09:16 26-09-2025

GM considers ethanol-only Chevrolet Onix hatch for Brazil

Right now, the Onix and almost every Chevrolet with an internal-combustion engine in Brazil use flex-fuel powertrains capable of running on gasoline and ethanol.

Against this backdrop, GM’s marketing and engineering teams in Brazil are weighing a base Onix designed to operate solely on ethanol, pairing a retuned engine with competitive pricing. Introducing such a version would allow the company to lower the car’s price—an uncomplicated, cost-focused approach that feels well-judged.

GM’s preliminary plan centers on reworking the Chevrolet Onix’s current naturally aspirated 1.0-liter I3 through a series of modifications so it runs exclusively on ethanol. The upgrade would involve changes to the combustion chambers, the valve-lift control system, and other updates.

For now, the ethanol-only setup is envisioned for the five-door Onix hatchback and does not extend to the Onix Plus sedan. There is no information yet on when this variant might arrive.