High up in the Rocky Mountains, everything feels surreal, and a little bit dangerous. The views are stunning; in all directions you see gigantic, pointy mountains in layers one after the other. The trees are wilder, the sunlight a little purer now that it’s not filtered by all that veiled oxygen. Here, at 3,650 meters and a little, the sky is so thin that I’m beginning to imagine the clouds are clown’s heads.
Even harder to believe is the fact that the pickup I’m in now even exists. Nearly all major manufacturers in the US have already announced that they will introduce electric variants of their trucks, but so far not one has come off the production line without a combustion engine. Ford will start soon. Tesla’s Cybertruck is still a concept fantasy, although that seems to be changing soon.
The Rivian R1T is already here
But I don’t have to wait any longer, because I’m in the Rivian R1T. A real, tangible electric production pickup, built in the town of Normal, Illinois. Take a walk around it. In terms of size, the R1T is a bit bigger than a European pick-up like the Ford Ranger – a bit wider, about 300 millimeters longer. It’s about the same sizes smaller than the iconic F-150.
A good size, but an even better design: it merges the familiar truck proportions with bold, almost shockingly futuristic styling. Like a glowing white LED bar across the width of the nose, replacing a grille, with a matching full-width taillight at the other end of the car. The vertical headlight units—Rivian calls them Stadium Lights—look inappropriate, but my brain manages to normalize them surprisingly quickly.
The Rivian R1T can really go off-road
The two integrated tow eyes in the front bumper are an important reference to its off-road capabilities (they seem to hold up even if you try to drag the Rivian R1T from a mud bath to its door handles). Of course there is a towbar, neatly hidden behind a panel. Whichever angle you look at it from, there’s clearly a ‘real truck’ here, and that’s important in America – judging by solid TG– research on parking lots at shopping centers.
But this is where it all gets wonderfully unusual. Look under the Rivian R1T and you will see… nothing. No differential locks, no transfer case, no fragile but essential mechanical parts dangling precariously until they encounter a tree stump. The floor is completely flat.
For off-road use, this is great news, because with obstacles that you would normally steer over carefully, so as not to smash your diff into smashes, you can now roll straight ahead without any worries. And if something does scrape along the bottom: buoys, it’s just the bottom. You’ll still come home. Adjustable air suspension raises or lowers the R1T 165 millimeters on demand. In its maximum position you have 370 millimeters of ground clearance.
No differentials but four electric motors
Instead of conventional differentials that you can lock, there are four powerful permanent magnet motors on board, one on each wheel. With such a set-up you can steer the power distribution completely in one direction – and there is a lot of that power available. The two engines in the front together deliver about 420 hp, the rear slightly more, for a combined power of 846 hp.
Even better, and much more important: when all engines are running at their peak, you have 1,231 Nm of torque. That’s enough to put Pangea back together. Combine this insane amount of power with the precise control and instant reactions of the Rivian R1T and you have a mind-bogglingly capable off-roader. Still not convinced this thing is really something else? Okay, the R1T can even spin the wheels on either side, so it spins into place like the Tasmanian Devil.
The range of the Rivian R1T
The stated driving range for the Rivian is about 500 kilometers, and of course this drops considerably if you go mountaineering. But with the regenerative brakes on maximum, we see the range increase again on the way down. The braking effect is so strong that you can easily think of it as a single-pedal mode. But eventually all dirt roads come to an end, and let’s face it: unless you invest in one of the many abandoned 19ecentury mining huts here, you will really do most of your miles on asphalt.
In the past, you had to decide exactly how you viewed the Eternal Offroad Compromise: because the better a car performs on dirt, the more lousy it drives the rest of the time. Huge, noisy tires. Controls with more leeway than a drama school. Bad fuel economy – because you installed a short final drive due to the poor acceleration from the huge, noisy tires. You get the point.
The Rivian R1T’s handling is perhaps the most shocking thing about the whole machine. First of all, the air suspension moves it closer to the tarmac to lower the center of gravity, which is already very low thanks to the ‘skateboard’ chassis packed with flat batteries. The active dampers are three-valve monotube shocks with remote reservoirs, which work in tandem with Rivian’s electro-hydraulic stabilizers. This system connects the suspension from all four corners.
For an off-roader, the Rivian R1T drives nicely on asphalt
The result is neat, flat cornering. With a pick-up, on heavy off-road tires. Can you imagine what it would be like on the optional 22-inch sport wheels. It has enough grip in the corners, but above all it is incredibly smooth and advanced. Up to a point. Because how can you best check how good the suspension comfort of your car is? Try using the touchscreen. Can’t keep your hand still and keep tapping the wrong thing? hopeless. But as polished as its chassis is, the fact that everything from the off-road modes to the stereo is controlled via that screen is a pain.
Well, that’s how it works these days, and you forgive the Rivian because its interior design looks more like a luxury Volvo than a normal pick-up. It is stylish and modern with high quality, sturdy materials throughout. The roof consists of a single piece of glass and offers you a panoramic view of the sky. There is real wood on the dashboard, sustainable of course.
The Meridian audio system is one of the best I’ve heard in a new car, and when you pull the lever on the underside of the center console, you suddenly have the Camp Speaker in your hand: a wireless bluetooth case that you can take. This kind of thoughtful solutions makes the R1T extra distinctive.
The storage space behind the rear doors
Another thing: the storage tunnel. Behind the rear doors you will find two small doors in the flanks. Behind it is a storage space that spans the entire width of the truck. A person would fit in it, and judging by the fact that the doors on the inside have lighted buttons, I’m not the first person to have that thought. You can also use the doors as chairs. Or as stairs, to easily put things in the cargo box. In the tunnel you can also store the optional camping kitchen, a retractable pod with cooking rings, utensils and even a waste water system.
Add to that the lockable and electric tonneau cover and another cargo area under the front hatch (did you think there was an engine there?) and this pick-up easily has the most storage space of any pick-up ever.
The Rivian R1T is truly a fantastic achievement
Making something so useful, so thoughtful and so good would be a milestone for a company like Ford or Land Rover, but this is the very first creation from a start-up. Perhaps something groundbreaking like this couldn’t come from a big brand at all. Too many cooks in the kitchen.
And the best part is that I don’t have to end this story now with the statement that it costs as much as your house. The R1T, with all its 1,231 Nm of torque and most of the accessories mentioned as standard, costs only 67,500 dollars in the US (about 60,000 euros). Otherwise, compare it with all the other cars that are for sale for that amount and accelerate from 0 to 96 km/h in 3 seconds. We’ll wait a while.
Is the Rivian R1T coming to the Netherlands?
The relevance for Europe is not yet entirely clear. At the time of writing, it is rumored that Rivian plans to start building cars in the Netherlands; probably not necessarily the Rivian R1T, but other, smaller and more market-oriented models with the same technology. And this one? From the beginning of next year, a number will undoubtedly trickle into our country via the many gray import channels. This Rivian, not the Cybertruck, has now set the tone for the pickup market.
Powertrain: 4 e-motors, 4WD
Power: 846 hp
Acceleration: 0-96 3.0 sec
Couple: 1,231 Nm
Range(statement): 505 km
top speed: nnb
Weight: 2,878 kg
battery size: 135 kWh
luggage compartment: 1,872 l
Price: Approx. €60,000 (US)
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