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Across the Rann in Under an Hour: Mahindra XEV 9e Record Run

The Rann of Kutch is the world’s largest salt desert — a vast, blindingly white expanse where the horizon disappears into the heat. I had one goal: set the national record for the fastest crossing in an electric vehicle. My weapon of choice? Mahindra XEV 9e.

Logistics were the first hurdle. With charging stations non-existent around Bhuj, we couldn’t risk driving there, the car arrived from Mumbai on a flat-bed, sitting at 100 per cent charge. We kicked off at 7:00am to beat the desert sun. I didn’t have range anxiety — I had “speed anxiety”. The Rann is unmapped and unforgiving. With a forest officer as my only “GPS”, I pushed the XEV 9e onto triple-digit speeds across cracked salt and shifting silt.

Driving the Mahindra XEV 9e Across the Salt Desert

The XEV 9e was surprisingly stock. Apart from deflating the tyres for a wider footprint, it was the same car you’d see in a showroom. The Rann is a deceptive mistress, the surface alternates between hard-cracked earth and treacherous soft patches. Go too fast and you lose traction, go too slow, and you’re buried. I spent the run counter-steering through aggressive throttle inputs, wrestling the 280 horses of this rear-wheel-drive machine.

Boost Mode in the Final Push

The real drama hit when deep tractor ruts blocked the path, forcing a frantic detour that bled away crucial seconds. Once clear, I leaned into the ‘Boost’ button on the steering wheel, unleashing full power in 10-second surges. The instant torque was relentless, pinning me back as the massive tyres threw up a blinding rooster tail of sand, testing the car’s traction and my own nerves.

A Record-Setting Finish in the XEV 9e

After 52 minutes of non-stop, high-speed driving, I crossed the 71.2km finish line. Record set. To celebrate, I turned off the “electronic nannies” and let the car dance. Doing doughnuts in a 5-seater family SUV that just conquered the world’s toughest salt flat? That’s a feeling I won’t soon forget.