Earlier this year, Maruti suzuki launched the flex-fuel version of the Wagon R. Now Kia seems to be taking a similar step with the Syros. The company has shown a new Syros Flex Fuel Vehicle concept in India, giving a look at how its small turbo-petrol engine could work with higher ethanol blends.
The concept can use petrol, ethanol or a mix of both. Kia has not yet said when a production version will be sold in India. For now, the Syros Flex Fuel is a technology showcase.
What is different about the Syros Flex Fuel?
The biggest change is not the exterior design. Kia has worked on the engine and related systems so that the car can handle different fuel mixtures.
The engine uses an upgraded ECU, TCU and fuel system. These changes help it work with different levels of ethanol in the fuel.
The gearbox is also different from the regular turbo-petrol Syros. The standard model uses a 7-speed DCT, but this concept gets a 6-speed torque-converter automatic.
The Syros Flex Fuel can run on pure petrol, pure ethanol and different combinations of the two. This is the main point of the concept.
Kia has modified the fuel system and electronic controls to make this possible. The company has also changed the transmission setup for this version.
India has been working towards greater use of ethanol in vehicle fuel. Higher ethanol blends can help reduce the country’s dependence on imported crude oil.
Several carmakers have already shown interest in this technology.
The government has also been working on standards for higher ethanol blends and E100-compatible vehicles.
The 1.0-litre turbo engine makes the Syros a useful model for demonstrating the technology. Kia has not shared its power or torque figures for this version, so there is no performance comparison to make yet.
The main change is about fuel compatibility rather than chasing higher output.
The concept also shows that flex-fuel technology is moving beyond larger engines and experimental vehicles. A compact SUV like the Syros could make the technology more relevant to everyday users if Kia decides to produce it.
Kia has not announced a production timeline or confirmed the final specifications of the Syros Flex Fuel. That means details such as pricing, mileage and final engine output are still unknown.
