We recently reported on the first sighting of a test mule of the Mahindra BE.05 all-electric SUV. The spy shots of the BE.05 – the first of Mahindra’s upcoming BE range of SUVs – had showed only its exterior design, but we now have a first look at the interior of the production-spec EV.
- Mahindra BE range to comprise three electric SUVs
- BE.05 production version will debut in October 2025
- Will be based on the INGLO skateboard platform
Mahindra BE.05 interior seen in production-spec
Rajesh Jejurikar, executive director, Auto & Farm Sectors at the Mahindra Group, tweeted a picture of the BE.05's interior while it was being driven by the company's leadership team in Chennai.
In the concept form that was unveiled last year, the two most distinct elements of this EV's interior were the wraparound effect for the driver’s seat and the twin connected infotainment screens. But the pre-production test mule only has one large digital screen behind the steering wheel, while the infotainment screen seems to have been given a miss. However, this seems like a temporary fit and it remains to be seen how the infotainment screen shapes up for the final production model.
What’s also prominently visible is a conventional, round steering wheel instead of the flat-bottomed slim, two-spoke design that was seen in the concept.
The wraparound console for the driver’s seat has been retained though. The lever seen sticking out on the dashboard is an emergency kill switch that’s typically seen in most pre-production test mules. Mahindra has also kept the slim, concealed AC vents that flow over to the doors and the interior door pull straps unchanged from the concept. The front door also features a floating armrest with a switch perhaps for the power window.
Meanwhile, the front passenger seat can be seen with a manual height adjuster, although there could be some powered controls as well. These, however, are still early stages, and while most of the concept-like interior has been retained, it remains to be seen what it looks like in production-spec.
Mahindra BE.05 exterior design
The previous sighting of the BE.05 suggested a slightly toned-down exterior design for the production model than the concept. The wheel arches were less flared, it used traditional wing mirrors instead of cameras, and a conventional bonnet instead of the heavily sculpted one on the concept with an air duct, but the aggressive front fascia with striking C-shaped LED daytime running lamps was retained. You can read more about it here.
In concept form, the BE.05 measures 4,370mm in length, 1,900mm in width, 1,635mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,775mm. We expect the production version to also have a similar footprint.
Mahindra BE.05 SUV platform, powertrain
The BE.05 will be underpinned by an all-new INGLO EV skateboard platform. While the exact technical specifications for the BE.05 have not been revealed, we know that this platform will use a common battery pack design with standardised cell-to-pack technology that will use both Blade and Prismatic cell structures.
Vehicle battery sizes will range from 60-80kWh and will be capable of fast charging up to 175kW, which would charge the battery to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes, depending on the model. Mahindra says the 80kWh battery should return a driving range of about 435km to 450km under the WLTP cycle. The new electric SUVs will have both rear-wheel drive as well as all-wheel drive configurations, depending on the model.
Mahindra BE.05 SUV: what will it rival?
The Mahindra BE.05 SUV will sit above the XUV400 EV and will launch by October 2025. It will directly rival the Tata Curvv EV, which will go on sale in 2024.
Also See:
Mahindra BE.05 electric SUV walkaround video
Mahindra BE Rall E Concept makes global debut