and a right royal fight between the team over the Datsun Nissan 370Z.

R499 000 will buy you the new Nissan 370Z Manual with rev matching ...but for a bit less you could also get this - MINI Cooper JCW WC

More show notes and a video of the rev matching technology from Nissan after the jump…

Direct file download (27.1MB)

In Episode 38 we discuss:

The new GM Chariman: “I know nothing about cars” — well there’s a good place for GM to start. – [Autoblog]
Renault told by Chinese authorities its cars are not safe – [Bloomberg]
Audi R8 V10 and Audi Q7 V12 TDI order books open in SA – [Wheels24]
MINI JCW WC50 Edition – there’s a name to make RenaultSport naming conventions look silly
Some other cool MINIs:
- AC Schnitzer – [Top Gear]
- Karmann MINI Convertible with Union Jack soft top – [mini2] via [Autoexpress]
Driven: 2009 Nissan 370Z

ZA Car Show opinion: What technology should all cars come standard with?

ZA Car Show: Episode 22

christo — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:30:26 +0000

We’re rapidly heading towards a half a year’s worth of podcasts and luckily the manufacturers are starting to take note. Not only is ZA Car breaking more news than any other traditional motoring media in South Africa, but we are even reporting more accurately – more about that in Episode 23 next week.

The team covers new car news from around the world and the team gives you a couple of thoughts on the new Ford Fiesta 1.6 3-door Titanium which we all got to drive.

Some other topics under discussion after the jump…

In this espisode we discuss:

BMW wins Wallpaper award
Mercedes Benz C180 BlueEFFICIENCY
MINI Cooper Convertible JCW
Facelift: Ford Ikon
New Car Launch: Volvo XC60
Driven: Ford Fiesta 1.6 Titanium 3 Door

Very pretty for nearly every angle although light colours suit it best

Other manufacturers can learn from Ford. Interior feels better quality than other Fords, while the central control screen opperates and navigates like a mobile phone. Bluetooth and voice control is standard on Trend and Titanium specification

Direct file download (18.7MB)

ZA Car Show: Episode 16

christo — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:12:03 +0000

After what seems like a hiatus with the mishap of Episode 16, we are back in full force (kind of) with a show packed with new car news (surprisingly) and some car reviews.

In episode 17 we discuss:

The Audi A5 Convertible. A5 = handsome; A5 convertible = pretty
The King Of The Mountain event held on the Gydo Pass in the Western Cape- when a motorsport spectacle goes wrong. Shocking
MINI unveils the new convertible – is it new, it’s so hard to tell these days?
The four-door supercar, Porsche Panamera (Flash version) or non flash news
SA’s NAAMSA figures for November 2008. Shocking. For the long media release, click on this coloured word, but rather listen to the show
Toyota sells dangerous Hiluxes, and provides a solution: new tyres.
SA Car of the Year 2009, the nominees are…[drum roll]
Test Driven: Facelift Ford Focus ST
and more…

Direct file download (25.8MB)

ZA Car Show: Episode 12

christo — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:30:51 +0000

Episode 12 of ZA Car Show with Christo van Gemert, Patrick Gearing Trevor Tuck and Trevor van de Ven covers some interesting news on the environmental front, from new hybrids, podcars and electric Porsches. We are also first to drive the new Ford Fiesta and play a sports car challenge.

Episode 12 the ZACS team covers:

New Cars: Toyota Prius
Podcars
The RUF electric [Porsche] 911
Electric cars and the silly things that manufacturers are having to build because electric cars are too quiet
New Cars MINI E – electric car
Fiat’s new downloadable fuel economy tool: For Fiat drivers with Blue&Me only, sorry.
New Cars: Ford’s Focus RS Christo has pictures of the car in the flesh which we cannot share unfortunately
Smart2Go city commute concept – ready for South Africa or not?
New Car Drive: 2009 Ford Fiesta launch in South Africa
ZACS challenge: Pick a sports car for under R500 000, sounds like a lot of money, trust ZACS there is not much to choose from. The results, again, are surprising.
And finally the answer the Episode 11′s challenge on rotary engines

and more…

Direct file download (29.5MB)

ZA Car Show: Episode 8

christo — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:30:55 +0000

In Episode 8 of ZA Car Show we welcome Christo back who brings with him a bumper load of new car news and test drives while the ZACS plays the best model game again. We are full of surprises in this episode.

In Episode 8 we discuss:

The CitiWolf – is this a sheep in wolf’s clothing, mutton dressed as lamb we could go on…

Golf VI GTI, a case of de-ja-vu. Take a look at the W12 and new GTI, we can’t believe we never saw this coming

New Car Launch Drive: MINI JCW, BMW’s new pocket rocket, not be confused with the MINI Cooper JCW kit, all very confusing we know

ZACS Best Car Challenge: This week we battle it out arguing what is the best Toyota. The results are surprising once again

The Toyota Prius causes a fight while we explore some of the other models we did not pick – Tuck is a hybrid hater

Test Driven: Range Rover Sport TDV8 – Christo’s rollin’ on dubs and he even took if offroad…

Test Driven: Mercedes Benz C63 AMG – Mercedes Benz’ monster car developed to kick Beemer in the nuts and it does! But is it a good car?

And more…

Direct file download (32.5MB)

ZA Car Show: Episode 7

christo — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:00:24 +0000

In Episode 7 of ZA Car Show, we discuss a couple of motoring topics without Christo at the helm of the computer. Instead the three remaining commentators, Patrick Gearing and Trevor’s Squared managed to cover the following topics:

VW pulls the plug on Seat SA (clicky on the blue part to read the official letter)
BMW announces the Brilliance Splendor, not really, actually a BMW 3-Series facelift – BMW jealous of Audi’s daytime running lights
Audi SA alludes to the Audi A3 convertible – ZACS guesses prices and get it right
Rumor mill: BMW X2
Rumor mill: MINI Clubman Crossover
Nissan spruces up the Livina range with the X-Gear, nice looking car at a nice price
ZA Car Show launches its sales training course. In a market where car sales are lagging, we dispense free advice on how to sell cars. Next time we expect payment. Get a hold of us on email for further training courses.

And loads more…

Direct file download (35MB)