In in 1954-5 you may have been born as a certain Mr. William Gates or Steven Jobs. In 1973  you would have been around 19 or 20, with an idea that, when you have made your millions, you might like something flashy in the garage. Poor example, we suppose because at least one of these men drives a fuel-sipping hybrid. However, 1973 was the year the sensible car was launched at the start of the oil crisis: the VW Passat. What would your car of 1973 be?

Witness the fitness of the sensible family car

With very little in the way of news, the team quickly skims over local and international happenings, before jumping right into the meat of the show: a car review, for a very funky – yet flawed – turbo hatch, and the “episode’s car of the year” challenge.

Episode 73 hi-fi download (28MB)
Episode 73 lo-fi download (14MB)

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Some more notes, pics and links after the jump!

Another rational car this week comes from Bavaria. It’s a pretty BMW, plus it’s also quite sensible: the BMW GranCoupe Concept. [via: BMWBlog]

This week the team also drives and reviews the 2010 Daihatsu Materia Turbo. Good or bad, you be the judge: the guys just couldn’t make up their mind for this feisty number.

110kW, limited to 40 units. Something special for R220 000?

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.

Now with that out of the way, the fourth podcast of the year sees a team reunited. With all the seats filled the show is packed with more comment on Toyota’s recall in South Africa, a fresh onslaught of new vehicles expected at Geneva in a couple of weeks and ZA Car Show bring you the pricing of the BMW F10, BMW’s new 5-series. This came about as a glitch in the online virtual dealer on the local BMW ‘site revealed the pricing and spec-options ahead of the vehicle’s local launch.

MINI-rival will probably be better have fewer rattles and drive better

Episode 65 direct download (28MB) – or subscribe via iTunes here

For news and show notes click ‘more’

Audi A1 officially revealed ahead of the Geneva Auto Salon. The MINI-competitor was officially unveiled as a concept in 2007 and Audi has had the following showcase on its website for some time now. Click here for the Audi site. [News via EVO]

Renault revealed its Twingo-based coupe/convertible, the Renault Wind. Stop making jokes about  farts. Click here to go to the official Renault Microsite 12-seconds open to coupe to convertible makes this one of the fastest folding roofs in the business. [via Topspeed]

MX5-competitor: this Twingo based coupe will be a cracker if it's even half as good as the Twingo RS.

Renault reveals that the Megane will become available at the end of 2010 in South Africa.

Nissan Juke is not a Joke. Baby sister to the Qashqai and more than likely a MINI Countryman competitor [via: Automotorblog].

Ugly Stick: This was hit by it.

Porsche GT3 R-hybrid [via: Auto123]

KERS for a Porsche, don't let the Hybrid tag fool you.

GM strikes a deal with NASA to build a humanoid robot for space adventures. Perhaps it should strike a deal which will see it build cars that people want before committing to pie in the sky ideas.

BMW 5-series pricing leaked by accident. Listen to the show to find out more.

Rolls Royce Ghost officially unveiled in SA to exclusive customers (I guess all Rolls Royce customers are exclusive anyway).

Competition prize, courtesy of Have2Have.

ZA Car Show Challenge: New cars for R200 000 or less. Each member of the crew picks a car they’d most likely spend their money on. Just for interest’s sake, some rough numbers:

• R200 000 financed, with a R30 000 deposit: 60 repayments of about R4 000 each. Insurance should cost around R900 – R1 200, depending on the relationship with your broker.
• R160 000 financed, with a R30 000 deposit: 54 repayments of about R3 300 each. Insurance is slightly less, at about R600 – R900.
• The average price for a cheap 16-inch tyre? R1 000 or so.
• Prices for 15-inch tyres: R500 – R1 300.
• Service costs: Thankfully most of the cars we look at have service plans, but bank on between R1 100 and R2 000 for a regular service.

Jeep kindly gave ZACS a Jeep J8 for a bit of a comparative test…with a Suzuki Jimny, we’re still trying to work out of we are surprised about the Jimny or the Jeep  both of which equally thrilled when thrown into ridiculous off-road situations.

Jeep J8 and some of its siblings.

For more show notes, pictures of the Suzuki and Jeep excursion and other interesting news  clickerize ‘more’ under this post.

Direct file download (31.6MB)

• Under new VW ownership Porsche plans to kill off non-core models like the Panamera and Cayenne to focus on sports cars [via World Car Fans]
• Porsche then promptly announces the 911 Sport Classic – a model which harks backs to the early 70′s Porsche Carrera RS [via Carscoop]

Arguably better looking than the original

• Fiat Punto Evo: as its name implies it is the next generation Punto with a little more obvious FIAT 500 DNA and FIAT’s Multiair engine [via Eurocarblog]

Still good looking, but many people prefer the original

• Volvo C70 undergoes a bit of a controversial nip and tuck [via Autoblog]

The Volvo corporate styling comes to the C70

• Lexus models also go under the knife and get minor spec changes[via: World Car Fans]
• BMW Vision Concept,  a truly fast hybrid car from BMW with proper hybrid credentials [via: Wired.com]

Remember the orange BMW M1 "Concept"? This bares more than a striking resemblance

• Audi A5 Cabriolet, not yet officially launched in SA, but ZACS breaks the news [Audi A5 Microsite]
• FIAT’s budget saloon car the Linea is officially launched to local press, ZACS drives it

It's good looking, more stylised than the Ford Ikon. Poor choice of engine Christo says though.

• The Nissan Murano’s shows its ugly face in South Africa

Looks like it fell out of a dow and got smacked by the ugly samurai...

The Qashqai DNA runs strong in this one

• Google starts mapping SA, more importantly in Toyota Prius Hybrids

Poles sticking out of Prius roofs became a problem...

• Driven: Suzuki Jimny and non-civilian Jeep J8

Looking a little our of place amongst the Jeeps...

The little Jimny that thought it could...could

Who needs a Jeep for this stuff...

Unless, of course, it's a Jeep J8.

What a pretty car. This is what good car design is about...

Ooh la la

For more images, links to news stories and useful info click the ‘more’ tag underneath this here line…

Direct file download (26.8MB)

IIHS Roof strength test results: Small cars [via: Autoblog]

Super strong thanks to the Tridion cell

World Health Organisation release results on primary fatalities in different age bands, guess what, cars kill quite a number of people – number one global killer of 15-29 year-olds [via: TTAC]

Seat releases its hottest Cupra yet. We predicted green will be the next performance car colour; we were right [via: Topgear]

One hot Spaniard and it's not Fernando Alonso

Lexus CT drawings leaked. Small Lexus is set to compete with mid-sized hatchbacks and expected to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show [via Topgear]

Porsche reveals its new GT3RS track monster, little boys will have wet dreams about this car

Perhaps there’s a bit of Arab influence in the colour and design themes? [via: Auto News Europe]

Bentley shows us its latest model. This is a proper Bentley

Click on the coloured and underlined words for the link to the Bentley microsite for the Mulsanne

Audi launches its new S4 in South Africa, will the BMW 335i competitor have the boost to compete on power and price?

Suzuki’s pocket-sized Alto launched in South Africa. The 3-cylinder mini-car will hopefully woo some customers to the brand which seems to be gaining in popularity

Renault launches its newest revisons of the Clio 3; cuts the model line to two from ten

Driven: Nissan 370Z [click for link to Nissan site for specs and details]

Great looking exterior and fantastic performing engine

...is let down by a bit of a low-rent interior

Coming at you this week with the mad flavour of ZACS which is high in auto news insight an opinion and low in Christohydrates. The truth is Christo was swanning about on the Port Elizabeth Riviera, South Africa testing the new VW Passat CC (sorry we’re not allowed to call it a Passat anymore).

The team covers what turned out to be a very busy news week for the motor industry both locally and abroad. Hopefully it’s a sign of good things to come.

The pretty new SAAB 9-5. Trevor van de Ven has a thing for Swedes

The last time Christo tried to say "Sexy Ass" to a Mazda driver he got a blue eye.

Show notes and links to news stories after the jump.

Direct file download (31MB)

• Porsche tries to take over VW, raises too much debt and now gets taken over by the VW it wanted to control [via Autonews]
• SAAB unveils pictures of the new 9-5 [via Topgear]
• John Surtees’ son, Henry, dies in a freak accident [via GrandPrix.com] Link to YouTUBE clip of the incident
• New Volkswagen CC [More on ZA Car Twitter feed]
• New Mazda 3

We would have expected a little more excitement in here if the exterior is anything to go by

• Nissan GTR Prices for South Africa announced [via ZA Car Twitter feed]

Nissan GTR

Those alloys will set you back R24 000. Looks good though, no?

This, like most Audis, is a great place to be

More show notes and news after the jump…

Direct file download (27.9MB)

• A good breakdown on the financial situation and how it affects the automakers [NY Times]
• Porsche took a Euro 700 million loan from VW  – we all thought Porsche was the one in a good state [The Guardian UK]
• Citroen gunning to be Europe’s 3rd biggest automaker [Autoblog]
• Driven: Audi Q5 3.0TDI
• Motorsport: Nurburgring 24 hour, Le Mans and Phakisa in South Africa – we look at them all.

In this episode we also discuss the Porsche/VW merger, Jag and Land Rover’s Indian Expansion and the Parys to De Aar motorcycle adventure.

Direct file download (29.3MB)

In this show we discuss:

• Honda F1′s bailout request to the British Government
• A superfast biofuel Bentley
• Porsche GT3 RS
• South African Car of the Year
• World Car of the Year
• Performance Car of the Year
• David Piper International/Legends of the Nine Hour at Zwartkops raceway in Pretoria, South Africa
• Your last chance to win a TomTom One V4 GPS – Competition closes 3 February at 12h00

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…