Maruti Victoris spied testing: E85 flex fuel or compressed biogas?

A fully camouflaged Maruti Suzuki Victoris test mule has been spotted on red temporary registration plates from HR26, the Gurugram North series that covers Manesar. The big question is what it is testing: E85 flex fuel technology or compressed biogas (CBG). Nothing has been confirmed by Maruti Suzuki.

What the test mule tells us

The red temporary plates mean this is a development vehicle, not a production car. The body is fully camouflaged, so there is nothing to read from the design. Whatever the test is, it is about the powertrain and fuel system, and Maruti has not said which.

The flex fuel possibility

One reading is that Maruti is testing flex fuel for the premium variants that use the 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol engine. The company already sells the WagonR Flex Fuel in India, which runs a modified 1.2L K12 engine that handles blends from E20 to E85. E20 means 20% ethanol and E85 means 85% ethanol. The newer 1.2L turbo Z12E engine is also in the frame, but the chance of that one being tested here is slim.

The compressed biogas possibility

The other reading is CBG. It uses the same basic mechanicals as CNG, but burns compressed biomethane instead. A CBG Victoris based on Victoris CNG hardware was shown at the Japan Motor Show 2025, with a dedicated CBG filling nozzle inside the fuel filler cap. That makes CBG a real candidate for what this mule is doing.

What it means for buyers

This is a spy sighting, so treat every detail as unconfirmed. No launch date, price or variant has been announced for any flex fuel or CBG Victoris. What it does show is that Maruti is working on alternative fuel options for the Victoris beyond petrol and CNG. If you are shopping for one now, there is nothing to wait for yet. We will update when Maruti says what this test is.