A.R. Rahman Test Drives Mahindra XEV 9E: Comes Back Super Impressed [Video]
Mahindra recently launched their electric vehicles, the BE 6 and XEV 9E, in the Indian market. Both of these electric vehicles received an overwhelming response from customers. Within hours after Mahindra opened bookings, these eSUVs garnered over 30,000 reservations in total. Deliveries for the electric SUVs will commence in the coming months. We have seen people test-drive the new XEV 9E and BE 6 on the road and share their experiences. Here, we have one such video where legendary musician A. R. Rahman drives the XEV 9E and shares his experience.
The video was shared by Mahindra Electric Origin SUVs on their YouTube channel. In the video, we see the music maestro entering a café, where Mr. Velusamy, Joint Managing Director of Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited, is waiting for him. They greet each other and begin their conversation.
If you didn’t know, A. R. Rahman is associated with Mahindra. The renowned musician partnered with Mahindra to craft the soundscape for the XEV 9E and BE 6. The legendary composer worked on designing over 75 distinct sounds, including the hum of the electric SUVs, experience modes, and even functional signals like seatbelt alerts and turn indicators.
Working with Mahindra
Rahman then talks about his experience working with Mahindra. He mentions that when he first saw the product, he was excited, and after experiencing the car, he was genuinely proud of it. He stated that Mahindra had built a world-class product and that he was happy to be a part of it.
We also see Mr. Rahman testing the acoustics of the XEV 9E’s cabin. He even sings inside the car to evaluate the sound quality. Velusamy and Rahman also discuss the technician Rahman brought in to fine-tune the sound system in the EVs. Mr. Velusamy mentions that the speaker system is one of the first features that impress many people in Mahindra’s EVs.
Driving the XEV 9e
Rahman drives the XEV 9E on public roads and even tests the V8 sound mode. He added the V8 engine sound because the thrill one experiences from an engine’s roar is unique and enhances the overall driving experience.
In a previous video posted by Mahindra, Rahman mentioned that he is so happy with the product that he is likely to book one for himself soon.
Mahindra XEV 9E
The Mahindra XEV 9E is the larger SUV and currently the most expensive electric vehicle from Mahindra in the Indian market. It features a bold and premium-looking front end with a connecting LED bar, an illuminated Mahindra logo, drop-down LED DRLs, a triangular-shaped split headlamp design with LED lighting, large alloy wheels, LED taillights, and more.
Inside, the SUV boasts three large 12.3-inch screens on the dashboard, collectively called the “Cinemascope Cockpit.” It also offers rear-seat entertainment screens as an optional extra. Other key features include VisionX Augmented Reality HUD, MAIA (Mahindra Artificial Intelligence Architecture), seven airbags, Level 2+ ADAS, a 360-degree camera, and more.
The Mahindra XEV 9E is available with two battery pack options: 59 kWh and 79 kWh. The 59 kWh battery option generates 228 BHP and 380 Nm of peak torque. This version offers a claimed range of 542 km.
The 79 kWh battery option generates 282 BHP and 380 Nm of peak torque. This version offers a claimed range of 656 km. The price for the Mahindra XEV 9E starts at ₹21.90 lakh (ex-showroom) and goes up to ₹30.50 lakh (ex-showroom).