The Rivian R1S is a very important car that will show if Rivian only makes one type of car. The EV startup wants to be as successful as other electric car companies, especially Tesla, and being able to make a lot of EVs well is a big part of that. It’s a big goal, but Rivian might have what it takes to make it happen.
So, what can we expect from the younger brother or sister of the Rivian R1T truck? The R1S is an SUV, which is why it has an “S” in its name. It is built to be more sporty than a truck. Still, it will have the same bells and whistles as the R1T, so there is much to look forward to. Here is all the information you need about the Rivian R1T.
Rivian R1S: Price and Availability
The Explorer Package for the R1S costs $72,500, while the Adventure Package costs $78,500. Both of these can be pre-ordered now with a $1,000 deposit, but the fully-loaded Launch Edition (originally $75,500) is sold out.
Rivian said at first that deliveries would start in March 2022, but most of the first waves would happen in the Summer and Fall. Due to problems with the supply chain, Rivian has had to push that back by a few months.
Members of Rivian Forums say most deliveries will happen between October and December 2022, though some reservation holders may get their cars as early as August. If you order an R1S at the end of July, you won’t get it until the end of 2023.
RIVIAN R1S: SPECS
- Release date: Q4 2022
- Price: From $72,500
- Power: Quad-motor AWD
- Range: 320+ miles
- 0-60 mph: 3.0 seconds
- Special features: 7,700 lbs tow limit, Driver+ autonomous assistance, immersive audio, 4G and Wi-Fi.
Rivian R1S: Performance
Rivian claimed the R1S could go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds, which is the same as a supercar. The large battery pack, which is the only size available right now, has an estimated EPA range of 320 miles. That’s a little more than the R1T truck, which takes the same amount of time to go from 0 to 60 mph and can travel 314 miles.
Even though these are both impressive numbers, Rivian is quick to point out that the R1S is a great SUV for off-roading. It can pull up to 7,700 lbs. and can wade through water that is more than three feet deep. Both of these numbers put it on about the same level as the current Land Rover Defender.
The R1S has a ground clearance of 14.9 inches, and Rivian sells it with three types of tires: all-terrain, road, and sport.
The R1S can charge up to 190kW, which is fast but not as fast as some other cars on the market, like the Porsche Taycan, which can charge at 270kW. Rivian says that this will go up to 200kW or even 300kW on new models in the future.
One clever thing about Rivian cars is that they can be charged by being towed. The car can be hooked up to a towing vehicle, like a semi-truck, and pulled forward in an emergency. The gear selector needs to be in reverse, and the accelerator pedal needs to be pushed slightly. This lets the battery get energy from the motion of the car.
Rivian is also building its own high-speed charging network, just like Tesla has done. So, rather than relying on unreliable public networks, Rivian owners will be able to use the company’s own chargers. At first, only Rivian cars will be able to use these chargers, but soon other cars will also be able to use them.
Rivian wants to build a network of 200kW chargers that cover most of the US and Canada by 2023. After that, they want to speed them up to 300kW.
Rivian R1S: Design
The R1S is driven by a four-motor drivetrain made by Rivian. Most electric cars only have one, two, or three motors. Rivian’s system, on the other hand, lets you control exactly how much power goes to each wheel.
This should make it easier for the Rivian R1S to go off-road. Torque vectoring can be used to eliminate understeer and oversteer, keeping the vehicle in control on-road, off-road, or when driving through snow.
Rivian says that its quad-motor platform has “substantially better torque control than locking differentials, and they are instantly adjustable for any condition” compared to traditional off-roading setups.
A dual-motor AWD model and a smaller “standard” battery are on the way, but they won’t be available until sometime in 2024. Costs are still unknown. The front axle is powered by a drive unit with 415 hp and 413 ft-lb of torque, while the back axle has 420 hp and 495 ft-lb.
The Rivian platform also has an independent air suspension that can be raised or lowered by six inches. This makes the car more aerodynamic on the highway and gives it more ground clearance when off-roading.
The system can also be changed to help keep the R1S level when it is being pulled. Also, the car checks the road and the driver’s actions every five milliseconds and adjusts the suspension accordingly. Read; How Cadillac Super Cruise & Tesla Autopilot Differ
Rivian R1S: Interior
Three rows of seven seats make up the cabin of the R1S. The dashboard has a sizable touchscreen display that is landscape-oriented and equipped with LTE and Wi-Fi, wireless charging, up to eight USB ports, three 12V outlets, and two 120V sockets. The Rivian operating system also includes the Alexa speech assistant, and Meridian makes the Meridian Rivian Elevation audio system, which is an add-on.
There is also a sizable glass roof with a panoramic view, and according to Rivian, a removable roof option for open-air exploration will be available starting in mid-2022. The seats are covered in vegan faux leather, and customers can select from various design options, including wood or matte-finished surfaces.
Although the R1S has five or seven seats, the rear seating rows may be folded fully flat, much like any good SUV. By doing this, according to Rivian, you can have up to 104 cubic feet of storage space. This section contains the standard trunk/cargo area, the front trunk, a rear storage bin, and additional storage spaces under the seats and in the center console.
Rivian R1S: Autonomous driving
Rivisian is creating Driver+, much like Tesla did with Autopilot. Driver+, a hands-free advanced driver assistance technology with level 2 autonomous driving capabilities that comes standard on every Rivian car, allows the driver to simultaneously operate the steering and acceleration. Rivian is careful not to categorize the technology as “autonomous,” as level 2 autonomy is still a long way from being completely driver-free.
A 360-degree view of the surrounds of the car is captured by the Driver+ system using 11 cameras, 5 radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and an interior camera to track driver alertness.
On certain highways, the Highway assist feature regulates your steering, braking, and accelerating, while Lane Change Assist helps simplify lane changes. There is also adaptive cruise control, which regulates the speed and distance of your automobile but not the steering. Read Also; Chevrolet Blazer EV to Rival Tesla’s Model Y
Additionally, the vehicle has functions like automated emergency braking, lane-keeping to prevent unintended lane drifting, parking assistance, and alerts for vehicles in your blind spot. Rivian guarantees that further features will be included in upcoming over-the-air software updates.
Rivian R1S: Extra Features
Rivian adores the idea of its customers going on off-road excursions with their automobiles. To accomplish this, the business offers roof bars for carrying stuff like surfboards and even a rooftop tent for camping in your car.
It will have more exotic features than the R1T, but none less remarkable. This contains a power liftgate, an integrated air compressor for the tires, and other features.
Additionally, the carmaker offers a $2,000 off-road upgrade pack that adds stronger underbody protection and two front-mounted tow hooks to the R1S to help drivers escape sticky situations when off-roading.
Rivian R1S: Bottom Line
Rivian has already established itself as a powerful player in the electric vehicle industry. Not only did it succeed in introducing the nation’s first prominent electric truck, but it also makes it apparent that it has no plans to stop there.
In reality, the company has already received thousands of pre-orders, increased its workforce in 2021, and plans to supply Amazon with 10,000 electric delivery vehicles by the end of 2022. The Rivian R1S is merely the following step in what is probably a very long-term strategy.
Given that the differences are primarily superficial, it seems reasonable that the Rivian R1S is currently checking many of the same boxes as the R1T. And that’s not a bad thing, given how well received the R1T has been so far. If the R1S is one of the best electric vehicles, only time will tell, but things are going well so far. Read More; Tesla Hatchback: Flag $25K price, 2023 release
The Rivian R1S is evidence that Rivian wants to attempt to compete with fellow EV-centric automaker Tesla and isn’t content to be a one-trick pony. Rivian seemed to hold the most potential among all the automakers churning out their own electrified bandwagons.
So what can we anticipate from the Rivian R1T electric truck’s successor? The R1S will provide a sportier experience while still having all the high-tech features seen in its older sister. There’s a lot to be thrilled about, given how well the R1T has been received. Here is all the information you require for the Rivian R1S.
