The flex-fuel version of the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R has gone on sale in India. It is based on the top-spec ZXi+ variant of the tall hatchback and fetches Rs 7.24 lakh, demanding a premium of Rs 86,000 over the standard variant. Maruti has dubbed this version the ‘Wagon R Bioflex’. It becomes the first flex-fuel offering from the automaker.
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Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Bioflex: What’s on offer?
The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Bioflex is powered by the 1.2-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated K12N engine. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. There is no option for an automatic transmission. Maruti has made changes to the fuel injectors and fuel pumps and recalibrated the ECU to make this engine compliant with higher ethanol levels. The automaker has also added new fuel lines and an ethanol sensor. The engine is compatible with fuel containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
Maruti has not revealed the output and mileage specs for the flex-fuel engine yet. The standard Zxi+ variant generates a maximum power output of 91hp and 114Nm torque. With a 5-speed manual transmission, it offers a fuel economy of 23.56km/l. Meanwhile, with a 5-speed AMT gearbox on board, the mileage climbs to 24.43km/l.
Apart from ‘Flex Fuel’ decals along the sides and a ‘Bioflex’ badge on the tailgate, no cosmetic changes have been made to the flex-fuel Wagon R. The new model is not available with a dual-tone paint scheme. No changes have been made along the interior either, as the hatchback carries forward the dual-tone black-and-beige colour theme of the standard model. The 3-spoke steering wheel gets mounted controls, and the seats are draped in fabric upholstery.
Other features on the Wagon R Bioflex include a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, manual dimming IVRM, a 4-speaker sound system, a manual AC with rear vents, and more. On the safety front, it gets 6 airbags, ESP, fog lamps, rear parking sensors, and more.
At the Wagon R Bioflex showcase event earlier this month, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister of Road Transport and Highways, said, “India imports a large quantity of crude oil every year, and biofuels like ethanol are an important pathway towards reducing this dependence while strengthening our rural economy. Flex-Fuel Vehicles can create a strong and sustainable demand for ethanol, benefiting our farmers, industry, and the environment together. I appreciate Maruti Suzuki for taking this leadership step by introducing India’s first flex-fuel car and supporting the Government’s vision of clean and self-reliant mobility. I am confident that this initiative will encourage other car manufacturers to launch their flex-fuel models and oil industry to enhance ethanol distribution infrastructure.”
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Final Thoughts
Prices for the standard Wagon R lineup start at Rs 4.99 lakh and go up to Rs 6.95 lakh. The flex-fuel model has no real rivals, but it will lock horns with other mass-market hatchbacks like Renault Kwid, Maruti Swift, Maruti Celerio, Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, and Tata Tiago.
