ZA Car

There’s that old tradition of letting ladies enter a room first. It’s been suggested that this is to get a better view of the lady’s derriere, but that sounds like a nice way to fast track yourself to a sexual harassment lawsuit.

When it comes to cars, though, we don’t mind waving them past SPECIFICALLY to get a glimpse of some sexy lines. Perhaps even gawp at the tailpipe arrangement, and turn down the windows in the hopes of catching some sweet, sweet music. And that is what inspired today’s Wallpaper Wednesday: beautiful buttes, of the automotive variety. That keeps things both work-safe, right?

*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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The cosmetic surgeons at the world’s car design studios have been busy nipping and tucking and in some cases embarking on major surgery. This week Trevor van de Ven drove the dramatically updated C-class from Mercedes-Benz and the team also discusses the updated Audi A5 and Toyota Hilux plus the new Ford Focus. Reviewed this week is Nissan’s new champ, well not the champ you might be familiar with, but the new Micra which punches well above its weight.  

For a full gallery click on the image.

The highlight of East London in South Africa is probably the C-Class. Full stop. Dramatic changes inside and out, it is what a mid-lifecycle facelift should be about.

Click on the image to be redirected to a full gallery of the updated Audi A5

For a gallery of the Toyota Hilux click on the picture above.

The Nissan Micra is one of Christo van Gemert and Trevor van de Ven’s favourite small cars. A combination of price, value and technology is where it’s at if they are to be believed, but what you you think?

For a full gallery of Nissan Micra pictures, click on the picture above.

You really should click on the image and check out the gallery of the new Ford Focus, because what is nice from one angle is not necessarily nice fron the other angles.

Episode 125 hi-fi download (21MB)
Episode 125 lo-fi download (11MB)

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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 an insightful week in the ZACS studios with Patrick Gearing and Trevor van de Ven running the show. From some special one-off cars, the duo – well, maybe just Patrick – also give you a good history lesson in exotic cars and badging and also update on the recently launched Nissan Micra, Bentley Continental Supersports SSR, and  review the Honda CRV 2.4 Auto Executive.

In this episode the show covers:
Mercedes-Benz’s SLS Roadster [via: TopGear]

Roadsters - good for a bit of sailing too.

Lamborghini’s super-expensive supercar, the Siesto Elemento. There are only 20 and they will cost 20 million Euro a piece. [via Autoblog]

Very very pretty, but oh so very expensive.

Alfa Romeo TZ3 which ia built on a Dodge Viper platform – it was commissioned by a wealthy German collector. [via NetCarShow]

Not bad for a Dodge Viper

Trevor van de Ven gets very excited about the diesel Porsche Panamera [click for a link to the website for price and specs]

A huge car, but it looks better and better each time we see one. Click on the for a wallpaper gallery of the Porsche Panamera

The Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible ISR is one very fast, very bold and pimping Bentley which is…very un-Bentley-like.

Bentley meets Porsche in a back alley in Boksburg. Click on the image to be transported to a wallpaper portal of this car.

April South African sales figures for NAAMSA and TransUnion’s new and used car price inflation index.
ZACS Launch Drive: 2011 Nissan Micra (click for a link to the model page for detailed prices and specs)

For its price it is the only entirely new car in its class. Not a rebadged old model

ZACS Review: 2011 Honda CR-V 2.4 Executive Automatic

Episode 115 hi-fi download (24MB)
Episode 115 lo-fi download (12MB)

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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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