Kia has shown its first flex-fuel model for India, based on the Syros compact SUV and designed to run on petrol, ethanol and blends.
Kia India has unveiled the Syros Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) concept in India. The model was shown alongside the Carens CNG and Carens Clavis CNG during the sidelines of the Sorento launch.
The Syros FFV is Kia’s first flex-fuel model for the Indian market. It is based on the standard Syros compact SUV and can run on petrol, ethanol and petrol-ethanol blends.
Kia says the concept can use fuel with ethanol content of up to E85. The company has also planned a production version of the flex-fuel model for India.
Kia joins India’s flex-fuel push
The new concept adds another fuel option to Kia’s India line-up. Along with the flex-fuel model, Kia has outlined plans for factory-fitted CNG versions of the Carens.
The company is also looking at hybrid models. These plans show Kia’s wider focus on different types of powertrains for the Indian market.
Flex-fuel vehicles can run on fuels with different levels of ethanol. The Syros FFV is designed to use pure petrol, pure ethanol and mixed fuel blends.
Kia is the second manufacturer in India to publicly show a flex-fuel passenger vehicle. Maruti Suzuki had earlier unveiled a flex-fuel version of the Wagon R.
Kia Syros Flex Fuel engine
The Syros Flex Fuel concept gets a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, direct-injection turbo-petrol engine. Kia has not shared the engine’s power and torque figures in its flex-fuel form.
The company has changed several engine and fuel systems to support petrol and ethanol blends. These changes include updates to the engine control unit, transmission control unit and fuel system.
Such changes are needed because ethanol behaves differently from petrol during combustion. Ethanol can also be more corrosive than petrol.
The flex-fuel concept uses a six-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox. The regular turbo-petrol Syros comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Kia has not confirmed whether the six-speed automatic gearbox will be used in the final production model.
Syros Flex Fuel design and cabin
The Syros Flex Fuel concept looks close to the standard Syros. It keeps the boxy body, ice-cube LED headlamps and daytime-running lights.
The SUV also gets 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, roof rails and dual-tone bumpers. At the rear, it retains the high-mounted L-shaped LED lighting design.
The cabin has also been kept close to the standard model. It gets a triple-screen dashboard with digital instruments, an infotainment touchscreen and a climate-control display.
Physical controls remain on the centre console. The cabin also includes a wireless phone charger, gear selector and storage areas.
Production model awaited
Kia has presented the Syros Flex Fuel as a concept. However, the company has indicated that a production flex-fuel version is planned for India.
Kia has not announced the launch date of the production model. The company has also not revealed its final variants or claimed mileage.
Details about ethanol use beyond E85 are also not available yet. Kia has not confirmed the price difference between the flex-fuel model and a similar petrol automatic Syros.
The final launch date, specifications, variants and pricing will be announced by Kia at a later stage.
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