As reported earlier on Shutterdrives, we had stated that Maruti Suzuki is preparing to unveil the country’s first flex fuel car that can run on E100 ethanol. Today, on the eve of Environment Day, Maruti Suzuki has officially unveiled India’s first ethanol flex fuel car. The model is based on one of the brand’s best selling cars, the Wagon R. Earlier reports suggested that the flex fuel model could be based on either the Wagon R or the Fronx. It is now confirmed that the Wagon R has been chosen for the same.
Maruti Wagon R Flex Fuel – Exterior Design
The exterior design remains identical to the standard Wagon R with no noticeable changes in styling. The showcased model featured flex fuel decals to distinguish it from the regular version. The current Wagon R sold in India comes equipped with 15 inch alloy wheels along with halogen headlamps and tail lamps.
The Wagon R is a 5 seater hatchback measuring 3655 mm in length, 1620 mm in width and 1675 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2435 mm. At the rear, the showcased vehicle carried a “BioFlex” badge. Behind the fuel filler cap, an E85 sticker was present, indicating compatibility with ethanol blends up to E85.
Maruti Wagon R Flex Fuel – Interior Design and Features
The interior layout also appears unchanged. Maruti Suzuki has not revealed official details regarding the interior specifications of the flex fuel Wagon R. However, the standard Wagon R in its top variant continues to offer features such as a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, steering mounted controls, electrically adjustable mirrors and a dual tone cabin layout.
Safety specifications have not been announced for the flex fuel model. It is expected to carry over the safety package from the regular Wagon R, which includes six airbags, ABS, ESP, child safety locks, seat belt reminders for all seats and speed sensitive door locks.
Maruti Wagon R Flex Fuel – Powertrain
The flex fuel Wagon R uses Maruti Suzuki’s K12N 1.2 litre petrol four cylinder engine. It comes with an advanced ECU calibration that allows the engine to adapt seamlessly to different ethanol blends. The Wagon R flex fuel showcased today is compatible with E100 ethanol, although it has been homologated for E85. It can essentially operate on any blend of petrol and ethanol ranging from E20 to E100. No official figures for power, torque or fuel efficiency have been disclosed. For reference, the standard Wagon R with the 1.2 litre engine produces 89 hp and 113 Nm of torque.
Maruti Wagon R Flex Fuel – Ethanol Infrastructure
During the announcement, the Honourable Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, stated that the rollout of ethanol fuel infrastructure will begin with around 50 to 100 dispensing outlets across Delhi NCR and the Mumbai Pune Nagpur corridor. This number is expected to increase to 500 outlets by December this year, and further expand to approximately 5000 outlets across major cities by the end of next year.
Maruti Wagon R Flex Fuel – Comments By Shri Nitin Gadkari
Speaking at the launch event, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister of Road Transport and Highways, said, “India imports a large quantity of crude oil every year, and biofuels like ethanol are an important pathway towards reducing this dependence while strengthening our rural economy. Flex-Fuel Vehicles can create a strong and sustainable demand for ethanol, benefiting our farmers, industry, and the environment together.
I appreciate Maruti Suzuki for taking this leadership step by introducing India’s first flex-fuel car and supporting the Government’s vision of clean and self-reliant mobility. I am confident that this initiative will encourage other car manufacturers to launch their flex-fuel models and oil industry to enhance ethanol distribution infrastructure.”