Rivian R1T and R1S 2020: everything we know so far

The R1T and R1S promise speed that surpasses a Porsche, towing that is infamous for a HiLux.

The love of Australians for big trucks and SUVs, and the world's ongoing desire for electric vehicles will collide in the most remarkable way, and Rivian has confirmed that the R1T and R1S will be launched locally.

And we're not the only ones excited; The company has raised about $1.5 billion in investment so far, including about $700 million from an Amazon-led round and most recently $500 million from future rival Ford.

So it's obvious that the brand is making a lot of the right sounds. But the obvious question arises; just what the hell is Rivian? And why should you care?

We're glad you asked...

What is Rivian R1T?

The R1T will be able to tow 4.5 tons and cover a distance of up to 643 km.

Imagine a heavy truck, roughly the size of an apartment building, with all the off-road capability you need.

And what's more, imagine insanely practical; Rivian has patented five custom tray designs for its double cab pickup truck, each designed for a specific user. There's a removable rest module that allows you to mount off-road bikes in the back, for example, and a removable delivery module with a canopy, removable open box, flat deck and smaller side rails.

Now imagine the same truck showing the performance that gets Porsche's eye and a claimed electric range of around 650 kilometers. Do you understand why we are a little excited?

On paper, the R1T's performance is incredible. Powered by a quad-motor system that delivers 147kW per wheel and a staggering 14,000 Nm total torque, Rivian says its truck (from) $69,000 to 160 can hit 7.0 km/h in just 100 seconds and sprint up to 3.0 km/h in just over XNUMX seconds. That's mind-bogglingly fast for a vehicle of this sheer size and capability.

The declared traction power is about five tons, and the carrying capacity is about 800 kilograms.

But trucks aren't about performance - if they're about performance at all - and so the R1T isn't without its off-road talents either.

“We really focused on the off-road capabilities of these vehicles. We have 14" dynamic ground clearance, we have a structural bottom, we have permanent four-wheel drive so we can climb 45 degrees and we can go from zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.0 seconds,” said Rivian chief engineer Brian Geis. Cars Guide at the 2019 New York Auto Show.

“I can tow 10,000 4.5 pounds (400 tons). I have a tent that I can throw on the back of a truck, I have a range of 643 miles (XNUMX km), I have full-time four-wheel drive so I can do everything that another car can, and then some.”

Since all important parts are limited to the "skateboard" (but more on that in a moment), the rest of the car's structure is freed up for clever solutions, such as a storage compartment under the hood, as well as a tunnel that cuts the vehicle horizontally, right where the tunnel goes into a regular poop that can be used to store things like golf clubs or surfboards, and can also be used as a step to get to the tray. The declared traction power is about five tons, and the carrying capacity is about 800 kilograms.

"It puts lockable storage in this space that doesn't exist, it adds dynamic suspension so on the road it will feel extremely capable and much smaller than it is, but then you also have this off-road side for the vehicle - such a duality does not currently exist,” Geise says.

And that's really what the Rivian R1T presentation boils down to; whatever you can do, we can do better. And then some.

“We're going to take the traditional trade-offs that exist in this segment — poor fuel economy, driving displeasure, poor highway behavior — and make them strengths,” said company founder and MIT engineering graduate R. J. Scaringe. Wired.

What is Rivian R1S?

The R1S will be a seven-seater SUV.

It may have the same underbody architecture and electric motors, but the Rivian R1S SUV is aimed at a completely different buyer. A massive three-row electric SUV (yes, it's a seven-seater), the R1S is the hulking Escalade in the electric world. And in our humble opinion, this SUV looks just great.

In his own words, the brand has "generalized everything in cars in front of the B-pillar", so you're essentially looking at an R1T with a new rear end styling, and at least some of its visual success comes from the fact that - of course, except for the futuristic round headlights - it looks very much like an SUV.

The R1S is the hulking Escalade in the world of electric vehicles.

Inside, however, it's a slightly different story, with a layered dashboard completely dominated by giant screens (one in the center and one for the driver) and a fine mix of quality materials that give the interior a pared down look. -back but futuristic look.

The leaders said Cars Guide they aimed for a rugged yet luxurious feel, creating cars that feel great in any tough situation yet are not afraid to break down and get dirty when needed.

Inside, the dashboard is dominated by two giant screens.

Consequently, both vehicles can traverse nearly a meter of water, and both feature reinforced skid plates to prevent off-road damage. And yet, the interior of the R1S certainly feels luxurious.

"I want you to feel like you're in the most comfortable room in your house when you're in this car, but I also want you to feel like if you didn't wipe your feet getting into it, you're not everything to me." equally because it's easy to clean,” Geis says.

“Everything we produce as a company is something we consider desirable. I want a ten year old to have this poster on their wall, like I had a Lamborghini poster when I was a kid."

What is a Rivian Skateboard?

Rivian's platform is called a skateboard.

It may seem a bit obvious, but the Rivian platform is called a skateboard because once you take all the parts of a real car off it, it looks exactly like that; wide flat skateboard with a wheel on each corner.

The idea is that Rivian crams all the essentials (motors, batteries, etc.) into the skateboard, ensuring the platform is scalable and portable to other products (hence Ford's sudden interest).

The batteries are actually stacked with Rivian's promised 135kWh and 180kWh capacities, and between the battery pack is a liquid-cooling pack (or "cooling plate") that keeps the batteries at optimum temperatures. In fact, Rivian says that the difference between the hottest battery and the coldest battery at any given time is only three degrees.

Like most manufacturers, Rivian is essentially buying battery technology, but the sheer size of the batteries promised staggering range estimates—about 660 km for a 180 kWh setup.

The skateboard also houses the electric motors, one for each wheel, and every other "thinking" part of the vehicle, such as traction systems and battery management functions.

In terms of suspension, both cars use double wishbones at the front and multi-link rear suspension, along with air suspension and adaptive damping.

When will we get the Rivian R1T and R1S in Australia?

Rivian's scheduled launch in Australia is slated for late 2020.

We interviewed Rivian exactly on this topic at the 2019 New York Auto Show, and while Geise won't give a specific timeline, he did confirm that the brand is planning an Australian launch about 18 months after its American launch in late 2020.

“Yes, we will have a launch in Australia. And I can't wait to go back to Australia and show it to all these wonderful people," he says.

But Rivian will not enter the budget end of the segment, as Geis said. Cars Guide that the production of EV workhorses is simply not on the agenda.

“Despite the fact that workhorses are extremely practical and do a lot of great things, I want to present them in an accessible landscape where you look at them and think: “How much do I save on repairs, how much do I save on fuel and how much do I really want out of the vehicle, that ticks all the boxes.”

“I think people will come to this from the 911, people will come to this from the F150, and people will come to this from the sedan. Because there are so many compromises in these products.”

Do you like the sound of R1T and R1S? Tell us in the comments below.