Automotive Transformation Group (ATG) has been launched as the new entity and brand name of the recent merger between leading automotive suppliers Autofutura and GForces.

Created to revolutionise the entire vehicle sales process, the new group offers the industry’s first market-ready, global and scalable solution for consistent, automated vehicle cycle management optimisation. It will enable billions of pounds in online sales and efficiencies across the global automotive industry.

In an industry first, by integrating the data, products, services and technology across its portfolio, the company will connect car makers, financiers, dealers and consumers in the most efficient way possible, simplifying the customer journey and improving customer retention.

The commercial gains on offer are vast. Based on the 77 million new cars sold across the globe in 2020, with a value of USD 2.5 trillion, a one percent shift in e-commerce sales would equate to USD 25 billion in revenue. Additionally, the forecast for Europe in 2025 alone is EUR 357 billion.

The new group, led by CEO Christian Erlandson, already handles one transaction every 3.5 minutes (USD 4.25 billion annually) and has a depth of experience and operational scale in the industry. From its three UK offices, including its headquarters, and offices in Australia, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Vietnam and the USA, the company serves more than 20 car manufacturers in over 10,000 locations across 96 countries.

Commercially, ATG’s two brands, Autofutura and GForces, will continue to successfully manage their customers independently. However, the Group will naturally be offering the full breadth of its combined product and service portfolio to all of its current and future customers.

David Riemenschneider, Chairman, ATG, said, “The Automotive market, which is one of the largest in the world, has lagged other sectors in terms of the speed of transition to online sales, but that is changing rapidly. Until now, the cost and complexity of integrating each element of an online and offline experience into a brand-consistent omnichannel one has prevented it from being delivered at scale. The Automotive Transformation Group aims to change that. By joining up the dots, we will enable car manufacturers, financiers and retailers to unlock the huge potential and efficiencies in today’s sales process and overall value chain. And now is the time to act.”

Christian Erlandson, CEO, ATG, added, “Since we announced the merger between Autofutura and GForces, we have been engaged in strategic discussions with some of the biggest players in the industry. This demonstrates just how dynamic the automotive industry is and how fast it is shifting towards digitalisation. We offer something truly unique. By connecting vehicles and consumers, serving the right offer, at the right time, to the right customer and then facilitating the seamless transition from one vehicle to another, we are streamlining the customer journey, right from the first transaction.” (MT)

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Czech automaker Skoda Auto India has announced the expansion of its Rally Sport (RS) performance portfolio with the introduction of the all-new Kodiaq RS. Marking the first time Skoda’s performance badge has been applied to an SUV in the Indian market, the flagship model combines a three-row, seven-seat premium layout with a dedicated mechanical tune.

The company said official order books for the high-performance SUV are scheduled to open nationwide on 22 June 2026.

The core differentiator of the Kodiaq RS lies in its upgraded internal combustion hardware. The vehicle features a heavily revised iteration of the Volkswagen Group's EA888 engine architecture, tuned identically to the high-output configurations found in the global Octavia RS and Volkswagen Golf GTI.

The vehicle’s announcement follows a marketing campaign where Skoda Auto India’s entire active fleet – comprising the Kylaq, Kushaq, Slavia, standard Kodiaq and the limited-volume Octavia RS – established an official India and Asia Book of Record at the CoASTT circuit in Coimbatore. The group achieved the 'Fastest Multi-Car Relay of a Single Manufacturer on a Circuit' with a total combined lap time of 12:30.97.

The Kodiaq RS will arrive in the country via the Completely Built Unit (CBU) import route, serving as an elite flagship positioned above the locally assembled multi-tier Kodiaq lineup (Lounge, Sportline and L&K trims).

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “The RS badge carries over 50 years of global performance legacy and a fiercely loyal following in India since the Octavia RS arrived more than two decades ago. The latest Octavia RS, launched last year, sold out in just 20 minutes, highlighting its cult status among enthusiasts. Now, we’re taking that legacy forward with the Kodiaq RS, our first-ever seven-seater in India to wear the iconic RS badge and the quickest Skoda yet in the country. It blends performance, space, and 4x4 capability into a bold, unmistakable expression of our racing DNA.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced the final leg of its multi-city cultural partnership with HYBE INDIA, introducing the ‘Kia Vibe Studio’ experience to the national capital.

Designed to target Gen Z creators and premium lifestyle audiences, the activation will serve as a marketing anchor for the brand's latest mass-premium SUV, the 2026 Kia Syros.

The HYBE INDIA Pop-Up Park is scheduled to take place on 13–14 June 2026 at Yashobhoomi (IACC) in New Delhi. The event combines automotive showcase infrastructure with music, fandom and multi-format creator engagement zones.

The centrepiece of the activation is the Kia Vibe Studio, a specialised content creation pod built directly inside the cabin of the 2026 Kia Syros.

The integration allows visitors to record, edit and instantly download high-definition performance and lip-sync videos. By converting the stationary vehicle's acoustic interior, ambient lighting and connected infotainment hardware into an active studio space, the campaign positions the SUV as a tech-driven platform for self-expression.

The event serves as a prominent touchpoint for the 2026 Kia Syros, which features several upgrades designed for the Indian market, including an enhanced design with a more rugged SUV stance, muscular body panels and sports-themed trim configurations. Expanded accessibility to automatic gearboxes, including the introduction of a high-demand diesel automatic (AT) variant.

The SUV is built on a platform engineered for a 5-star Bharat NCAP (BNCAP) crash safety rating, featuring an optimised distribution of connected tech features across lower and mid-tier trims.

Following the public pop-up park event, HYBE INDIA will conduct on-ground talent auditions on 14 June 2026 at the Shangri-La Eros, Delhi. The talent scout marks part of an international entertainment initiative aimed at discovering, training, and launching India’s first global girl group under the K-pop blueprint.

The Delhi showcase concludes the regional ‘Pop-Up Park’ phase of the 10-city marketing campaign, which completed consecutive runs in Guwahati, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

While the experiential park footprint concludes in Delhi, the talent pipeline will continue across secondary markets. Auditions are scheduled to advance into Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Chandigarh, allowing Kia India to sustain its brand engagement with youth demographics nationwide.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Italian supercar manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini has been awarded the ‘Red Dot: Best of the Best 2026’ accolade for its ultra-limited, ‘few-off’ hypercar, the Fenomeno. Honoured in the Product Design category, the prize represents the highest distinction in the global Red Dot evaluation, reserved for avant-garde projects that establish new benchmarks in visionary aesthetics and contemporary engineering.

The victory coincides with a milestone chapter for the brand, as the car was designed to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Lamborghini Centro Stile. The official award ceremony is scheduled to take place on 7 July 2026, at the Aalto Theater in Essen, Germany.

The Fenomeno introduces an evolved corporate design language dubbed ‘hyper-elegant’ design, which strips back complex body panels to achieve formal purity while maximising functional on-track aerodynamics.

The supercar’s front fascia is heavily inspired by motorsport architecture. The front end utilises large racing-derived air intakes and a completely revised daytime running light signature modelled after the bull's horns found in the traditional Lamborghini corporate emblem. It subtly integrates the brand's iconic Y-shaped visual motifs, seamlessly connecting a low-slung carbon fibre front splitter to the headlamps.

The side profile and silhouette are defined by a single, continuous silhouette line running nose-to-tail, the design pays homage to the extended long-tail aerodynamics of the track-only Essenza SCV12. The car was displayed in a launch livery of Giallo Crius, a vibrant yellow hue that emphasises the vehicle’s upper body volumes against high-contrast, performance-oriented exposed carbon fibre elements below.

Beneath its custom carbon fibre bodywork, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Fenomeno utilises a thoroughly reworked mechanical architecture derived from the Revuelto, establishing itself as the fastest road-going vehicle in Lamborghini’s history.

The vehicle balances its extreme power-to-weight ratio through specialized hardware, including an advanced 6D motion sensor that measures acceleration across six axes, race-derived firm dampers, and high-end CCM-R Plus carbon-ceramic brakes adapted directly from Lamborghini’s SC63 endurance race car.

The Fenomeno features a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine with 3 electric motors, which produce a combined 1,080 CV (1,065 hp) – with the internal combustion engine contributing a record 835 CV on its own, making it Lamborghini's most powerful V12 ever produced. The vehicle can accelerate from zero to 100 kmph in a claimed 2.4 seconds, while a zero to 200 kmph can be attained in 6.7 seconds. It has a top speed of over 350 kmph. It features a class-leading weight-to-power ratio of 1.64 kg/CV.

The Fenomeno is strictly limited to 29 units globally for the coupe version (complemented by an even rarer 15-unit Roadster variant).

Mitja Borkert, Design Director, Automobili Lamborghini, said, “This valuable and renowned recognition confirms the direction of the design DNA we are shaping with the team at Lamborghini Centro Stile, and underscores our future strategy. Fenomeno is a manifesto of style that expands our design language once again in an unexpected way, going beyond expectations and continuing the bloodline of our successful few-off cars in an athletic and elegant way."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Renault India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the French Renault Group, has announced the official ARAI-certified fuel efficiency for the new Duster Turbo TCe 100. The upcoming midsize SUV achieves a certified fuel economy of 19.41 kmpl, aiming to offer a balance of everyday performance and low fuel consumption.

The TCe 100 powertrain has been developed exclusively for the Duster line and features specific tuning to optimise thermal efficiency and power delivery. The SUV is built on Renault's all-new RGMP platform. The engine and drivetrain are comprehensively engineered to align with this advanced architecture's structural dynamics.

The turbocharged petrol engine produces a peak power output of 100 PS and 160 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission, calibrated to deliver responsive performance and a smooth driving experience across varied road conditions.

Dr V. Vikraman, Chief of Renault Engineering at Renault Group India, said, “The ARAI-certified fuel efficiency reflects Renault’s focus on practical engineering and customer value. The Turbo TCe 100 engine uses turbocharging and efficient combustion to deliver responsive performance with strong fuel economy. With the 6‑speed manual transmission, the powertrain provides a balanced and efficient driving experience.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!