Mahindra flex-fuel engines in the works for future SUVs
- 1Mahindra readying flex-fuel engines for E30 fuel
- 2Future lineup of SUVs likely to comply with higher Ethanol blends
- 3Flex fuel model announcements likely at the upcoming Auto Expo
Following the recent debut on the new NU-IQ platform that is set to underpin a range of upcoming Mahindra SUVs, Mahindra has also revealed its plans to develop flex-fuel engines for its future line-up, in sync with the government’s plan to introduce E30 fuel in the coming years. Read the story to know more about the Mahindra flex-fuel engines and other important details.
Engines to run on higher ethanol blends
Along with developing its new NU-IQ modular architecture—which will support multiple body styles and powertrain options for future SUVs—Mahindra is also preparing a line of flex-fuel engines. These will be tuned to run on petrol with 30 percent ethanol content (E30) and potentially on blends with even higher ethanol concentration.
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Technical upgrades required for E30
India is targeting the adoption of E30 fuel by 2030, and engines will need reengineering to cope with the higher ethanol mix. For E30 and above, the changes include fitting ethanol sensors that can measure the fuel blend in real time and adding heaters for the fuel rail and injectors to enable smooth cold starts.
Carmakers exploring flex-fuel options
Flex-fuel technology has become an industry-wide focus, as the government retains its bullish stance on the eco-friendly fuel. Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Tata Motors and Hyundai are all developing vehicles that can operate on ethanol-blended petrol. Several of these were showcased recently at the Auto Expo 2025. Hyundai displayed a Creta 1.0 Flex Fuel, Tata showcased an E85-ready Punch, and Maruti brought a Wagon R Flex Fuel prototype. Toyota took a slightly different approach, presenting the Innova Hycross with a petrol-hybrid powertrain that can run on E20 and higher ethanol mixes.
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