The New Maruti Victoris highlights Maruti Suzuki’s focus on multiple green mobility options for its customers. The company’s portfolio includes petrol and CNG models, along with electric mobility, further expanded with the launch of the eVitara.
But Maruti Suzuki’s roadmap for alternative fuels is not limited to just CNG and EVs. The company is also working on options like Compressed BioGas (CBG) and ethanol-based flex-fuel technology.
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Now a heavily camouflaged test mule of the Maruti Suzuki Victoris has been spotted during testing. This prototype has been spotted with temporary red registration plates with Haryana’s HR26 code. HR26 is associated with the Gurugram North RTO, which also has automotive manufacturing hubs like Manesar nearby. The appearance of the test mule has raised an interesting question: Is Maruti Suzuki testing E85 Flex Fuel technology in this SUV, or is a CBG-powered version being developed?
At present, neither possibility is confirmed based on the spy shots. But considering Maruti Suzuki’s alternative-fuel development plans, both possibilities are worth discussing.
Also Read: Maruti Dzire CNG AMT Launched at Rs. 8.53 Lakh, Gets 36.47km/kg Mileage
Why is the New Maruti Victoris suitable for Green Fuel Technology?
The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is the company’s relatively modern and technology-focused SUV. Despite being sold through the Arena dealership network, it offers some additional equipment and features compared to the Grand Vitara. Its positioning and modern platform could make it a potential test bed for evaluating future powertrain technologies.
The camouflage and temporary registration plates of this test mule do not reveal any conclusive details about the powertrain. However, if the company is working on an alternative-fuel version of this SUV, E85 compatibility and CBG technology could be two possible directions.
An E85 Flex Fuel setup could be developed alongside existing petrol powertrains like the Victoria’s 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine. On the other hand, the concept of a CBG variant could involve adapting the Victoria’s existing CNG hardware for alternative gas fuels. Both of these are possibilities, but specifications have not been confirmed.
The likelihood of Maruti Suzuki’s new 1.2-liter turbocharged Z12E engine being tested in this prototype seems low at the moment. However, it would be inaccurate to completely rule out any specific engine or fuel technology based solely on spy shots.
Maruti WagonR Flex Fuel Provides a Clue to E85 Technology
Maruti Suzuki has already demonstrated experience developing and testing flex-fuel technology in India. The WagonR Flex Fuel is a significant example. The objective of this technology is to make the vehicle suitable for operating on different petrol-ethanol blends.
E20 fuel contains 20% ethanol, while the E85 blend has an ethanol ratio of approximately 85%. Simply using a normal petrol engine is not enough to run the engine on so many different fuel blends. Engine calibration, along with suitable modifications to the fuel storage, fuel distribution, and fuel-injection systems, may be required.
If E85 Flex Fuel technology is being tested with the Victoris, its long-term objective could be to make existing petrol powertrains compatible with higher-ethanol fuel blends. This could provide an additional technology option for the future expansion of ethanol-blended fuels in India.
But an important distinction must be understood: being E20-compatible and being E85-compatible are not the same thing. Higher ethanol concentrations require the vehicle’s engine and fuel system to be engineered and validated accordingly. Therefore, integrating the Victoria’s test mule into the WagonR Flex Fuel program is only a possibility right now.
Also Read: Maruti Baleno CNG-AMT Launched at Rs. 8.32 Lakh, Mileage Revealed
A CBG-Powered New Maruti Victoris Is Also a Possibility
CBG, or Compressed Biogas, is another interesting angle to this story. Reports surfaced of a Victoris-based CBG concept during the Japan Mobility Show in October 2025. This concept was developed based on the existing Victoris CNG hardware, with the idea being to adapt the fuel system to use compressed biomethane.
The main difference between CBG and conventional CNG lies in their source. Conventional natural gas is a fossil fuel, while CBG can be produced by processing organic waste. Its raw materials can include agricultural waste, animal dung, and other biodegradable organic materials.
After appropriate processing, organic waste produces biomethane, which can be compressed and used as vehicle fuel. The potential benefits of this approach are not limited to vehicle emissions. It could also play a role in areas such as agricultural waste management, rural employment, and local bioenergy production.
An additional advantage of CBG technology for India is that it can connect the agriculture and waste-management ecosystem with the transport sector. If production and distribution infrastructure expands, new opportunities may be created to convert organic waste into a useful energy resource in rural areas.
CBG can be produced from renewable sources, whereas conventional fossil natural gas is extracted from finite geological reserves. However, the overall environmental benefits of CBG also depend on factors such as production method, methane leakage, processing, and transportation.
What is the difference between CBG and CNG?
Normal CNG and CBG are both compressed gaseous fuels, but their origins are different. CNG is generally derived from geological natural gas, while CBG is purified biomethane gas produced from organic waste.
From a vehicle perspective, factors such as gas quality, fuel composition, storage, and engine calibration are important for using CBG. Therefore, an existing CNG vehicle cannot be automatically considered CBG-compatible without validation.
There has also been interest in the fuel-filling arrangement of the reported CBG concept for the Victoris. If a production-oriented model is developed, aspects such as fuel-filling hardware and customer convenience could be of practical importance. However, clear confirmation of CBG-specific hardware in the recently spotted test mule is currently unavailable.
What Could New Maruti Victoris’ Future Green Fuel Plan Be?
For Maruti Suzuki, working on alternative fuels could be an approach that explores multiple options rather than a single-technology strategy. CNG is currently established in the Indian market, and electric vehicles offer a different solution for urban and long-distance mobility, while ethanol blending and CBG provide alternative pathways to utilize domestic fuel resources.
Testing on a modern SUV like the Victoris could mean that the company is evaluating its existing powertrain platforms for future fuel requirements. However, it’s too early to say whether the spotted prototype is a production-ready E85 model or a CBG variant.
For now, the most important development is that the Maruti Suzuki Victoris has been spotted undergoing test mule testing. Until the company shares official information on powertrain details, fuel compatibility, or the prototype’s purpose, both E85 Flex Fuel and CBG should be viewed as unconfirmed possibilities.
Auto India Daily Verdict
This test mule of the New Maruti Victoris is interesting because it could be connected to the future of alternative fuels in India. E85 Flex Fuel technology could provide a route to support higher-ethanol petrol blends, while CBG offers the opportunity to convert agricultural and organic waste into transport fuel.
If Maruti Suzuki brings any of these technologies to a production model, its impact will not be limited to just an SUV. This could also be a significant development for the company’s future powertrain plans and India’s green-fuel ecosystem. For now, official confirmation is necessary.
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Also Read: Maruti Swift CNG AMT Launched at Rs. 7.92 Lakh, Claims 35.34km/kg Mileage
Raj Prajapati is a Senior Automotive Content Writer at AutoIndiaDaily. A B.Tech graduate in Computer Science and Engineering, he leverages over four years of experience covering Indian car and bike launches, EV tech, and market dynamics to break down complex automotive regulations into simple consumer guides. Specialising in Indian motor vehicle laws, IRDAI updates, and ownership costs, Raj translates technical auto policies into actionable advice for everyday drivers.