[a023624a]

Friends, any showroom in NCR that has XEV/BE on display ?

[newenergy]

Originally Posted by a023624a

Friends, any showroom in NCR that has XEV/BE on display ?

I called a few dealers but they are denying that they have received the vehicles. However invite basis test drives have started. We will have to wait till Jan mid/end I guess.

[a023624a]

Originally Posted by newenergy

I called a few dealers but they are denying that they have received the vehicles. However invite basis test drives have started. We will have to wait till Jan mid/end I guess.

Thanks. Do you know the steps to be followed for invite based test drives ?

[newenergy]

Originally Posted by a023624a

Thanks. Do you know the steps to be followed for invite based test drives ?

Sorry I am also trying for it but for now no information on this.

[Jekyl87]

None of them on call will tell you they have it. But if you visit, I suspect you might be able to catch one if you are very lucky. Friends and Family of dealers or who's who in Mahindra are getting an invite to register for a test drive with a code. They can block a date for a home visit and the dealer visits them with the cars for the test drive. This is how such videos from some random folks are coming on YouTube in Delhi driving the car. I got to know this yesterday when my boss mentioned he had such a token mail and was planning to book the home visit for next weekend. He knows someone on the Mahindra board.

[handsofsteel]

Originally Posted by Jekyl87

None of them on call will tell you they have it. But if you visit, I suspect you might be able to catch one if you are very lucky.

I called the Synergy Mahindra showroom last week and was specifically told, no models available, we have no news of when they will arrive. Same evening, I see posts on T-Bhp regarding both cars being parked in front of the showroom and visitors admiring them.
Maybe the universe is conspiring to ensure that we, mere mortals, don't end up testing beta products of the first batch.

[3WiseMen]

I did happen to see a red XEV 9E test car on the coastal road at Mumbai a couple of days back. The car was easily doing 130-140kmph when it passed me. Though we ended being next to each other through out the tunnel.

The red shade looked good in person, it also masked a lot of the ungainly proportions, especially at the rear. However the massive edge to edge rear tail light just doesn't do it for me.

That said while the car may not win any prizes for being the best designed, but it surely has a very good road presence. The car looks like nothing else on the road.

The Gloss Black area is quite sizeable, which will definitely require PPF coating.

From the little glimpse of interior I got, it looks very modern and good. The coast to coast screen looks great.

However upon checking with the local dealership, they said that the corporate may have arranged a test drive for someone and the showroom doesn't have any knowledge of it or access to the car.

[Jekyl87]

Originally Posted by Jekyl87

Friends and Family of dealers or who's who in Mahindra are getting an invite to register for a test drive with a code. They can block a date for a home visit and the dealer visits them with the cars for the test drive.

So these are Wow experiences. Check this out

https://youtu.be/f-4pDxmXrC8?si=KoyGqFs5vygtX7RU

[Contrapunto]

Originally Posted by extreme_torque

Where I am disappointed though is the lack of real R&D from Mahindra.

I am a very fierce critic of the Indian automotive industry, but IMO we should also cut them some slack. Grounds-up vertically integrated platform is very very difficult to pull off. The risk reward is not really in its favour (there are only so many Elons). I think they are taking the best possible strategy under the circumstances- a mix of self-designed body shell and minor parts, and reliable, almost-best-in-class core components from global players. Future iterations will continue to bring in more and more core components from in-house design, creating a virtual cycle of cost reduction from both scale and vertical integration. let's see and revisit the debate in 2-3 years time.

I have driven this car, for a fairly long period of time and varied roads of poor quality (Banaglore !!) as part of their WOW experiences. I am no celebrity though, just John Doe T-BHP member :-) . Beyond the gimmicky features, here are the highlights from a T-BHP soul.

(1). The suspension is VERY responsive and well tuned. For a large car, this is probably the best feature and something that will have the most significant quality of life improvement for its drivers and riders. Just mash it over small potholes- no problems. Sitting in the rear, I never got a sense of jumping around (XUV500) or tossed around

(2) As I said, its a "large" car. Photos without an accompanying object to judge its size, does not give a sense of its dimensions. This is for large-framed persons to travel in luxury, 2 abreast.

(3). The seat compounds are spot-on. Neither too firm, nor to soft. Just right. Long rides will be comfortable.

(4) The ergonomics, for my height of 5.2- 5.3 ft is perfect. I could sit comfortable in all 4 seats. I did spend a long time in the rear seat as well. Fiunnily Mahindra have got the balance of screen based control vs physical controls almost spot on in XUV400. I was hoping that good sense will continue over, but I suppose "fashions of the times" overwhelms us all, including automotive designers.

(5). The motor is fairly silent. The cabin is very well insulated. Not dead silent- but good enough.For contrast, in ZS EV, I could hear the motor whining almost the entire time I drove the car. (BYD e-Max7 is in another league though when it comes to a silent motor- but thats more expensive as well.)

(6). The acceleration and deceleration, in their "normal" mode- was very linear and predictable. That's how I suppose 99% of the folks will drive, and they will find it very easy to live with.


(7) Last but NOT the least - you do NOT sit knees up in the rear seat as you do in ALL iCE conversions. The floor height is low enough to sit comfortably. For my height, the seat squab is large enough (not Innova level nice, but good enough) . The hip point of the rear seat is also well suited for Indian frames and the rear door does open pretty wide.

(8). THANK YOU ! Oh Thank You Mahindras for including a spare tyre as standard equipment (a space saver neatly tucked away but easy to access). Most EV makers are skipping this...I am loking at you Tata, BYD, Volvo, Kia et al. I can't imagine travelling in the night or on highways without this gear.


Grumbles-

Only one- there should have been more buttons, knobs and physical controls for critical functions. This remains an annoyance. Funnily, they got it just right with the XUV 400. I was really hoping the good function design sense will carry over. Alas.

[raviemailid]

Some details that was already plublished by Mahindra but missed by us:

1. Wonder on Wheels (WoW) program was launched to target 350 tech enthusiast and 500 luxury owners.

2. Jan 6 and 7 is Media Tech Drive in Chakan by Mahindra.





Here is the full presentation where they are sharing lot of details.

Launch-of-BE-6E-and-XEV-9E.pdf

[sachinayak]

Originally Posted by Contrapunto

I have driven this car, for a fairly long period of time and varied roads of poor quality (Banaglore !!) as part of their WOW experiences. I am no celebrity though, just John Doe T-BHP member :-) . Beyond the gimmicky features, here are the highlights from a T-BHP soul.

Did you get a chance to drive the BE6 too? Any thoughts on that if did?

[kgt.v8]

Originally Posted by Contrapunto

I am a very fierce critic of the Indian automotive industry, but IMO we should also cut them some slack. Grounds-up vertically integrated platform is very very difficult to pull off. The risk reward is not really in its favour (there are only so many Elons). I think they are taking the best possible strategy under the circumstances- a mix of self-designed body shell and minor parts, and reliable, almost-best-in-class core components from global players. Future iterations will continue to bring in more and more core components from in-house design, creating a virtual cycle of cost reduction from both scale and vertical integration. let's see and revisit the debate in 2-3 years time.

Very well put together thought. Battery and engine are most critical part of an EV. It is better to use standard and established parts for Mahindra rather than reinventing the wheel by creating their own parts and suffer from reliability issues after launch.
Most of parts in cars are sourced from part suppliers and it is part of entire car manufacturing supply chain. So it should be acceptable for manufacturers to buy battery from companies like BYD until some Indian company gets expertise to build reliable and safe battery pack 5 years down the line.

Originally Posted by sachinayak

Did you get a chance to drive the BE6 too? Any thoughts on that if did?

Originally Posted by Contrapunto

I have driven this car, for a fairly long period of time and varied roads of poor quality (Banaglore !!) as part of their WOW experiences. I am no celebrity though, just John Doe T-BHP member :-) . Beyond the gimmicky features, here are the highlights from a T-BHP soul.

Please share you experience if you got to test drive BE6 also in BE6 thread. It will be helpful for normal people like us (who do not come under Wonder on Wheels criteria) who will be actually buying these cars.

I am unable to understand this WoW program. Mahindra is giving priority test drives to some 500 luxury owners (celebrities, famous people) and 350 tech enthusiasts to create more hype and word of mouth publicity for BEVs. These 750 people may influence buying decision but mostly will not be actual buyers of BE6 or XEV9E. People who buy Safari, Harrier, Creta, Seltos, XUV400, XUV700, Atto3 might be real buyers of new BEVs who are left out by Mahindra this time and are not getting to see and experience the car in-person.

[Contrapunto]

Originally Posted by kgt.v8

Please share you experience if you got to test drive BE6 also in BE6 thread. It will be helpful for normal people like us (who do not come under Wonder on Wheels criteria) who will be actually buying these cars.

Unfortunately no, I did not drive the BE6. But then I am not considering that car- its for the "young of spirit and sporty at heart"- and dare I say, fit of body to get into cars with a high floor line and a low roofline. Not for me, but surely a bold move from Mahindra. I have seen it in person though- 110% "Tashan" aka show value is guaranteed. Like the early Thar buyers, all your family and friends will want a ride, and your nephew and nieces will want you to drop them in school :-)

All Mahindra needs to do is to add a faux exhaust note - maybe a classic V12 throaty burble, in a future update......and gentlemen, we have the ultimate show car on Indian roads....IT will be more than able to hold its own in those "Sunday Supercar Drives" to Nandi Hills. Just join their cluster (the road is a public road after all) and steal their thunder...

The boot opening is hydraulic and there is a 12V charging point in the boot. The boot lid opens high- just perfect for opening a drinks counter with loud stereo in our archetypical Indian shaadi .......

[wooka]

Any idea if these cars have V2L capacity within the cabin? I'd really like to have my ecoflow quick charge in the car.

[Karthik Mathur]

I understand that Mahindra will not provide a free home charger (7.2kw or 11kw). So I presume we can purchase any third party charger and use?

I was looking at options, and the Exicom 11kw charger and Zevpoint 22kw charger both cost about Rs. 40k. Assuming we can get a 25-26kw load sanctioned from the electricity board, doesn't it make sense to go for the Zevpoint charger?

Any idea if 22kw AC charging is supported?