Pair of high-styled sports utilities using VW know-how remain true to studies that whetted Kiwi distributor’s appetite.

TWO electric vehicles developed by India’s Mahindra and discussed as highly probable future New Zealand market entrants have finally revealed in full production format.

The BE 6e sub-compact and XEV 9e coupe sports utilities’ highly futuristic stylings base on the ‘Inglo’ dedicated EV platform, which it claims features one of the industry’s lightest flat-floor structures.

Though wholly created by the Indian brand, the cars are also the fruits of a close co-operation with Volkswagen, which has  allowed Mahindra access to its latest MEB platform, used by the ID.4 and ID.5 (and soon to land ID Buzz) in New Zealand, and also the latest drivetrains.

Mahindra has engineered the platform for rear-wheel and all-wheel drive applications, but it offers only the BE 6e and XEV 9e in the former. 

The cars come with common battery options; with 59kWh and 79kWh packs, respectively provisioning 400 kilometres and more than 700km range, though those come from testing to a domestic schedule, rather than the WLTP audit relevant to NZ.

The max DC fast charge rate is 175kW, meaning 20 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes in case of the BE 6e which, in the single motor format Mahindra has so far restricted comment to, has 210kW and 380Nm.

Mahindra claims the BE 6e can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 6.7 seconds, while the XEV 9e requires 6.8s.

The models are the first fruits of a new programme under the then ‘Born Electric’, now ‘Electric Origin’, mantle that was explained to NZ media in a tour to the company’s head office and main factories in August 2023. 

Back then, construction of the electric car plant from which these cars came had barely begun.

On that tour, Mahindra suggested up six electric cars using the Inglo platform would release, all for global consumption.

Also, on that occasion the brand’s New Zealand rights’ holder, Premium Distributors Limited, was confident of being at the start of the export queue. 

At that point, however, the EV market was looking massive - now, it’s a train wreck. Nonetheless, indications from PDL since suggest it is still keen on having an EV presence. 

The cars go on sale in India from February and when the export schedule might start is far from clear; Mahindra is keen to support international programmes but has always been burdened with more domestic demand than its factories can cope with.

The XEV 9e and BE 6e clearly relate individual styling stories, yet are very much linked, with the same 2775mm wheelbase and 1907mm width plus common technology: So identical high-voltage batteries and electric motors.

The BE 6e is 4.4 metres long, 1.9m wide and 1.6m high. The XEV 9e is 400mm longer, the same width and 1.7m tall, but has 3mm less headroom.

A generous ground clearance is a necessity on India’s roads; these come into with 2100mm between the ground and the underbodies. 

The models have a MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a five-link independent suspension with semi-active dampers at the back, also tuned for compliance over the country’s battered driving terrains.

Whereas VW’s ID cars mainly feature drum brakes at the rear, to enhance regeneration potential, Mahindra’s electric SUVs have disc brakes on all four corners. They both feature 19-inch alloys as standard and 20-inch wheels as an option in India.

The cars’ futuristic exterior and interior design spawn from, and stay largely true to, earlier concepts.

The cabin layouts differ, with the BE 6e’s cockpit being more driver-focused and incorporating a two-spoke rectangular steering wheel, and two connected screens – creating a “race-ready” digital display. The XEV 9e, meantime, has three 12.3 inch screens that interconnect to form a 43-inch wide display, incorporating the instrument cluster, the infotainment and a screen for the front-seat passenger.

The both have ‘Level 2 plus’ semi-autonomous driving capabilities, reliant on five radars and a ‘vision camera’. Ultrasonic sensors allow both cars to park themselves.