New Details Emerge for Rivian R1T, R1S Configurations
Details of the upcoming Rivian R1T and R1S electric vehicles leaked just hours ahead of the company sharing some equipment options for the various trims and announcing that the online configurations (allowing you to build your own) will launch on November 16th.
As of now, Rivian’s plan involves offering identical trims for the R1T pickup and R1S SUV — splitting the two body styles into Adventure and Explorer packages. While the former is a bit more upscale, both come with a panoramic roof, vegan upholstery, and are big on connectivity. Wi-Fi is embedded and allows for Rivian to issue over-the-air updates. There’s also the First Edition model, which is effectively a gussied up version of the Adventure going to true believers that booked their EVs well in advance.
The Adventure package adds creature comforts like heated/cooled seats, nicer materials inside the cabin, “Rivian Elevation 360” stereo system (with a removable Bluetooth speaker), and remote monitoring (to check the car’s vitals or make sure it’s not been stolen). Owners will also receive an onboard air compressor, tow hooks, and enhanced under-body protection for when you decided to try your hand at rock crawling. Those selecting the R1T pickup also get a power tonneau cover.
Explorer models fail to embrace the Adventure’s natural-grained ash wood interior finishes, adjustable front seats, Chilewich floor mats, or yellow accenting. The heated seats are still there, but they aren’t ventilated. The surround-sound audio system is there too, but you don’t get the removable speakers. There’s even a complementary tonneau cover for the pickup version, but you have to affix or remove it by hand.
This makes the Explorer quite a bit cheaper than the Adventure trim, however. The Rivian Owners Forum lists the R1T Adventure at $75,000 while the R1S comes in at $77,500. Explorer trims for the pickup and SUV are $67,500 and $70,000, respectively. Those numbers were later confirmed by the manufacturer, as was the “300+ mile” battery pack that comes standard in all Rivian products. The company also plans on issuing long-range variants (offering an estimated 400 miles of range) and cheaper, short-ranged versions in 2022.
If you can’t wait that long, First Edition models are supposed to start landing in people’s driveways in August 2021. Everything else isn’t supposed to arrive until January of 2022 at the earliest. The business also wants to launch a “Rivian Adventure Network” in the United States with fast-charging stations capable of recouping 140 miles in just 20 minutes.
Unfortunately, there’s no timeline for that program, and it’s another example of an EV manufacturer trying to have its own proprietary charging network — which is likely to incorporate fees masquerading as limited offers where you get “free” electricity for a few months. We’re also slightly concerned about where and how vehicles will be serviced since Rivian isn’t doing the dealership thing.
More details are supposed to be made available as we inch closer to launch. But we’re assuming the vehicles will launch with the 135-kWh pack. Rivian has also assured us that production models are still on track for 0-60 mph in 3 seconds and the ability to tow up to 11,000 pounds with the R1T (7,000 pounds on the R1S). Vehicles are also slated to receive advanced driving aids as standard that the company claims borders on autonomous driving. Considering how driving assistance and connectivity features rarely offer as much utility as manufacturers claim, we’re reserving judgment until we’ve actually gotten some seat time.
[Image: Rivian]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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The pass through storage between the cab and bed looks like it eats into the bed length, at least on the bottom half. The vegan upholstery would have to be at least as good as good leather to consider it. Otherwise it sounds like a nice vehicle.
I can only think of the Mario Brothers and a Ba-Bomb whenever I see these. As far as different from the rest, it's not bad.