Sinclair Finance & Leasing

Microsoft deal to bring mini-PCs to cars

Microsoft has signed a deal with the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group (HKAG) to bring a new generation of mini-PCs into cars.

The two companies will work together to develop new ‘infotainment’ systems for use in Hyundai and Kia cars.

Microsoft’s chairman Bill Gates said: “These new systems will redefine consumer experiences in the car.

“Since the spring of 2006, HKAG and Microsoft have been sharing their vision for the future of in-car technology.

Dramatic rise in parking fines following law change

Concerns that changes to the way parking tickets are issued would lead to more spurious tickets being issued appear to be justified.

At the beginning of April the law changed making it easier for officers to issue tickets.

The rules allow CCTV evidence to be used.

In addition, traffic enforcement officers – traffic wardens – no longer have to fix Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to a windscreen.

Now one fleet manager has complained that within days of the new law coming into force his vehicles operating in London were given an unusually high number of PCNs – none of which should have been issued.

“On just the first week we were issued 13 PCNs that we should not have been,” said Dermot Coughlan, who manages a fleet of 1,200 vehicles for Kelly Communications.

“Of those issued, 12 were for vehicles parked legally, and all clearly displaying a valid pay and display tickets or visitors’ permits.”

Parking website

A new website – www.parkopedia.com – has been launched to provide drivers with answers to their parking-related questions.

The website aims to help to reduce congestion by telling motorists the best place to park.

First Motorway Car Share Lane Opens

The UK's first motorway car share lane has opened near Bradford.

The 1.7-mile lane links the southbound M606 near Bradford to the eastbound M62 towards Leeds. It is open to cars and taxis with two or more occupants, as well as buses and coaches, and bypasses the notoriously congested section where the two motorways merge.

It is estimated the new lane, which has been built in addition to the existing motorway lanes, will save road users an average of seven minutes per journey.

UK fuel prices, when will it end?

A 10 per cent fall in the oil price during January has barley registered at the pumps for UK drivers instead prices seem to be forever rising leaving motorists very concerned.

The average fuel prices in the UK currently stand at:

Diesel	110.1ppl/500ppg
Super unleaded	110.5 / 502
Unleaded	104.5 / 475
Four star	1060 / 482
LPG	53.6 / 244

In one week, the UK price of petrol has shot up by a penny with diesel even more. However, at the same time market commentators have reported the US selling cut-price fuel to Nigeria.

So why are the UK fuel prices soaring while petrol is being offered at a discount elsewhere?