Hero MotoCorp has cut Rs 4,000 off its first E85 flex-fuel commuter motorcycles, the Splendor+ Flex Fuel and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel, in a limited-period offer running through July 2026. The discount drops the Splendor+ Flex Fuel to an effective ex-showroom price of Rs 78,710 and the HF Deluxe Flex Fuel to Rs 68,792. The reduction was reported by NDTV Auto and Autocar India, and the offer is reflected on Hero’s product page for the two bikes.
The new numbers close most of the gap to Hero’s standard E20 versions. The Splendor+ Flex Fuel is now Rs 1,153 more than the E20 Splendor+, and the HF Deluxe Flex Fuel is Rs 1,650 cheaper than the comparable E20 HF Deluxe i3S Cast variant. The discount lands just weeks after Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari cleared E100 fuel regulations, a fortnight into the Flex Fuel range going on sale.
The New Price Gap After the Discount
The Rs 4,000 discount is identical on both flex-fuel models and runs through July 2026. The new effective ex-showroom prices, after the cut, are in the table below. The gap to Hero’s standard E20 versions is the more useful number for buyers weighing the two.
The Splendor+ Flex is Rs 1,153 more than the E20 Splendor+. The HF Deluxe Flex is Rs 1,650 cheaper than the E20 HF Deluxe i3S Cast variant. On Hero’s two highest-volume nameplates, the flex-fuel option is now either barely more expensive, or actually less expensive, than the E20 standard. Both comparisons come from Autocar India’s coverage of the discount. The HF Deluxe Flex’s undercut of its E20 sibling is the more unusual of the two numbers in the Indian two-wheeler market, where a flex-fuel upgrade has typically carried a price premium.
The Autocar India report on the discount also notes that the two flex-fuel bikes remain the only 100cc commuter motorcycles capable of running on E85 in India. The Suzuki Gixxer SF 250, the only prior flex-fuel two-wheeler on sale, sits in the 250cc segment and is a much smaller proposition. The arrival of E85 on two of the country’s best-selling nameplates is a step toward mainstream adoption of ethanol-based fuels, per ZigWheels. The economics depend on E85 fuel being available at retail.
| Model | Effective ex-showroom price (after Rs 4,000 discount) | Original launch ex-showroom price |
|---|---|---|
| Splendor+ Flex Fuel | Rs 78,710 | Rs 82,710 |
| HF Deluxe Flex Fuel | Rs 68,792 | Rs 72,792 |
All prices ex-showroom, Delhi.
What Flex Fuel Adds Under the Tank
Both bikes are rated for ethanol blends from E5 to E85, the E20 petrol sold at most Indian fuel stations included. The mechanical changes to make the 97.2cc engine E85-ready are concentrated in three places. Everything else on the motorcycles carries over from the standard petrol versions.
A revised fuel pump handles the chemistry of higher ethanol content. An additional fuel filter sits ahead of the injectors. A recalibrated engine control unit, or ECU, automatically adjusts fuel delivery based on the ethanol blend in the tank. The chassis, telescopic fork, twin rear shock absorbers, and drum brake setup are unchanged from the standard bikes. Visually, the flex-fuel variants get new graphics, a small Flex Fuel badge, and an ethanol-blend indicator on the digi-analog meter.
The Engine, Recalibrated for E85
In E85 mode, the 97.2cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine produces 8.4 bhp and 8.3 Nm of peak torque. Hero’s own spec sheet, on its flex-fuel product page, lists 6.3 kW at 8,000 rpm, which works out to 8.4 bhp, and 8.3 Nm at 6,000 rpm. The same engine powers both the Splendor+ Flex Fuel and the HF Deluxe Flex Fuel, with no power or torque difference between the two beyond colour and graphics. NDTV’s coverage of the discount reports the same 8.4 bhp and 8.3 Nm figures for both models.
On E85, Hero claims gains in both power and torque over the standard petrol versions, along with sharp reductions in tailpipe emissions. The headline figures are in the snapshot below. The bike otherwise carries the same 5-year or 70,000 km warranty as the rest of the Hero line-up.
- Engine output on E85: 8.4 bhp, 8.3 Nm
- Power gain on E85: 7% over petrol (per Hero)
- Torque gain on E85: 3% over petrol (per Hero)
- CO emissions cut on E85: 77% vs petrol
- NMHC emissions cut on E85: 40% vs petrol
The flex-fuel powertrain is identical in both bikes, so any on-road performance difference between the Splendor+ Flex Fuel and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel comes down to weight, gearing, and intended use, not the engine itself. The Rs 4,000 discount applies to both, leaving the relative positioning of the two flex-fuel trims unchanged. Buyers weighing a flex-fuel upgrade against the standard E20 versions of the same nameplates now face a smaller price gap than they did a fortnight ago.
A July Rollout, Starting in Delhi and Maharashtra
Sales of both the Splendor+ Flex Fuel and the HF Deluxe Flex Fuel begin in July 2026, with the launch phase restricted to Delhi and selected regions of Maharashtra. Hero’s product page says deliveries will start from 30th July 2026. The company has said it will expand availability to more cities and states in the months after that. The phased rollout lines up with the patchy availability of E85 fuel at retail pumps.
E85 is not yet stocked at most Indian fuel stations. Hardeep Singh Puri, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said at the launch that E85 will be available across fuel stations and will be substantially cheaper than conventional petrol. Until that network fills in, buyers outside Delhi and Maharashtra will see the flex-fuel bikes in showrooms before they can run them on E85.
E85 at the Pump: The Missing Piece
E85 fuel is not yet available at most Indian fuel stations. Puri, the petroleum minister, said at the launch that E85 will be available across fuel stations and will be substantially cheaper than conventional petrol.
For now, the Hero Splendor+ Flex Fuel and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel will run on whatever ethanol blend is available at the local station, from E20 petrol up to E85 once that fuel arrives. The ECU automatically adjusts fuel delivery based on the ethanol blend, so no manual switching is needed. Outside Delhi and selected regions of Maharashtra, where the bikes go on sale in July 2026, E85 availability will be patchy. The bikes’ flex-fuel capability is therefore a forward-looking feature for most buyers, not an immediate operating advantage.
Hero has not specified when E85 dispensing will reach the scale of E20 availability. The Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 flex-fuel, on sale since earlier this decade, has sold in limited numbers partly because of the same fuel-availability problem. The arrival of flex-fuel Splendor+ and HF Deluxe models on a much bigger volume base is what gives the rollout a chance of pulling fuel retailers along.
Why Hero Put Flex Fuel on Its Two Top-Selling Nameplates
Harshavardhan Chitale, the chief executive of Hero MotoCorp, framed the move into flex-fuel as a strategic decision at the June 2026 launch. He pointed to the volume of the Splendor and HF Deluxe nameplates as the reason for choosing them as the first flex-fuel models. India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer is putting its flex-fuel technology on its two highest-volume nameplates first, with the rest of the portfolio to follow.
If you want to make an impact at scale, choose what sells the most. One out of every three motorcycles sold in India is either a Splendor or HF Deluxe.
Harshavardhan Chitale, the CEO of Hero MotoCorp, made the comment at the company’s flex-fuel launch event in June 2026.
The planned rollout, per Chitale, covers the full line-up. “We are ready to bring all our models with flex-fuel technology in a matter of one or two years, depending on how the fuel linkage grows. We are ready and we are committed to make that happen,” he said. On E100, the CEO added that the same platforms could be re-engineered to run on pure ethanol if the fuel becomes available. Beyond new bikes, the company is also working on E85 retrofit kits for older BS6 two-wheelers already on the road. The list below covers the four pieces of Hero’s flex-fuel strategy as it stands today.
- Splendor+ Flex Fuel and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel on sale from July 2026, deliveries from 30th July in Delhi and selected regions of Maharashtra
- Full Hero portfolio to be E85-compliant within one to two years, per CEO Chitale
- E85 retrofit kits for older BS6 two-wheelers in development
- Existing E85 platforms can be re-engineered for E100 compliance if pure ethanol becomes available
The Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 flex-fuel was the only E85 two-wheeler on sale in India before Hero’s launch, a relatively niche product in the quarter-litre segment. The arrival of two of the country’s top-selling commuter motorcycles as flex-fuel is a step toward mainstream adoption of ethanol-based fuels, per ZigWheels. The economics, of course, depend on the fuel being available at retail, and the E85 fuel network is still being built.
The E100 Framework Behind the Launch
Gadkari’s E100 clearance is the regulatory backbone behind Hero’s flex-fuel launch. He signed the framework days before the launch event, opening a legal pathway for vehicles that can run on pure ethanol.
There is a misconception that ethanol is an inferior fuel. That is not true. Ethanol is a cleaner, indigenous and economically viable fuel that can play a major role in reducing India’s dependence on imported crude oil.
Nitin Gadkari, India’s Minister of Road Transport and Highways, made the comment at the Hero flex-fuel launch event in June 2026 and at a separate Sugar, Ethanol & Bio-Energy India Conference in Nagpur. The E100 framework creates a legal pathway for vehicles that can run on pure ethanol, beyond the E20 blending programme. Manufacturers can now invest in dedicated flex-fuel engines, with regulatory certainty to accommodate them.
The clearance is not a fuel mandate, and E100 dispensing is not yet widespread. The Hindu Business Line, reporting on the framework, noted that oil marketing companies are expected to gradually roll out dedicated E100 dispensing stations. Storage and transportation systems may require upgrades due to ethanol’s moisture-absorption properties. Vehicle homologation standards and emission certification protocols will also need to align with the new framework before large-scale adoption becomes possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the discount on Hero Splendor+ and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel?
Hero MotoCorp has applied a Rs 4,000 reduction on both the Splendor+ Flex Fuel and the HF Deluxe Flex Fuel as a limited-period offer valid through July 2026. With the cut, the Splendor+ Flex Fuel is priced at Rs 78,710 (ex-showroom) and the HF Deluxe Flex Fuel at Rs 68,792 (ex-showroom). The same Rs 4,000 benefit is available on each of the two models.
When do flex-fuel deliveries start in India?
Both motorcycles go on sale in July 2026 in Delhi and selected regions of Maharashtra, with the first deliveries scheduled from 30th July 2026, per Hero’s product page. The phased launch ties the bike rollout to the gradual build-out of E85 dispensing at Indian fuel stations. Wider city and state coverage is expected in subsequent months.
Can these bikes run on regular petrol?
Yes. Hero has rated both the Splendor+ Flex Fuel and the HF Deluxe Flex Fuel for fuel containing anywhere from 5% to 85% ethanol, which spans plain petrol at the low end and E85 at the high end. Most Indian pumps sell E20 today, and the bikes will run on that without any action from the rider. The ECU automatically trims fuel delivery when the ethanol share of the blend changes.
What is the difference between the Flex Fuel and the standard E20 versions?
The flex-fuel variants share the same 97.2cc engine, chassis, suspension, and brake package as the standard Splendor+ and HF Deluxe. The flex-fuel-specific changes are a revised fuel pump, an additional fuel filter, and an ECU that has been re-mapped to handle higher ethanol content. On the outside, the flex-fuel bikes carry new graphics, a Flex Fuel badge, and an ethanol-blend indicator on the digi-analog meter.
Does the Rs 4,000 discount apply to ex-showroom or on-road price?
The Rs 4,000 reduction is on the ex-showroom price. The Rs 78,710 figure for the Splendor+ Flex Fuel and the Rs 68,792 figure for the HF Deluxe Flex Fuel are both ex-showroom, Delhi. On-road prices will be higher, and the on-road delta varies by state after registration, insurance, and accessory charges.
