This compact Kia SUV can run on 100% ethanol

Kia has showcased the Syros Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) concept in India, marking the company’s first flex-fuel passenger vehicle for the Indian market. The concept can operate on petrol, ethanol up to 100 per cent or a combination of the two, although Kia has not announced when a production version will be launched.

Kia Syros flex-fuel: Engine and gearbox

The Syros FFV is powered by a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, direct-injection turbo-petrol engine. Kia has not disclosed its power and torque figures in flex-fuel specification.

The engine has been modified to work with different ethanol concentrations, with changes made to the engine control unit (ECU), transmission control unit (TCU) and fuel system. Kia says the concept can run on pure petrol, pure ethanol as well as different petrol-ethanol blends.

Transmission duties are handled by a six-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox. This is different from the regular turbo-petrol Syros, which uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Syros FFV retains standard SUV's design

There are no major visual changes to distinguish the flex-fuel concept from the regular Syros. It continues with the SUV’s upright, boxy silhouette, LED lighting elements, roof rails and 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. The rear retains the distinctive L-shaped LED tail-lights.

The cabin follows the same overall layout as the standard model, including Kia’s triple-screen dashboard arrangement. It also gets a touchscreen infotainment system, digital instrument cluster, climate-control display, physical controls on the centre console and a wireless phone charger.

Kia's push towards alternative fuels

The Syros FFV is part of Kia’s broader effort to introduce more powertrain choices in India. The company has already announced factory-fitted CNG versions of the Carens and Carens Clavis and is also evaluating hybrid technology for the Indian market.

Kia becomes the second carmaker in India to publicly showcase a flex-fuel passenger vehicle, following Maruti Suzuki’s flex-fuel Wagon R. The technology is expected to become increasingly relevant as India raises ethanol blending in petrol.

For now, Kia has not revealed the production version’s launch date, expected variants, fuel-efficiency figures or pricing.

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