3 Flex Fuel Cars Launching This Year: Maruti WagonR FFV To Tata Punch FFV
India’s fuel strategy has lately been evolving fast. Fuel prices have had notable hikes. The government is reportedly studying the various aspects of higher Ethanol blending (E20- 20% Ethanol Blended petrol- is now standard). The goal seems to be going beyond E20, probably into the flex fuel territory- blends of E85 and above.Various manufacturers are known to be working on flex fuel vehicles (FFVs).
Flex Fuel vehicles, also referred to as FFVs. are internal combustion vehicles that can run on more than one type of fuel blend- typically higher ones. E85 for example, has 85% Ethanol content and E100 is near-pure Ethanol itself. Normal vehicles are not capable of operating on these fuels. Significant modifications and recalibrations need to be made to the engine and its control unit, to facilitate support for flex fuel. FFVs come with these upgrades and can run on up to E100 blends.
The advantage here is that Ethanol is biofuel and renewable. It is produced from sugarcane, maize, or other agricultural products. Using higher blends or pure Ethanol as fuel can help the country in reducing its dependence on imported crude oil. Ethanol stands relevant even from an environmental perspective. It burns cleaner and produces less emissions than a conventional petrol engine.
The downside, however, is that Ethanol has relatively less energy density than pure petrol. So, fuel efficiency of higher blends will be significantly lower than those of pure petrol. Now, let’s take a closer look at three flex-fuel vehicles expected to launch in India this year.
Maruti Suzuki has so far, showcased two different flex-fuel models. We expect both these to launch later this year. One of them is the WagonR flex fuel. According to a statement made by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maruti Suzuki will launch its first flex-fuel product in India on World Environment Day this year (June 5, 2026). However, we haven’t heard from the manufacturer yet, about the same, nor do we know if it would be the WagonR flex fuel that would go on sale first.
Shhowcased at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2024, the flex-fuel WagonR prototype can run on blends of E85 and above. It even supports E100. It will use an upgraded version of the 1.2L naturally aspirated petrol engine. This setup will have heated fuel rail, new injectors, upgraded fuel pump and several other hardware improvements. There will also be an Ethanol sensor which will detect the percentage of Ethanol in the fuel used and alter engine behaviour accordingly.
The second flex-fuel model expected from Maruti Suzuki this year is based on the Fronx. A concept of the same was previously showcased. It will support upto E85 and will feature a modified version of the K12N engine. This is the same engine used in the outgoing Fronx, on the non-turbo variants. It makes around 90hp on the regular car.
The FFV will get Ethanol-resistant fuel lines, modified fuel pumps, Ethanol sensor and different injectors. Major design changes are unlikely. Time remains before we learn more about this model.
The third one in this list is the flex-fuel version of Tata Punch. The micro-SUV is already available in a wide range of powertrain options- petrol, CNG and electric. It will also be the first Tata model to get a flex fuel powertrain.
The flex-fuel powered Punch will launch by the end of 2026 or in early 2027. This, in a way, aligns with the government’s regulatory calendar. The carmaker had previously showcased a prototype of the flex-fuel Punch at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. That car, or an iteration of it, is what is set to go on sale here.
It will be powered by a heavily upgraded version of the outgoing model’s 1.2-litre three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine. The ECU and fuel injection systems will be upgrades. There will be changes in the exhaust after-treatment system as well. The Auto Expo show car could handle up to E85.