Maruti Suzuki Showcase Wagon-R Flex Fuel At Auto Expo 2023

Most Notable Features Of Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R Flex Fuel

Recently, Maruti Suzuki showcased a prototype of its mass-market flex-fuel car based on the Wagon-R hatchback. The Wagon R flex fuel is designed to run on any ethanol-petrol blend ranging from E20 (ethanol 20 percent) to E85 (ethanol 85 percent). The flex fuel version of the B1-segment hatchback retains the same features as the Wagon-R petrol, including: 

• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Electronically-adjustable ORVMs
• Rear washer with wiper.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R Flex Fuel Specs

The Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R Flex Fuel is still in its prototype stage. Hence, the exact engine specifications are not available at the moment. However, Maruti Suzuki have made considerable changes to the engine of the Wagon-R to make it compliant with ethanol-blended petrol. The homegrown carmaker aims to make the Wagon-R Flex Fuel compatible with E85 fuel before launching the hatchback.

Among the key changes to the powertrain are new fuel system technologies, such as heated fuel rail for cold start and ethanol percentage detection sensor. Furthermore, components like the engine management system and upgraded fuel injectors, among others, were also added.

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Hisashi Tekeuchi, the managing director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India, claims that the Wagon-R flex fuel could reduce tailpipe emissions by up to 79% when running on E85 fuel while ensuring the same power and performance as the Wagon-R normal petrol. The regular Wagon-R is offered with 2 engine options – a 1.0L normal petrol that puts out 67PS of power and 1.2L normal petrol with an output of 90PS.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R Flex Fuel Rivals

The Wagon-R is a B1-segment hatchback and it rivals the Maruti Suzuki Celerio and Tata Tiago. Currently, Maruti Suzuki are the only carmaker in India to showcase a mass-segment made-in-India flex-fuel vehicle. However, we expect other brands to showcase their respective flex fuel vehicles and technologies at the 2023 Auto Expo.

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Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R Flex Fuel Launch Timeline

Maruti Suzuki are yet to reveal the launch timeline of the Wagon-R flex fuel. It’s currently in the prototype stage and extensive testing is required before it hits the production line. Hence, we expect Maruti Suzuki to launch the Wagon-R flex fuel towards the end of 2023 only. However, we will update this story if  we receive any updates regarding the potential launch date of the Wagon-R Flex Fuel from Maruti officials at the 2023 Auto Expo. Meanwhile, Maurti Suzuki are working on making all their cars and SUVs E20 compatible by the first half of 2024.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R Flex Fuel Expected Price

The Wagon-R flex fuel is likely to be priced at a small premium compared to the Wagon-R normal petrol, which is priced from Rs. 5.48 lakh to Rs. 7.10 lakh (ex-showroom). We expect E20 fuel to be cheaper than E10 fuel that is currently available across the country. The lower price of E20 fuel should encourage car buyers to switch to flex fuel-powered vehicles.

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Also Read: Flex Fuel Vehicles - Pros And Cons