ZA Car

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We love special cars at ZA Car Show and there are quite a few in this week’s episode featuring Christo, Trevor, Patrick and John Beale. Expensive Bugattis get more expensive, BMWs get more strange, fast Mercs get faster and VWs bakkies get a little more agricultural, and more… go on, have a listen or just click through to the galleries below.

A Bugatti filled with fine German porcelain. Hold on that doesn't sound right does it? Click on the image for a full gallery of this one-off car...

It really is one of the best looking convertibles on the plant. That is until someone decided that a two-tone car was a good idea. Click on the picture for a link to the full gallery of this and the Limited M-sport edition.

The cat's out the bag. And it's a might fine looking cat. Click on the image to see a full gallery of the Mercedes Benz C63 Coupe Black Series

The most handsome BMW got more handsome, can such a thing happen. Trevor quite likes the Individual, but best of all he likes that it's available with a diesel engine. Click on the picture to see a full gallery of the M-Sport and Individual models.

Then just to bring things back down to earth or to bring the earth back down the construction site, the VW Amarok Single Cab. Click on the link to see a full gallery of this pickup.

Also in this episode, a full review of Honda’s lovely Insight hybrid. Trevor, Christo and Patrick give their opinions on this eco sedan – including explaining the differences between full and mild hybrid technologies.

Episode 124 hi-fi download (24MB)
Episode 124 lo-fi download (12MB)

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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!

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Trevor van de Ven is a turkey, in Turkey, this week, which means that Patrick Gearing and Christo van Gemert get to sit around and talk about fast cars that aren’t economical at all. They start their speed show at the Nürburgring, where there’s a 24-hour race being held (or rather, was being held – this past weekend). Toyota was there with a hybrid sports car and MINI entered a one of its recently-announced Coupés into the race.

In episode 121 we mentioned the Renaultsport Megane Trophy, a 195kW, rip-snorting hatchback that will only see 500 production units. Well, to prove its credentials, Renault took the car to the ‘Ring and gave it to a Frenchie to flog. He sure can pedal, though: he set a new FWD production car record of eight minutes and eight seconds. Check out the video below.

Citroen has said South Africa will get only ten DS3 Racing hot hatches. It’s got a 153kW and properly sorted suspension, but you’re gonna have to pay Scirocco R money – an eye-watering R400 000 – for one of these mad garlic grocery carts.

Staying on the topic of hatches, but maybe not as spicy: Lexus has confirmed the very green, very posh CT200h for local launch in August.

Audi’s also decided to go all-out on its luxury models. The A8 is now available in a long-wheelbase version, because it obviously was not big enough in the first place – keep an ear out for our road test, soon, as we have one on test at the moment.

The second Audi in the news is the all-new A6. It’s available in three models, a 3.0 TFSI quattro (225kW), a 3.0 TDI (150kW) and a 3.0 TDI quattro (180kW). Prices for the new A6 start at R520 000 – quite competitive when compared to the competing Mercedes and BMW models. It’s also a bit of a looker…

Finally, Patrick and Christo go wild and review the Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV – the fastest of the new Alfas. 173kW, good looks, competitive price and a bit of Alfa magic. Listen to the show to hear what they thought of it.

Episode 122 hi-fi download (20MB)
Episode 122 lo-fi download (10MB)

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

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!

64kbps stream

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We’re a three man team hosted once more by Patrick Gearing, Christo van Gemert and Trevor van de Ven.  This week it’s all the big news from Europe ahead of the international motorshows in Geneva, Paris and, of course, Johannesburg. There’s a sleek Benz, a  an awk er BMW 1-Series, a Cooper Coupe and VW’s fastest Scirocco. We also review the revised Nissan X-Trail which is surprising according to Trevor. Good or bad, you will have to take a listen.

One of the those strange cars that only looks strange in certain colours and from certain angles. Click on the image for a link to the full gallery.

It was always a coupe and a little impractical to begin with, it's now just got more impractical and remains a coupe. Weird. Click on the image to link to the full gallery.

Is it worth the R60k-R80k premium? 188kW and some trick bits make it a little more special than a standard one. Click on the picture to go to the full gallery.

Episode 120 hi-fi download (bigger – less than 15MB)
Episode 120 lo-fi download (smaller – less than 10MB)

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