Maruti Fronx To Launch This Year, Will Run On THIS Fuel Instead Of Petrol Or Diesel

New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki kicked off this year with the electric e-Vitara. The company also launched this electric car with a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) scheme. This year is going to be very special for the company. Maruti Suzuki has been working on alternative fuels for years. The company has the largest portfolio of CNG cars.

On the other hand, it has also developed an engine that runs on flex fuel, i.e., ethanol-mixed petrol. The company will first introduce this engine in its popular Fronx SUV. The company has named it Fronx E85 FFV. It will support petrol containing 85% ethanol. This SUV will be launched this year.

Why Ethanol, not petrol or diesel?

The company has not yet revealed the exact engine specifications of the Fronx FFV concept, but the unit can run on petrol containing 20% ​​to 85% ethanol. This means it will run on E20 petrol currently available in India, and when E85 petrol arrives, Fronx Flex Fuel will also be able to run on it. The Indian government is already considering options to increase the ethanol blend to 30% and move to even higher blends over the next five years. It's worth noting that ethanol costs less than petrol.

Fronx Flex-Fuel may use a revised version of the 1.2-liter petrol engine seen in the WagonR Flex-Fuel concept. Engine specifications are not yet available. However, it has been confirmed that it will be E85 compliant. E85 models are known to reduce toxic emissions like benzene. Generally, E85-compliant cars require ethanol-resistant materials for the fuel tank, fuel lines, hoses, fuel pump, injectors, seals, and gaskets. Additionally, special fuel sensors are required to detect the ethanol content ratio in real time.

E85 fuel has an octane rating of 100-110, which allows for higher compression ratios and more boost in turbocharged setups. With cleaner combustion, engine wear is reduced. Performance gains with E85 fuel are relatively small when used in naturally aspirated engines. However, a smoother torque delivery is possible. Due to the additional parts and modifications, E85 models are typically more expensive than their petrol-only counterparts. However, they offer significant monthly savings compared to petrol.

What are engine options for the Fronx?

The current Fronx sold in India is available in two engine options. The 1.2-liter naturally aspirated engine produces 89.73 PS and 113 Nm of torque. It comes mated to a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT. This engine is also available in a bi-fuel version (petrol + CNG). When running on CNG, its output is 77.5 PS and 98.5 Nm. The Fronx CNG is only available with a 5-speed manual transmission. The second engine option is a 1.0-liter turbo petrol that produces 100.06 PS and 147.6 Nm. Transmission options include a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gearbox.