Posts tagged: Indian passenger car

Maruti Suzuki has introduced India's first flex-fuel running passenger car, Maruti Wagon R Flex Fuel. It has been unveiled in the presence of Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. These steps are important to reduce India's dependence on fuel imports, increase farmers' income and reduce pollution. Flex-fuel vehicles can run on any blend of petrol and ethanol (from E20 to E85/E100), significantly reducing tailpipe emissions.

The flex-fuel version of the Maruti Wagon R is based on the existing model, in which the engine has been made ethanol friendly. This is India's first car in the mass-market segment, which points towards an eco-friendly future. Maruti had earlier shown its prototype at the Bharat Mobility Expo in 2024. Let's take a look at its design and engine details.

Design and interior

The flex-fuel version of the Wagon R retains the tall-boy design of the current model. It is 3655 mm long, 1620 mm wide and 1675 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2435 mm. It has large glass area, high roofline and easy entry-exit. Some mild changes have been seen on the side with flex-fuel badging. It is perfect for city driving and family use, in which practicality comes first.

The interior is spacious and airy. Due to the tall-boy design, there is ample headroom and legroom. There are dual-tone badges and dark gray interiors, good storage space and comfortable seating for 5 people. Higher variants come with a larger touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and steering mounted controls.

Features and safety

The car has features like manual AC, power windows, keyless entry, push-button start and digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system and connectivity features provide a modern experience. Idle Start-Stop system helps in increasing fuel efficiency. Safety includes 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, hill hold assist and Electronic Stability Control. It conforms to BS6 Phase-II norms.

Engine Details

The flex-fuel Wagon R gets a modified version of the 1.2-litre K-Series petrol engine (about 89-90 PS power and 113 Nm torque), which can run on E20 to E85/E100 ethanol blends. This engine automatically adjusts according to the mixture of petrol and ethanol. Will be available with 5-speed manual or AMT transmission. In flex-fuel mode, emissions are significantly lower at high ethanol blends, which is better for the environment. Mileage in petrol mode is expected to remain the same as the current Wagon R (about 23-25 ​​kmpl).