Maruti Suzuki Starts Deliveries of India's First Flex-Fuel Car. (Image Internet)
New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki has started customer deliveries of the WagonR Bio-Flex, marking the commercial launch of India's first series-production flex-fuel passenger vehicle. The hatchback, designed to operate on ethanol-rich fuel blends, is now available to both private buyers and institutional customers.
The first batch of deliveries was handed over in New Delhi, including vehicles delivered to individual customers as well as members of the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA).
The WagonR Bio-Flex represents an important milestone in India's push toward cleaner and more diverse fuel options. The launch aligns with the government's efforts to increase ethanol usage, reduce dependence on imported crude oil and support domestic agricultural production.
Unlike initial expectations that the model would be restricted to fleet operators, Maruti Suzuki has opened sales to regular consumers, allowing broader adoption of flex-fuel technology.
Priced at ₹7.24 lakh (ex-showroom), the WagonR Bio-Flex is based on the top-end ZXi+ manual variant of the popular hatchback.
Power comes from a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that has been specially engineered to run on fuel blends ranging from E20 to E100. To support this capability, Maruti has equipped the vehicle with ethanol-compatible injectors, upgraded fuel lines, a revised fuel pump, an ethanol-content sensor and recalibrated engine management software.
While the technology underneath has changed significantly, the equipment list remains similar to the standard ZXi+ version.
Key features include a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, six airbags, electronic stability control, rear parking sensors, rear AC vents, fog lamps and electrically adjustable outside mirrors.
Industry experts view the WagonR Bio-Flex as an important test case for the future of flex-fuel vehicles in India. As fuel standards evolve and ethanol infrastructure expands, such vehicles could play a larger role in the country's transportation ecosystem.
With deliveries now underway, Maruti Suzuki's latest offering moves beyond experimentation and enters real-world usage, providing valuable insights into the future of ethanol-powered mobility in India.
