After having driven the Mahindra BE 6 alongside our Mahindra Thar, I came away mighty impressed. It is a car that looks fantastically futuristic and has the performance chops to match its radical looks. But I felt that something was amiss. Driving a great car is well and good, but within the confines of road, traffic, and laws, the experience seems rather incomplete, right? Well, Mahindra had a plan to fix that for us. So, welcome to the Mahindra Unlimit Weekend! 

When Mahindra launched the BE 6 and the XEV 9e, they also introduced us to the INGLO, Mahindra’s electric origin architecture on which the two cars are based. More will follow in the future, but for now, these are the two we have. The sales numbers and the sheer number of them we have seen on the road already speak volumes about the platform’s success. So, the idea behind Mahindra Unlimit Weekend was not only to let the current customers experience their Mahindra Origin electric cars to their fullest, but also to introduce prospective buyers to the world of electrifying fun that these cars stand to deliver. 

Now, if you have gone through the cover of this issue or read the piece preceding this one, you already know that I was one of those prospective buyers as well. When I got to know about the Mahindra Unlimit Weekend and the fact that it was going to be held at the Buddh International Circuit, I was predictably thrilled. And this is how it all unfolded. 

I have been to the Buddh International Circuit a fair few times. So I am aware that this is a demanding track. It has held F1 races and MotoGP races, so there is no doubt about the fact that it is world-class. That said, it also poses a few challenges for both the man and the machine. For the ones who are not used to the racetrack, the sheer expanse can play with your perception. And for the machines, well, the long straight and a variety of corners, long sweeping ones and really tight ones, can put a machine through its paces thoroughly. 

Now, I had already gotten a taste of what the BE 6 can do on open roads, but on this circuit, I had the opportunity to see where its limits are. Spoiler alert, I did not find many. Despite being an SUV, the BE 6 has excellent dynamics. It is planted, confident, and predictable. I have seen a lot of cars that underdeliver in terms of the steering, which compromises the ‘feel’ a little. With the BE 6, the steering is always talking to you, and you know exactly where you stand and how far you can go. 

Thanks to the expanse of the track and the straights, I was also able to really push the motor as well. Over 280 horses (with the 79 kWh variant) and 380 torques, the BE 6 does seem like it is a bit out of breath towards the end of those straights. That is to be expected since the torque is massive and the acceleration is rapid. So it peaks rather quickly. But if I am being honest, this is not a car that you chase top speed with… it is RWD… so it is a car that you have fun with. 

Along with handling in the corners, the RWD system and the stellar chassis and suspension setup allow one to do a bit more. We took the BE 6 through slaloms that highlighted its manoeuvrability. The most exciting bit for me was when Gaurav Gill took the reins… the memories of Tokyo Drift came flooding back with the air filled with smoke and tyres screeching at the top of their lungs dangling at the edge of traction and the lack of it! 

I talked to Gaurav Gill about how the car felt, and he was extremely impressed. He liked the agility on offer and the amount of confidence the car inspired, even when being ragdolled around the cones! I also asked him if he ever expected an India-made electric SUV to come loaded with this sort of fun performance that the BE 6 packs. His answer was a resounding no, which was a resounding yes to me in terms of getting this car for myself! 

The event was also graced by Gul Panag. She is also an automotive enthusiast… if you did not know that already from our many past interactions with her. She also came away impressed with the way the BE 6 looks and the way it performs. This proved to be another nudge in the direction of me getting this car… not that I needed any, but still, when fellow automotive enthusiasts feel the same way about a vehicle, it always offers more assurance, no matter how sure you already are. 

With the Mahindra Unlimit Weekend wrapped up… my mind was already made about getting the BE 6, but at the end of the day, I also stood corrected. There was this nagging feeling at the back of my head, a voice that kept telling me that no matter how good, an EV cannot be that much fun… I guess there’s a first for everything.