Tata Punch could be brand’s first flex fuel vehicle

The Punch was showcased with four powertrain options at the Auto Expo: petrol, CNG, electric and flex fuel.

Published On Jan 23, 2025 03:07:00 PM

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The Tata Punch is already available with a diverse range of powertrain options, including petrol, CNG and electric, and Tata Motors has now shown the intent of adding yet another powertrain choice to the line-up. The company showcased the Punch flex fuel at the recently concluded Auto Expo 2025, and it could be the brand’s first model to debut this fuel option.

The Punch flex fuel uses the familiar 1.2-litre, 3-cyl NA engine
It gets updates to the ECU and fuel injection system for different blends of ethanol

Speaking to Autocar India, Mohan Savarkar, chief product officer and vice president, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said, “Flex fuel will depend on when the government decides that they want to go for 85 percent blend, but technically, we would want to be ready, and this [Punch] is the first product.”

The Punch showcased at the Auto Expo is up to E85 compatible, meaning it can run on fuel with up to 85 percent ethanol blend. It uses the same 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder naturally aspirated engine as the regular Punch, but it gets several modifications, including software upgrades to the ECU, fuel injector systems, and exhaust after-treatment system to detect and adjust to different blends of ethanol on the go.

The government has been rolling out E20-blended fuel in a phased manner across India since 2023, and the plan was to have pan-India coverage by 2025. So, while E85-blended fuel is still a while away, Tata Motors seems geared up for the transition as it also showcased flex fuel powertrain options for its small commercial vehicle range.

Apart from Tata Motors, Hyundai also showcased a flex fuel version of the Creta at the Auto Expo 2025. Previously, Maruti Suzuki and Toyota had also showcased flex fuel prototypes of some of their vehicles. Going ahead, expect more action in this space from more carmakers, as a higher blend of ethanol will also help in meeting the ever-tightening emission norms.

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