Maruti Suzuki India has started deliveries to customers of Wagon R Bio-Flex, India’s first flex-fuel passenger car. The first batch of Wagon R Bio-Flex deliveries has been handed over to the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) in New Delhi. The model can run on ethanol-gasoline blends and comes as the government pushes for the adoption of ethanol-based fuels to reduce emissions and reduce dependence on conventional fossil fuels. The release highlights the growing focus on alternative fuel technologies alongside electric cars.The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R The Bio-Flex is priced at Rs 7.24 lakh (ex-showroom), which is Rs 86,000 more than the standard Wagon R ZXi+ MT on which it is based. The flex-fuel hatchback is currently only available to commercial buyers. Talking about the engine, it is powered by a 1.2-litre K12N naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 91bhp and 114Nm and is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. Output figures are the same as the E20-capable version, and Maruti says the Bio-Flex model gets hardware and software revisions to support ethanol blends up to E85. These include updated fuel injectors, a new fuel pump, revised fuel lines, a recalibrated ECU and an ethanol sensor.The company has not disclosed fuel consumption figures for the Wagon R Bio-Flex. In comparison, the standard Wagon R powered by the same engine delivers a claimed 23.56 kpl with the manual transmission and 24.43 kpl with the AMT.Specs wise, the WagonR Bio-Flex wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, manual AC, semi-digital cluster, all power windows, rear AC air vent, fog lights, rear parking sensors, rear wiper and washer, six airbags, ABS, ABS, etc. with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
