In Delhi, a new political group calling itself the E20 Janta Party has demanded that consumers be given the option to purchase 100% gasoline, inspired by the successful campaign of the Cockroach Janta Party. This previous campaign led to the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Minister of Education due to a leak of NEET examination materials.
The E20 Janta Party also called for the resignation of the Minister of Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, regarding this issue. The party stated that its goal is not to receive subsidies, free fuel, or abolish the use of ethanol-blended gasoline, but solely to ensure a choice for buyers.
The campaign has received support among transport workers. The Delhi Taxi and Tourist Operators Association and tour operators have announced a march to Parliament against E20 gasoline on August 4th. The association claims that the ethanol blending policy has reduced fuel efficiency, increased maintenance costs, and negatively affected engine performance, especially in older vehicles.
The E20 Janta Party group, which gained over 25,000 followers on X in a matter of hours on Sunday, insists that every citizen must have the freedom to choose and buy 100% gasoline alongside blended fuel options. Furthermore, they demand transparent fuel labeling so that consumers know exactly what they are purchasing, as well as the publication of data on the costs, benefits, and impact of different fuel blends, and the conducting of independent studies on fuel consumption, engine performance, emissions, and maintenance costs.
Although premium gasoline with zero ethanol content has long been available in the country, it is sold only at specific gas stations and costs 169 rupees per liter. This is significantly more expensive than standard E20 fuel, which costs 102.12 rupees per liter in Delhi. The government recently announced that E20 has become the standard fuel, and there are currently no plans to reduce the percentage of ethanol in the fuel.
The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) has filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction to prevent the implementation of the new composition of Brazilian gasoline, which involves a higher addition of ethanol to the mixture. Through a public civil action, the body seeks to suspend the governmental determination that raised the mandatory percentage of ethanol in gasoline from 30% (E30) to 32% (E32).
The request aims to keep the change suspended until detailed technical studies are conducted to confirm the safety of the new fuel for vehicles circulating in the country, thereby ensuring consumer protection and clarity in energy guidelines.
The core of the challenge presented by the MPF lies in the adopted procedure. The National Council of Energy Policy (CNPE) allegedly approved this modification on July 14th without conducting adequate impact analysis or presenting scientific proof that the measure is applicable to the national fleet.
The action argues that the Union used research data from the previous 30% blend, exploiting the existing 2% tolerance margin in those tests. However, the MPF points out that these studies were designed only to evaluate performance and drivability with E30, not to validate E32 as a definitive and compulsory standard.
According to the body, there is a lack of definitive evaluations regarding component longevity, emission levels, autonomy, and compatibility with the diversity of the fleet. Furthermore, the E32 specification includes up to 34% ethanol, a range that has also not been validated.
In practice, the action alleges that increasing the alcohol content can cause corrosion in metal parts, lead to premature wear of pumps, and generate failures in electronic injection systems, with the risks being most pronounced in motorcycles, older, and imported vehicles. The MPF considers that the State must be responsible for guaranteeing the safety of the product sold at gas stations, since the driver does not select the fuel according to their vehicle's design.
Anfavea also expressed concern, as it historically requires extensive engineering tests before allowing an increase in the amount of ethanol. Additionally, the MPF highlights a neglected environmental impact: even if ethanol helps reduce atmospheric pollution, accelerated wear of parts can result in faster disposal of materials such as metals, plastics, and rubbers, increasing the volume of automotive waste.
This discussion occurs shortly after the introduction of E30 itself. The 30% blend only came into effect on August 1, 2025, replacing E27, following tests conducted by the Mauá Institute of Technology and approval by the CNPE. Less than a year later, the government decided to advance to the next level, with E32 scheduled to begin on August 1, 2026, having an initial validity of 180 days, subject to extension.
The Executive Branch justifies the change as a strategy to decrease dependence on imported gasoline and achieve greater energy sovereignty, citing studies from the Mauá Institute that supposedly confirm the viability of E32 in light automobiles and motorcycles. The Future Fuel Law already authorizes reaching 35% (E35), provided its technical viability is proven, which is exactly the point the MPF contests.
The federal government approved the increase in the mandatory percentage of anhydrous alcohol in gasoline, raising it from 30% to 32%. This decision was formalized on Tuesday morning, the 14th, by the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE).
Initially, the new 32% composition will be valid for 180 days, with the legal possibility of extension for one more equal period, only once. This represents the second increase in just over a year, as the blend had been raised from 27.5% to 30% in June 2025.
According to the resolution issued by the council, the justification for the change lies in the instability observed in the international oil and fuel market. Increasing the participation of domestic ethanol aims to decrease dependence on imported fossil fuel derivatives and strengthen the presence of this biofuel in the Brazilian energy matrix.
Estimates from the Ministry of Mines and Energy indicate that this measure could reduce the need to import approximately 500 million liters of gasoline monthly, which would contribute to the country's self-sufficiency in supply. For the sugar-energy sector, the change will inject an additional demand of 1 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol annually.
Despite the government's claim that laboratory and road tests show no issues with drivability or mechanical damage, even in non-flex engines, the decision raises concerns in automotive engineering and among enthusiasts of classic and imported vehicles. Anhydrous ethanol has high hygroscopicity, absorbing moisture from the air, which increases the electrical conductivity of the fuel and can initiate accelerated galvanic corrosion in metal parts, such as steel tanks, feed lines, and carburetors of classic cars.
Additionally, the solvent nature of ethanol at high concentrations can deteriorate and dry out rubbers, gaskets, and hoses not designed to withstand such content, not to mention the inherent decrease in the calorific value of the mixture, which implies higher fuel consumption for the driver.
The text points out that Brazil was globally pioneering in incorporating alcohol into gasoline almost a hundred years ago, and was also the first country to produce ethanol cars on a large scale and universalize the flex vehicle. These initiatives have contributed to Brazil having a fleet with low emission rates. The addition of more ethanol to regular gasoline, therefore, should lead to an even greater reduction in these emissions.
The author criticizes electrification programs promoted by bureaucrats aligned with international organizations, arguing that Brazil already serves as an example in emission reduction and questioning the logic of increasing dependence on imported batteries and deficient electrical infrastructure while guaranteeing fuel independence.
On another front, Porsche is facing cuts due to the profitability crisis affecting the entire Volkswagen group, even Porsche, which was previously highly profitable. After a 99% drop in operating profit, Porsche is under scrutiny from the VW cost containment committee.
Information from the German newspaper Bild suggests that Porsche's preliminary list of cuts includes the Taycan, the Cayenne Coupe, and the combustion successor of the 718, which was being developed to reverse the decision to end the 982 generation in favor of an electric 718. The situation is so critical that even the Taycan is being removed from planning.
Porsche's strategy of saturating the market with various versions of the 911 is also being revised. Due to the development, calibration, and validation costs of each of the dozens of 911 variants, reducing options is seen as a quick way to contain margin loss.
Following its initial presentation under the FaSTLAne strategic plan by Stellantis, Fiat fully revealed its two new compact mid-sized SUVs in Europe: the Grizzly and the Grizzly Fastback. This duo will be the centerpiece of the Italian brand at the Paris Motor Show in October, with sales starting in the Old Continent shortly after.
Both models are highly likely to be launched in Brazil, although they may receive different names and project adjustments. The standard Grizzly measures 4.4 meters long and may offer a seven-seater configuration with a retractable third row, although Fiat has not confirmed this. Its design stands out with taillights composed of small rectangular LED blocks and a wide, windowless C-pillar.
Internally, the Grizzly features a dashboard with angular lines, a floating two-level center console with glossy black trim, a raised multimedia center, push-button start, and electronic parking brake.
The Grizzly Fastback adopts a smoother roof profile, giving it a silhouette similar to a coupe. This version incorporates a glossy black finish, highlighting the taillights with a 'pixelated' effect. The front end is identical to the conventional model, with a high hood, centered Fiat emblem on the grille, and rectangular LED headlights. At 4.5 meters, the Fastback gains ten extra centimeters, allowing for 600 liters in the trunk, a volume comparable to the current Brazilian Fastback, but with more balanced proportions due to the longer wheelbase.
Both SUVs share the Stellantis Smart Car platform, a simplified variation of the CMP architecture used in other recent Citroën and Opel vehicles. In Europe, the line will include mild hybrid and fully electric options, delivering up to 145 hp with a manual or automatic transmission. The hybrid versions use the Stellantis group's 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine.
Although Fiat has not officially confirmed it, the launch in Brazil is considered certain. The models were developed locally under codes F2U (Grizzly SUV) and F2X (Grizzly Fastback), with an expected arrival in the Brazilian market between 2027 and 2030.
A recent test published by the Swedish magazine Vi Bilägare, in the 2026 edition, confirmed the risk associated with using multimedia screens in vehicles, reinforcing what many drivers already perceived: modern screens cause more distraction than those from previous years.
Despite marketing promises that larger screens and faster processors would improve usability, the reality presented by the Swedish test contradicts this theory. Using the same methodology as in 2022, drivers were placed on a closed track, maintaining 110 km/h, and measured the distance traveled until the completion of four simple tasks, such as adjusting temperature, turning on the seat heater, changing the radio, and adjusting brightness.
The results showed an ergonomic regression. In 2022, the average distance traveled during distraction was 756 meters. In 2026, this average increased to 813 meters, equivalent to almost two additional seconds of 'dynamic blindness' at highway speed.
Mercedes-Benz, which promotes its operating system intelligence, performed alarmingly. In the CLA, the driver took 35 seconds to interact with the menus, which was 15 seconds more than in the GLB SUV evaluated four years earlier, traveling 1,116 meters without full focus on driving. The Mazda CX-60 recorded the worst result with 1,137 meters. The Volvo XC60, although with 485 meters, was surpassed by the 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge (which required 68 meters less).
All these models were outperformed by the test control group—a 2016 Volvo V60 and a 2005 V70—demonstrating the fragility of modern systems. The author concludes by criticizing the trend of technological deterioration, comparing it to the imposition of facial monitoring cameras by the European Union, while automakers themselves remove physical buttons to reduce costs, entering the 'era of good intentions.'
