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.

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• 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.

The 3-point seatbelt turn 50, saves many lives.

The space wheel shows what is used on the moon, but will it be the tyre of the future on earth?

Show notes, cool pictures and links to news after the jump…

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Good Year Spring Tyre [via Designboom]

3 point safety belt turns 50 [via Volvo Safety Microsite]

BMW X6 and 7-series ActiveHybrid

ActiveHybrid system mated to a clunking huge engine

Good to see BMW's taken the step, but others seem to do hybrid technology better

• Speculation Audi A5 pricing
• FIAT Strada 1.4
• Toyota Prius

Driven: Golf 6 TSI

This 90kw/200Nm engine powers....

...this car, and it does so brilliantly!

Driven: Opel Corsa Sport 1.6

The little devil car

Long term update: FIAT Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet

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…

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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…

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