Rivian says its updated electric pickup and SUV are faster and have more range than the Cybertruck
Rivian unveiled its updated R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV with more power and range on Thursday.
The revised R1T and R1S look similar to the outgoing generation but feature major internal updates.
The dual-motor, second-generation Rivian R1T and R1S are on sale now.
Rivian unveiled an updated second generation of its flagship R1T electric pickup truck and R1S SUV on Thursday, featuring a host of technical improvements and two new powertrain options with more power and range.
Based on Rivian's estimated performance figures, versions of the second-generation R1 platform now boast faster acceleration and substantially more range than Tesla's Cybertruck.
With that said the R1's external styling, which launched in 2021, remains largely unchanged.
"We continue to evolve our flagship R1 vehicles, offering quality and performance without compromise," said RJ Scaringe, Rivian CEO and founder. "Our revamped R1S and R1T push the technical boundaries further, creating our most capable products to date."
The updated R1 follows the launch of Rivian's upcoming R2 and R3 SUVs in March. In April, Rivian temporarily paused production to retool its Normal, Illinois factory ahead of the arrival of new models and amid lower demand for EVs.
New powertrain options lead the updates to the R1.
The existing all-wheel-drive R1 dual-motor remains unchanged, with the 665 horsepower Performance variant capable of reaching 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.4 seconds.
However, the big news is the upgraded Quad-Motor and the introduction of an all-new Tri-Motor powertrain.
The second-generation quad-motor now boasts a whopping 1,025 horsepower, up from 835 horsepower.
According to Rivian, the R1T Quad-Motor in launch mode can now do 0-60mph in less than 2.5 seconds, besting the Tesla Cybertruck's claimed 0-60mph time of 2.6 seconds.
The R1T Quad-Motor can also run the ¼ mile in just 10.5 seconds.
This is thanks to the nearly 1,200 lb-ft of torque on tap when launch mode is engaged.
Bridging the gap between the monstrously powerful quad-motor and the more budget-friendly dual-motor is the new tri-motor.
The tri-motor, which is equipped with one motor up front and two on the rear axle, packs 850 horsepower. Rivian claims the Tri-Motor R1T pickup can do 0-60mph in a brisk 2.9 seconds while also delivering an estimated 380 miles in range.
In Conserve Mode, which disengages the rear axle motors until additional traction is needed, Rivian says the R1T Tri-Motor can stretch its range up to 410 miles, substantially more than the Cybertruck's maximum claimed range of 340 miles.
Rivian has also redesigned its larger-capacity battery packs with efficient packaging which are easier to produce and service.
The updated Max battery pack can deliver ranges up to 420 miles, while the revised Larger battery pack can reach 330 miles.
The base, Standard, battery pack now boasts lithium iron phosphate chemistry and, according to Rivian, can deliver up to 270 miles of the EPA estimated range.
As for charging, the R1 can quickly add up to 140 miles of range in as little as 20 minutes. The R1 is compatible with all major public high-speed charging networks, including Rivian's Adventure Network and Tesla's Superchargers.
The second-generation Rivian R1T and R1S are on sale now.
The base Dual-Motor R1T pickup with 270 miles of range starts at $69,900, while the base R1S SUV with the same range starts at $75,900.
The Tri-Motor variant is set to arrive later this summer with the R1T starting at $99,900 and the R1S at $105,900.
A quad-motor is expected to follow at a later time, but specific timing has not been announced.
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