There was something fitting about the setting for the launch of Mahindra’s new models, the Lifestyler (on 14 Aug) in three variants, and special expressions of the BE 6, the top-of-the-line Launch Edition and the performance-focused Formula E Freedom Edition. Mahindra chose Ballard Pier in Mumbai, the very place from where the British once left India 80 years ago, to unveil these vehicles. It became a place to celebrate freedom in a very different sense, not just the freedom of a nation, but the freedom to think, to express, to simply be oneself.
Since its launch in November 2024, the BE 6 has become Mahindra’s most talked-about e-SUV, known for the emotional connection it built with owners, a spirit the brand has captured through its “Pulse Goes Rogue” campaign. SPORTEQ builds on that legacy, bringing sportier design, deeper technology, and a wider range of ownership experiences.
A Cockpit Worth Remembering
Mr. Pratap Bose, Chief Design & Creative Officer, Auto & Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra, said the design was conceived to go beyond looks, focusing on how customers experience the product, with SPORTEQ’s cabin built to feel as immersive and progressive as its exterior. He noted that the BE 6’s signature cockpit design is one some people love and some don’t, but that’s exactly what it was meant to be. Design that tries to please everyone, he said, rarely becomes memorable. “But sit inside this car once, and it stays with you. The colours, the materials, the finishes, the way the halo wraps around the driver, there’s simply nothing else quite like it,” he said.
Mr. Bose also pointed to a practical fix in the new design: “Earlier versions of the Halo design had one common complaint, nowhere convenient to charge a phone. That’s been fixed too, with a proper spot to charge your phone or hold a cup.”
Three Screens, One Sporty Soul
The BE 6 SPORTEQ brings back one of the most loved features across Mahindra’s EVs and SUVs, the three-screen display, opening up a world far beyond the car itself. Building it wasn’t simple. The team began, as they always do, with sketches, working through how to fit three screens into the dashboard without losing the BE 6’s sporty character.
The team kept the halo feeling of being wrapped in the cockpit, added slim, elegant air-con vents, and let the three screens float gracefully across the dashboard. The steering wheel and centre console still carry an aircraft-cockpit feel, a nice touch, especially since one of the people behind the car happens to be a pilot himself, and would likely recognise the resemblance, even if it leans more racing car than fighter jet.
Colours, Variants, Software That Grows With Customers
The SPORTEQ range is available in 12 colour options, including four new shades, Rosso Impulso, Ruby Velvet, Graphite Storm, and Firestorm Orange Satin, spread across eight variants. From variant TWO onwards, every model gets the three-screen, coast-to-coast display for a more immersive cockpit, while those who prefer the original race-inspired two-screen layout with the signature halo design can opt for the SPORTEQ Freedom Edition.
Staying true to the BE 6’s identity as a Software Defined Vehicle, every SPORTEQ variant comes with a rich set of segment-first technology features. Interestingly, all new features introduced with SPORTEQ will also reach existing BE 6, XEV 9e, and XEV 9S owners through over-the-air updates, rolling out in phases from January 2027.
MAIA and the Six TEQ Suites
Dr. Velusamy R, President, Automotive Business, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Managing Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile Ltd, said at the core of SPORTEQ’s intelligence is MAIA, Mahindra’s Artificial Intelligence Architecture, delivered through six TEQ suites.
TEQ_Talk, built with Google Gemini, is a conversational AI companion powered by 17 specialised agents, supporting over 100 functions and 48 apps for controls, navigation, music, and news. TEQ_Play brings entertainment features including India’s first in-car karaoke and gaming suite, private audio, and Dolby Vision and Atmos support. TEQ_Drive sharpens performance through features like Custom Drive Mode, Drift Mode, and an exclusive Acceleration Boost for the Freedom Edition. TEQ_Me focuses on personalisation through auto-detected user profiles, while TEQ_Secure strengthens safety with live monitoring, intrusion alerts, and an expanded Digital Car Key system, making Mahindra the first Indian automaker to offer Car Connectivity Consortium-compliant digital key access across multiple device ecosystems. TEQ_xting adds a personal touch, letting owners create custom tailgate messages.
The Launch Edition
The top trim – the Launch Edition, sits at the top of the SPORTEQ range, featuring an exclusive Graphite Storm exterior paired with a Racing Tan leatherette interior and a lighter upper roof, creating a real sense of openness and airiness inside the cabin. “So, if you want a BE 6 that still comfortably fits your kids and friends without giving up on sportiness, the BE 6 SPORTEQ Launch Edition is built exactly for that. And as a quiet homage to the day of its unveiling, this full-tan interior version, paired with its own special body colour, carries the name Launch Edition,” Mr. Bose said.
The Freedom Edition
The Formula E Freedom Edition channels Mahindra Racing’s Formula E programme into a road-going package, featuring the two-screen halo cockpit with a Black and Firestorm Orange cabin theme. It also offers an Acceleration Boost, taking the SUV from 0-100 km/h in 6.44 seconds. As a special tribute to the day of the launch, the interior also carries a plaque marking it as the Freedom Edition, a nod to the venue’s own history and the idea of freedom in its many forms.
What This Means for Mahindra’s EV Journey
Dr. Velusamy said electric mobility is entering a new phase, where customers expect more than just range and acceleration; they want vehicles that grow more intelligent and personal over time. He said SPORTEQ, powered by MAIA, reflects that shift, and that because the BE 6 is software-defined, it will keep evolving long after customers take delivery.
Mr. Nalinikanth Gollagunta, Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Executive Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile Ltd, said SPORTEQ builds on the BE 6’s legacy of bold design and sporty character, aiming to bring advanced technology and everyday excitement to a wider set of customers than ever before.
