Kia Syros flex-fuel concept unveiled — Top things to know!
- 1Kia has unveiled the Syros Flex Fuel concept, its first flex-fuel car for India
- 2Concept can run on pure petrol, pure ethanol or any blend in between
- 3It uses a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, direct-injection turbo-petrol engine
Kia has showcased the Syros Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) concept in India, marking the company's first step into flex-fuel technology in the country. The concept was shown at the Sorento launch event, alongside the new Carnival Hybrid and Carens CNG. The Syros FFV comes as India is moving towards higher ethanol blending in petrol. Kia has not yet confirmed if a production version will be launched.
Kia Syros flex-fuel concept unveiled
A flex-fuel vehicle can run on different petrol-ethanol blends. It can use regular petrol, ethanol-blended petrol or even E100, which is pure ethanol. The Syros FFV is designed to automatically adjust to the fuel blend being used. It does not need separate fuel tanks for petrol and ethanol.
Kia Syros flex-fuel engine and gearbox
The concept uses a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with direct injection. Kia has made changes to the engine's ECU, TCU and fuel system to make it work with higher levels of ethanol. These changes are needed because ethanol behaves differently from petrol and can also affect some fuel-system components.
The gearbox is also different from the regular Syros turbo-petrol. The standard model gets a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, while the flex-fuel concept uses a 6-speed torque-converter automatic. Kia has not yet revealed the power and torque figures for the flex-fuel version.
Also Read: Skoda Octavia RS second batch launched in India — Back on sale
Why is Kia exploring flex-fuel technology?
India is pushing for higher ethanol blending in petrol to reduce its dependence on imported crude oil. The government has also introduced standards for higher ethanol-petrol blends and approved regulations for vehicles that can run on E100 fuel. This has encouraged carmakers to start working on flex-fuel technology for the Indian market.
Other flex-fuel cars in India
Kia is not the first carmaker to explore this technology in India. Maruti Suzuki became the first manufacturer to launch a flex-fuel car in the country with the Wagon R Bioflex, priced at Rs 7.24 lakh, ex-showroom.
Toyota demonstrated flex-fuel technology in India with the Corolla Hybrid in 2022 and later showed the Innova Hycross flex-fuel in 2023. Hyundai also showcased a flex-fuel version of the Creta at Auto Expo 2025, while Tata Motors has indicated plans for a flex-fuel model.
Kia Syros FFV launch timeline
For now, the Syros Flex Fuel is only a concept. Kia has not confirmed a launch date or said when production will begin. The final production model, if launched, could have different specifications, features or even a different gearbox. The concept mainly shows that Kia is looking at flex-fuel technology as India moves towards greater use of ethanol-blended fuels.
Stay updated with all the latest happenings & developments in the automotive world by joining our official AUTOVERSE WhatsApp community.
