ZigWheels & Mahindra’s Mission Scream Electric: 0-200-0km/h Record Run

Most performance tests are usually about speed but few cars attempt a 0-200-0 km/h run. It’s not just about outright acceleration. That we’re used to. Acceleration matters for sure but aerodynamics, stability at high speed and most importantly braking performance matters even more. Every system in the car must work together. Getting to 200kmph showcases capability and braking back to 0 shows that the engineering is done right. 

A search on google for this or similar acceleration and braking test will usually churn out supercar names. With the Mahindra BE 6, we set out to attempt this crazy record in what is essentially a family SUV. Just the fact that the BE 6 can pull this test off, doing multiple runs in the process, is a testament to its capability and safety on the road. When the run was complete, the result was clear. The BE 6 set the Fastest 0–200–0 km/h acceleration and braking run by an Electric Vehicle.

But setting that record took preparation and careful planning.

A Special Record = Special location

Our usual performance runs are simple, strap on the vbox, get to our usual closed test road and then run our tests. 0-100, 100-0 in gear accelerations etc. They are done one at a time giving our test driver and the car breathing space in between each test. This record is different. 

Accelerating to 200kmph is simple enough but requires a few critical things, the simplest of all is a safe, legal space to do this. Obviously public roads are out of the question. which means a test track with enough space to do this is needed. Enter Mahindra’s SUV Proving Track with its high speed test track with parabolic banking and long straights, perfect for hitting these speeds safely and legally.

With a test like this stressing out many components all at once, being at Mahindra’s test facility also afforded Mahindra’s own engineers and technicians to ensure that the production spec BE 6 was in top condition for the record run. And yes this was a complete stock BE 6, no special software or tunes were done to this car. The track also has everything that’s needed to keep the BE 6 ready, be that safety checks or charging stations. 

The Car Behind the Run

That brings us to the Mahindra BE 6. Making a car like the BE 6 took courage. The design looks bold and dramatic, almost like it escaped from a supercar concept sketchbook. Yet unlike a supercar this is accessible and affordable too! 

The design is only part of the story. Under the body sits a completely new electric platform from Mahindra. It brings new technology and a fresh approach to electric performance for the brand.

That kind of ambition needs confidence in their abilities and their engineering and the guts to actually pull it off. This record proves that its good looks and capabilities aren’t just numbers and promises on a brochure. It’s performance delivered. 

Preparing for the Record Attempt

Preparing a car for a run like this should be dramatic. Quite the opposite. With a production car like the BE 6 it’s actually really simple. Double check the tyre pressures, ensure the battery is fully charged and that’s pretty much it.

Timing and GPS datalogging equipment was installed and tested to measure the run accurately. Cameras were mounted inside and outside the car to capture the attempt. 

We got some vital advice from the Senior Lead Engineer - Vehicle Development at Mahindra about the track and the bankings, someone who knows this track like the back of his hand. We got some tips on how to tackle the banking to maximise speed and get the best possible timing. 

With the banking we could maintain high speeds but we needed to plan a proper start point for the run. The main challenge was to ensure that we were hitting 200kmph on the straights where we could apply the brakes. Finally after many attempts we found a spot which worked. The initial acceleration and the braking was done on one straight, we then entered the banking at 150km/h, continued accelerating to 190km/h through the banking and then hit 200km/h on the next straight before slamming on the brakes.

When all the checks were complete, it was time for the real attempt.

The Record Run

With all the possibilities calculated for all the preparation done we lined up at the start line for the record attempt. And the countdown started. Three, two, one, GO!

Accelerating down the back straight was simple, first past 100km/h and still accelerating hard towards the banking. I entered the banking at 150km/h, fast for any car and even more challenging because we had to keep the pedal floored.

The banking is designed to be neutral at 150kmph, which means very little steering input is needed. But with us having to accelerate through the 43.7 degree parabolic banking I had to keep making quite a bit of steering inputs to keep the car in the centre of the lane, with the guard rail just feet away in the corner of my right eye. Challenging and engaging to say the least. 

Once off the banking I lined up as straight as possible and watched the speedometer. Climbing from 195, 98… 200! And then the audible beep from the vbox signaled that we had reached a true GPS 200km/h speed. (All cars have a slight speedometer error engineered into them). And I had to slam on the brakes!

The BE 6 braked cool and calmly. The ABS and ESP systems unremarkably did their job. So smooth was this ‘dramatic’ event that our camera guys were asking for more drama. All they got was a little tyre noise, a slight nose dive and a clean stop. 

100% braking from 200km/h to zero is very rarely done in any car. Mostly because most cars will never hit this speed in the real world. The most intense braking that cars will ever see and at similar speeds is at race tracks, at the end of a straight. And even then you brake to corner speed and continue driving. It’s the most stress braking components will ever see in their lifetime.

Coming to a stop means there is no time to celebrate. Wait for a second to let the data save and then start moving again to get the brakes to cool down. And after a cool down lap we looked at the data. The final number - 41.67 seconds. That’s how long it took for a 0-200-0 km/h acceleration and braking run. A new Record for a production electric vehicle, that’s now certified by the India Book of Records, etching the BE 6 into the history books. And we are proud to be a part of this moment in history  

What This Record Shows

This record is not only about speed. It shows what a modern electric SUV can do when pushed to its limits. It shows how acceleration, stability and braking must work together.  The BE 6 proved that electric vehicles can deliver strong performance and strong control at the same time. Because true performance is not just about how fast a car goes. It is about how well the entire machine works when everything is pushed to the edge.

A testament to Mahindra’s design, engineering, guts and trust..