Maruti Suzuki To Unveil India’s First Mass-Market Flex-Fuel Car Tomorrow

India’s automotive sector is set for a shift towards alternative fuels as Maruti Suzuki prepares to unveil the country’s first mass-market flex-fuel passenger vehicle as soon as tomorrow. The reveal will take place in New Delhi at the Taj Palace, just ahead of World Environment Day, indicating a broader push towards cleaner mobility solutions. 

The upcoming model is likely to be a flex-fuel version of the WagonR, in line with earlier reports that indicated the company would introduce an ethanol-compatible vehicle this month, ET online has reported.

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A flex-fuel vehicle is designed to operate on varying blends of petrol and ethanol using a conventional internal combustion engine. Most vehicles currently sold in India are compatible with E20 fuel, which contains 20 per cent ethanol blended with petrol. In contrast, the upcoming model from Maruti Suzuki is engineered to run on significantly higher blends, including E100, which consists entirely of ethanol.

Adapting a petrol engine to handle such fuel requires substantial modifications. Ethanol’s chemical properties make it more corrosive than petrol, and it also has a tendency to absorb moisture. As a result, standard fuel system components are not suitable for prolonged use with high ethanol blends.

The flex-fuel vehicle is expected to incorporate reworked injectors, strengthened fuel lines, enhanced sealing components, and a recalibrated engine management system. These changes are intended to ensure durability and consistent performance while operating on ethanol-heavy fuel blends.

The introduction of a mass-market flex-fuel vehicle is in line with the Centre's efforts to expand ethanol usage in the fuel mix and reduce dependence on conventional fossil fuels, particularly in the passenger vehicle segment.