22 September 2016, Computer Business Review -- The ever tightening integration of the car industry and the digital tech industry appears to be accelerating if the number of deals, technology announcements and rumours is anything to go by.

Cars and digital technology are suddenly everywhere. In the period of just a couple of days.

Apple to buy a British supercar maker reported the FT.

This was denied by McLaren, the UK sports car manufacturer and owner of McLaren F1 racing team. But it didn’t stop the spread of comment about why this would be logical.

In another breaking news story, the electric car maker Tesla is reportedly being sued for being low on horsepower.

A group of Norwegians is has filed a lawsuit claiming that Tesla’s Model S P85D only reached horsepower of 469 and not 700 as had been marketed as an ‘insane’ mode. Tesla rejected the claims. The case is due to begin in Oslo in December. In China Tesla is facing a lawsuit which centres around its autopilot function following a fatal crash.

Over in Germany, Daimler Benz said it would extend its deal with T-Systems, the business arm of Deutsche Telekom which included its connected car platform. T-Systems connects over two million Daimler vehicles across the globe via Daimler’s proprietary connected car platform, and it will continue to operate the existing "Mercedes me connect" services for the next generation of vehicles as well. The services include live traffic information, safety functions such as emergency call, convenience services such as remote control, and infotainment apps like Internet radio and hotel/parking search functions.

Microsoft this week said in a blog that it was working with Daimler and other auto makers to bring voice activated Office365 to the car.

It said: “Many of us love our cars, but we don’t necessarily love spending time in them during the work week if it means inching forward on the freeway or being stuck in stop-and-go traffic. When we’re behind the wheel during those long commutes, we often end up behind the curve by the time we get to work.”

"To help make time in the car more productive, Microsoft is working with auto companies to bring to the car the same Office 365 communication and collaboration services you’ve come to rely on at work. Office 365 in the car includes Microsoft Exchange support, which integrates your work calendar, to-do list and contacts, with all of them using your car’s voice and navigation systems."

Read the rest of the story HERE.