After being on the market for less than three years, Rivian decided it was time to update both the R1T pickup truck and the R1S SUV. The second-generation vehicles are here, and although the visual updates take a little bit longer to notice, the powertrains got a serious upgrade. Both vehicles pack supercar-level performance in the top trim and promise a truly memorable experience.
Quad-Motor Madness
The star of the revised lineup is the Quad-Motor version of the R1T and R1S. The four electric motors deliver a combined output of 1,025 horsepower and 1,198 pound-feet of torque. Zero to 60 mph happens in a blink-and-you-miss-it 2.5 seconds. Two and a half seconds – that’s ridiculously quick for a supercar. But this kind of acceleration in a full-size pickup or an SUV is an interesting experience, to say the least.
The performance that the second-generation Rivians bring to the market is on another level. The R1T can clock a quarter mile in 10.5 seconds. That’s not just a fast pickup truck. That’s as quick as a Porsche Taycan Turbo S or Corvette Z8 and quicker than a BMW M3 Competition xDrive. Merging onto the highway will take some getting used to.
Rivian is offering a few options for those less interested in outright performance and those more into the range and efficiency side of electric driving. The Dual-Motor variant, Performance Dual-Motor, and Tri-Motor will complete the offering. The Tri-Motor is hardly a step down from the Quad-Motor model — it pushes 850 horsepower and 1,103 pound-feet of torque, enough to outrun most cars on the road.
No More Range Anxiety
With great power comes great range anxiety – or at least it used to. The new R1T and R1S promise to put that problem behind, with the lowest range around 258 miles. The most efficient long-range model promises 420 miles on a single charge, making a cross-country road trip a viable proposition.
EV technology has progressed tremendously in the short three years since the first R1T left the factory. The second generation of R1T and R1S introduces a heat pump-based thermal system that helps the battery eke out every last mile. The new 22-inch aero-friendly rims do their job so well that Rivian claims its new trucks are the most efficient on the market.
The Real Changes Are Hiding
While the refreshed looks and upgraded power are great news, the real story is the one we can’t actually see. Rivian went back to the drawing board with the entire electrical system on both vehicles. The new, revamped architecture is cheaper, easier to service, and far more resilient. Using the zonal design, the previous spaghetti architecture with 17 ECUs is replaced with just seven onboard computers. Get this – every vehicle packs 1.6 miles less of cables than previous models. This is a dial-up to fiber optic internet moment for Rivian.
And then, there’s the all-new Rivian Autonomy Platform. Scalable and upgradable, this suite of cameras and sensors powered by AI promises to make the R1T and R1S some of the smartest vehicles on the road. The new system can see ten seconds ahead of the car when traveling at highway speeds – Rivian just invented time travel.
All that technology deserves premium packaging, and Rivian delivers. Improved suspension promises new levels of plushness and control. Inside, you’ll find premium materials, more storage space, and new wireless chargers for your gadgets. Space, comfort, top-shelf technology – Rivian has made a name for itself and is keeping the bar high.
The Million Dollar Question
We might as well get it out of the way – the second generation of the R1T and R1S is not cheap. The entry-lever R1T starts at $69,900, and for that, you get two electric motors, 533 horsepower, and 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The Performance version cranks the output to 665 horsepower and cuts one second off the 60 mph sprint.
The standard battery in R1T can be upgraded to either Large Pack or Max Pack, but the Dual-Motor Max Pack R1T will set you back $83,900. Go for the largest battery and three electric motors, and you are looking at a $99,900 starting price. If you prefer an SUV over a pickup truck, then the R1S demands a $6,000 premium for each version, with the Tri-Motor Max Pack R1S coming in at $105,900.
Rivian hasn’t confirmed the prices for Quad-Motor versions, but with supercar performance, we can comfortably expect a supercar price tag. The Dual-Motor versions can be ordered already, with the Tri-Motor models scheduled to follow in the summer. The arrival of the Quad-Motor, just like its price, is shrouded in mystery for now.