ZA Car

64kbps stream

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

32kbps stream

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This week the team of Christo van Gemert, Trevor van de Ven, John Beale and Patrick Gearing (who is now on Twitter) is back in full force and so is the news that every BMW fan has been waiting for, the announcement of the new BMW 3-Series.

Take a look at the various galleries of these cars by clicking on the images below and if you’re eagle eyed, you will even see the first pictures of BMW’s 3-Series M-Sport which we’ve managed to sneak into the gallery without many people noticing yet. But, BMW is not the be all and end all as you’ll find out in our review of the 2011 Lexus IS-F, the quintessential gentleman’s sledgehammer in a Handy Manny toolbox. We also review a green car, quite literally, in the form of the Volvo C30 D2 and the review might just surprise you.

Agressive, bold, purposeful, what do you think of the new BMW 3-Series unveiled on 14 October? Click on the picture to se a comprehensive 82 image gallery of the various trim lines and vehicles including the ActiveHybrid.

The Toyota that will contest races in the LMP1 series next year including a return to LeMans, this time running hybrid technology.

This is a digital rendering straight out of Forza Motorsport 4 of Christo van Gemert's very own car, a Renault Twingo RS. Can you believe that games have come this far. Click on the image to see some more renderings from the game that Christo has been taking for us. Stand back and be amazed.

The gentleman's super performance saloon. You might not have considered it, but this car can hold it's own amongst the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG but for all the other reasons, reasons that the other two long forgot were actually the key attractors to those specific models. Hail the new king of Q-car-dom. Click on the image to see a gallery of images.

Green motoring at its finest in more ways than one. Oft-overlooked take a listen to the review to hear why this is such is a cool car.

Episode 137 hi-fi download 
Episode 137 lo-fi download

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

64kbps stream

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

32kbps stream

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Johannesburg International Motor Show kicked off for the public at NASREC in Gauteng, South Africa on 8 October. We attended the press days two days prior to the public show, and came away very impressed. In episode 136, John Beale, Christo van Gemert and Trevor van de Ven discuss the highlights and the surprises of the of the show. If you’ve not attended yet, perhaps this might prompt you to make a turn past there, and if you already have, maybe you disagree. Let us know what you thought about the show.

Take a look at the gallery of highlights from Day 1 of the Johannesburg Motor Show…

This Honda CRZ despite being labeled a 'Concept' was built in South Africa to prove that hybrids need not be boring. Click on the image to see the modifications under the hood of this car and some of the other highlights of Day 1 at the Johannesburg International Motor Show.

…and a gallery of Day 2′s highlights.

Another concept on show at the Johannesburg Motor Show, the awesome little Suzuki Swift Sport Concept. The real deal will be coming to South Africa soon, but click on the picture to see what the highlights of day two were.

The J, C and T also review the Land Rover Discovery TDV6 HSE and the Opel Corsa Colour Edition, a good value car for the youth or not? Listen to find out more.

We review this car in this episode, click on the image to view a complete gallery of the details that grace the Corsa Colour Edition

A rare sight is one of these cars off-road, but it's equally good on-road so we don't mind that, that is where most of them will reside. Click on the image to go to a full gallery of some magnificent photography of the Landrover Discovery TDV6 HSE that ZA Car Show had on review.

Episode 136 hi-fi download 
Episode 136 lo-fi download

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

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.

64kbps stream

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

32kbps stream

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Jessica Beale’s cousin joins the ZA Car Show team to discuss all things airbags and things with a firm chassis and killer looks. From very fast Bimmers to strange Land Rovers masquerading as footballer’s wives cars the team including Christo, Trevor and Patrick take you through what you need to know in the world of motoring, both local and international.

If you have not tried it yet, click on the images below and you will be taken to some of the most comprehensive photo libraries available to you online on our Facebook page. If you’re not a fan, go ahead and ‘like’ the page you wont be sorry and you’ll also get the inside scoop and be able to share a lot of other news with us on the wall.

Go on, have a listen. If you always use the audio streamer, did you know there are MP3 files at the bottom of this post that you can right click and ‘save as’ to save and share on your computer hard drive? Also subscribe using iTunes and you will find the new episode on your iPhone/iPod/iPad every week without having to do anything. Links are also at the bottom of this post.

One of the coolest BMWs to come out of Munich in some time. There have been a lot of good BMWs but none quite as cool as the 1 Series M Coupe. Click on the image to be directed to a full image library of this car.

Changes are subtle. Click on the image to view a complete gallery and see if you can spot the changes

Another facelift but a lot less subtle. Like a little bit of cosmetic surgery on Monica Bellucci we're not going to complain with such a fresh face. Click on the image to view the gallery, what do you think?

The Range Rover the South Africans can't wait long enough for. Prices are revealed in this episode but what do you think of the car. Click on the image to see the full gallery.

It's the all new Kia Picanto and finally there is a very good looking car in this segment. Let us know what you think after you've had a look at the gallery. Click on the image to see it.

Finally a replacement to the Zafira and it looks like a good concept. Part crossover, part MPV. Click on the image to see the full gallery.

While it was busy, Chevrolet South Africa thought it would share that the Sonic will be headed to South Africa. Considering it replaces the Aveo, this is one very good looking car. Click on the picture to view the gallery.

Finally we review the 2011 Audi A1 1.2 TSI and the 2011 Toyota Prius

Pretty neat technology apart from the hybrid systems in this car. Click on the image to see some of it in the gallery.

Episode 126 hi-fi download (21MB)
Episode 126 lo-fi download (11MB)

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

64kbps stream

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

32kbps stream

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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)

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