The R1T is promising to be an exciting vehicle. It’s said to have up to 750 horsepower, 400 miles of range on a single charge, and a zero-to-60 time of just three seconds.
Rivian was founded ten years ago by RJ Scaringe, just after he completed his doctorate in mechanical engineering at MIT.
Rivian has drawn major attention this year, receiving massive investment dollars from Amazon, Ford, and Cox Automotive (Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader’s parent company).
Both the R1T and R1S use a “skateboard” platform designed in-house by Rivian. The battery pack is mounted in the floorpan between the two axles and frame rails. Suspension is double wishbones up front and a multi-link setup in the rear, with height-adjustable air springs, adaptive dampers, and a hydraulic anti-roll system.
Rivian proudly touts the fact that all of the main mechanical components in the R1S and R1T will sit below the height of the wheels, contributing to a low center of gravity. The platform was also designed to maximize occupant and cargo space, so the R1T and R1S should be quite practical.
Rivian’s acceleration claims for the R1T and R1S grabbed attention when the pair debuted. When equipped with a 135-kWh battery pack—the middle of Rivian’s three battery-size options—the R1T and R1S will hit 60 mph in 3.0 seconds and 100 mph in under 7.0 seconds. That’s supercar territory.
The four motors in the base 105-kWh R1T and R1S will combine to make 402 hp, and that figure rises to 753 hp for the 135-kWh version. Rivian will offer a 180-kWh battery pack for the R1T and R1S, but those trucks will make 700 hp. The 105-kWh Rivian models make 413 lb-ft of torque, while the two larger-battery versions will offer 826 lb-ft.
The automaker says the 105-kWh R1T will do over 230 miles on a charge, the 135-kWh will do over 300, and the 180-kWh will do over 400 miles. The R1S betters each of those figures by 10 miles.
Rivian purchased a manufacturing plant in Illinois once owned by Mitsubishi. It plans on building the R1S and R1T there, along with 100,000 electric delivery vans ordered by Amazon. Production at the Normal, Illinois plant will begin next year. The automaker also has facilities in Plymouth, Michigan, San Jose and Irvine, California, and Surrey, England.
There are several electric trucks coming to market in the next few years, but Rivian is differentiating itself by designing and marketing the R1T as an “adventure vehicle” and this latest update is in line with that strategy.
