Production-bound Mahindra BE 6e & XEV 9e EV SUVS Revealed

Revealed earlier this week are the radically sharp and technologically advanced new Mahindra BE 6e (left) and Mahindra XEV 9e (right) EV crossovers.

Whilst the Indian auto industry is renowned worldwide for its affinity with budget-friendly sedans and SUVs, the very latest metal from Indian automaker Mahindra is poised to break that mold and image. Pictured here are the brand’s new and production-ready BE 6e and XEV 9e models.

Aptly, both the BE 6e (pronounced cheekily as ‘be sexy’) and XEV 9e are fully electric crossover SUV offerings that sport both radical styling and advanced tech underneath which. Critically, both models are destined to arrive in Mahindra showrooms across India sometime next year (2025).

The BE 6e (cheekily spoken as 'be sexy') is the sharpest of the two thanks to its exterior's aggressive lines.

The larger XEV 9e twin stands as the more 'traditional-looking' offering between the two.

In terms of styling, both are strikingly similar, that is until you study its details. The BE 6e sports a more aggressive stance thanks to its sharp lines and slim LED lighting motif, whereas the XEV 9e is the friendlier and more convention-looking on the two.

Both models share the same 2,775 MM wheelbase, but each occupies a different segment, evident to their 419 MM difference in length. The XEV 9e is the largest of the duo at 4,790 MM long, thus making it 39 MM longer than the comparable Tesla Model Y too.

On board, the BE 6e sports a jet fighter-like cockpit design matched with a cabin ambient lighting suite befitting of a sci-fi flick.

Step into the cabin and the BE 6e's fighter jet cockpit inspiration is evident through its offer of dual 12.3-inch digital displays plus an augmented reality (AR) heads-up display (HUD). It also boasts a cabin ambient lighting that appears to be lifted straight out of a sci-fi flick.

Striking looks aside, the Mahindra BE 6e promises to be practical still, and this evident through its offer of both a sizeable 455-litre standard boot space plus a 45-litre frunk up front.

The XEV 9e instead gains more screens, higher-end trim materials and, crucially, larger and more practical boot and frunk capacities.

The Mahindra XEV 9e, on the other hand, benefits with a trio of 12.3-inch screens, an illuminated panoramic roof, the adoption of higher-end trim materials, as well as a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio suite. It’s larger size also sees it boast a bigger 665-litre standard boot space plus a 150-litre frunk.

Whilst here, it’s perhaps worth noting that these EVs also feature Mahindra’s Artificial Intelligence Architecture that runs off of the sixth-gen Adrena GPU and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip. In turn, these also power the Level 2 ADAS package primed across both.

Highlights of the latter include blind-spot monitoring and remote parking abilities – rare headlining features amongst India-made offerings. By the way, said ADAS features comes on top of core basics that also includes no less than seven airbags.

Underneath, both models underpins the Mahindra INGLO platform for EVs that houses semi-active dampers, five-link rear suspension assembly, brake-by-wire, and more.

At the core of both models is Mahindra’s new INGLO architecture for electric vehicles (EVs) featuring a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) layout. Notable too is the platform’s adoption of semi-active dampers, five-link rear suspension assembly, as well as brake-by-wire.

Additionally, the platform houses a single e-motor across both models, and outputs vary between 228 HP and 282 HP, depending on trimline. In terms of speed, the most potent setup here delivers rapid 0-100 KM/H sprints between 6.7 and 6.8 secs.

Either 59 kWh or 79 kWh LFP battery packs are available - likely sourced from VW Group. Critically, said packs accept up to 175 kW of DC fast-charging inputs.

Juicing said e-motor is an LFP-type battery pack with either 59 kWh or 79 kWh capacities, likely sourced from VW Group. Both also have the ability to draw in up to 175 kW of DC fast-charging inputs to enable 20-80% charges in less than 20 minutes.

Critically, range figures also appear promising, with Mahindra touting WLTP-rated figures of 533 KM in the XEV 9e and 550 KM for the smaller (and presumably lighter) BE 6e. Clearly, on this front at least, Mahindra’s new EV duo featured are matching up against popular Chinese-made contemporaries.

Range appears respectable too, with Mahindra touting WLTP-rated figures of 533 KM (XEV 9e) and 550 KM (BE 6e).

According to Autocar India, the smaller yet sportier-looking Mahindra BE 6e is set to command a price tag equaling to US$22,400 (approx. RM99,437.25) when it reaches dealerships across India early next year – between Feb and March was hinted.

As for the larger Mahindra XEV 9e twin, this offering will reportedly be tagged at the equivalent of US$25,900 (approx. RM114,970.83) when it also hits Indian showroom floors around the same time as its BE 6e twin mentioned.

Beyond its home market, there seems to be no indications yet if the Indian automaking powerhouse intends to export either models overseas just yet. However, given the specs each boasts, it’s not hard to see how these India-made EVs could rival against Chinese contemporaries well. Wouldn't you agree?