Alfa Romeo 159 Jtdm 16v 4dr Saloon 2008 Gearstick on 2040-parts.com

Driven: Honda FRV

The Honda FRV is a misunderstood car. It's a European market orientated compact MPV that unusually has two rows of three seats, a configuration shared only with the earlier Fiat Multipla design. But unlike the bulbous, short, tall and deep-windowed Italian, the Honda shares almost identical dimensions to the five seat Renault Scenic that is the compact MPV market leader (the longer wheel base Scenic and other compact MPVs with three rows of seats to seat seven people is about a foot longer).

MOT test gets tougher for diesels

THE MOT TEST for cars with diesel engines is set to become much tougher from February 2014 due to new rules about exhaust filters. Diesel-engined cars fitted with an exhaust filter as standard when new will now be checked to make sure it is still present. Any car found to have had the filter removed will be automatically failed and required to have a new filter fitted.

BMW Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo Convertible (2011) at the Frankfurt motor show

BMW’s M Division is busy readying M6 variants of both the 6-series Coupe and Convertible, but if you can’t wait until 2012 – or if you want a fast but understated Six – then Alpina has just the car for you. It’s the BMW Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo Convertible, just unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show. And I’m guessing the BMW Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo Convertible does exactly what is says on the tin?