Ford 1969-1970 Mustang Mach 1 Shaker Hood Trim Ring, Original, 69-70 on 2040-parts.com

MPs call for parking charge reports

COUNCILS should publish annual parking-charge reports to show where revenue comes from and where it is being used, MPs said today. The use of parking charges and fines specifically to raise revenue was "neither acceptable nor legal" said Louise Ellman, chairman of the House of Commons Transport Committee. Launching a report by her committee into local authority parking enforcement in England, Mrs Ellman said: "There is a deep-rooted public perception that parking enforcement is used as a cash cow, so it's essential that local authorities apply stringent transparency." The committee said local authorities in England had a collective parking surplus in the hundreds of millions of pounds, but that the exact amount was subject to debate.

Brits talk up new Bentley racer's chances

BENTLEY’S first mainstream racing team since 2003 has been talking tough about their all-new car’s chances as it runs through its race preparation. Guy Smith, who was part of the team that won the overall Le Mans 24-hour crown in a Bentley Speed 8 10 years ago, is leading another team of three as the Continental GT3 racer hits the track at next month’s Gulf 12-hour endurance race in Dubai. “After four months of hard work and development testing, we definitely feel ready to start focusing on our race performance,” Guy said.

Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo sedan and wagon debut at Frankfurt motor show

Leave it to BMW's most pinstripe-stickered tuner to come up with a car just for automotive journalists. That's right: Alpina has built a diesel BMW 3-series sedan and wagon duo and has taken them to the Frankfurt motor show to taunt scribes whose countries will probably not be getting them, and that likely includes the U.S. Even though the D3 Bi-Turbo is diesel powered, fuel economy was not the first thing on Alpina's mind.