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GM considers ethanol-only Chevrolet Onix hatch for Brazil

© chevrolet.com
GM is weighing an ethanol-only Chevrolet Onix for Brazil, retuning the 1.0-liter I3 with combustion and valve-lift updates to cut costs on the hatchback.
Author: Polina Kotikova
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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.

This English edition was prepared using AI translation under editorial oversight by SpeedMe. The original reporting is by Polina Kotikova