Rivian’s Electric Trucks: Merging Premium Ruggedness with Cutting-Edge Performance

Leaping from the shadows to surprise us all at the LA Auto Show was Rivian, a start-up electric vehicle manufacturer hailing from Motor City herself, Detroit.

Rivian comes to the market at a critical time, where Tesla controls more than 70 percent of the world’s electric car market and they cater entirely to the luxury sports crowd. Rivian knows that the price of their vehicles and the financial burden of developing a brand new vehicle places their new trucks in the same premium group, but they are hedging their bets and following in the footsteps of Patagonia, creating premium ruggedness and a pedigree of being able to back it up.

If you are not interested yet, let’s throw some specs at you:

R1T

• 400-mile range
• 5886lb curb weight
• 750 hp
• 826 lb-ft of torque
• 0-60 in 3.2 seconds
• Wading depth of over 3 feet
• Individual wheel-mounted electric motors (read: four) with independent controls
• Double A-arm suspension in the front and multi-link in the rear with active electro-dampeners and adjustable ride-height air suspension.
• -,763lb payload and 11,000lb tow capacity

 R1S

• 410-mile Range
• 5,842lb curb weight
• 750 hp
• 826 lb-ft of torque
• 0-60 in 3.2 seconds
• Wading depth of over 3 feet
• Individual wheel-mounted electric motors (read: four) with independent controls
• Double A-arm suspension in the front and multi-link in the rear with active electro-dampeners and adjustable ride-height air suspension.
• 1,807lb payload and a 7,716lb tow capacity

 

We would really like to point out the over 3 feet of water fording capability, and the 14 inches of ground clearance at its lowest point. Surely the question comes up of, how good of an idea can it be to take an electric vehicle through deep water? Rivian has thought of that and fully sealed the electric motors and batteries against water and dust intrusion, and plated the battery packs in ¼-inch aluminum armor to protect them from anything that might wish to do them harm.

 Going on sale right now via a $1,000 refundable deposit, Rivian is expecting to go into mass-production at the end of 2019 and start delivering early 2020 via their Normal, Illinois, plant. Full pricing will start at $69,000 for the pickup. Visit their website to learn more or to place your deposit.