Rivian Unveils Next-Gen R1T and R1S, Enhancing Flagship EV Performance

Rivian has unveiled its next-generation R1T and R1S, boasting enhanced performance, range, and new features. These flagship electric vehicles aim to redefine the EV market with advanced drivetrains and improved user experience, maintaining Rivian's commitment to quality and innovation.

Rivian Introduces Next-Gen R1T and R1S with Enhanced Performance, Design, and Advanced Technology

Next-generation R1S and R1T, new iterations of Rivian's flagship electric vehicles, have been officially introduced, per Teslarati.

"We continue to evolve our flagship R1 vehicles," CEO RJ Scaringe said, "offering quality and performance without compromise. Our revamped R1S and R1T push the technical boundaries further, creating our most capable products to date."

Rivian's objective was to enhance the performance, design, range, and overall ownership experience of the new R1T and R1S EVs. This was achieved by incorporating new interior aesthetics and drivetrains while maintaining the features owners enjoyed about the first generation.

In addition, Rivian is currently implementing its new Autonomy Platform, which was internally developed and employs eleven cameras and five radars that execute over 250 trillion operations per second.

"For most owners, their R1 Gen 2 will be the most powerful computer that they own," VP of Autonomy and AI for Rivian, James Philbin, said.

Let us examine a few of the enhancements that Rivian has implemented:

PERFORMANCE

The new drive unit, available in the Tri and Quad-Motor configurations of Rivian's next-generation R1 platform, has increased power, performance, and range. Dual-Motor has not disappeared and continues to provide exceptional performance metrics:

1. Dual-Motor - The Performance variant of our Dual-Motor boasts an impressive all-wheel drive capability, 665 horsepower, and a 0–60 mph time of as little as 3.4 seconds.
2. Tri-Motor - Our revolutionary 850 horsepower Tri-Motor has two motors in the rear and one in the front, resulting in an unparalleled combination of power and range. The Tri-Motor R1T can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and has an estimated range of 380 miles. In Conserve Mode, the estimated range is up to 410 miles.
3. Quad-Motor - Our new 1,025 horsepower Quad-Motor, when employed in Launch Mode, generates an astonishing 1,198 lb-ft of torque and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds in R1T and completes a quarter mile in 10.5 seconds, making it the ideal choice for those seeking optimal adventure. The vehicle accelerates 60–80 mph in 1.5 seconds and boasts exceptional torque control at each wheel, ensuring outstanding off-road capability and on-road performance.

RIDE AND HANDLING

Rivian also prioritized the ride and handling experience in the R1 lineup for the introduction of this second-generation vehicle. The suspension system has been completely redesigned to enhance the "sport-tuned feel" customers described in the first-generation EVs. Rivian elected to implement a "smoother" ride for the new R1T and R1S, which is adjustable to guarantee comfortable off-road and on-road capabilities.

Additionally, improvements have been implemented to vehicle equipment. Rivian created new rims and paired them with Pirelli-developed tires to extend their range. The wheels were redesigned with an aerodynamic profile of 22 inches.

Rivian has selected an Ultra-High-Performance Michelin tire for its Quad-Motor configurations. Furthermore, Goodyear provides a standard 20" ADV tire that provides "balanced all-around capability with the rolling resistance of an all-season" for a "well-rounded" experience.

RANGE AND BATTERIES

Rivian will continue providing three battery pack configurations; however, the Max and Large batteries have been redesigned and are expected to have a range of 420 and 330 miles, respectively. The pack enclosure incorporates a "large high-pressure de-casting" system to simplify manufacturing and reduce mass, and they will continue to use 2170 cylindrical cells.

The new Standard Pack, which utilizes lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry, will provide an EPA-estimated 270-mile range.

One hundred forty miles of range can be regained in as little as 20 minutes, and they are compatible with all main public high-speed charging networks, including the Tesla Supercharger Network and the Rivian Adventure Network.

DESIGN AND EXPERIENCE

Rivian refined the R1T and R1S with new features and introduced two new premium interiors, exterior paint options, and darkout trim options.

In addition to the new wheel and tire options, vehicles now feature a new electronically tinted glass roof, new in-cabin storage, new interior illumination themes, new digital interfaces, and new cell shading designs for the various drive modes. Additionally, the wireless adapter has been enhanced.

Rivian Premium Audio offers Surround Sound Audio with Dolby Atmos.

REFINED ELECTRICAL ARCHITECTURE AND COMPUTE PLATFORM

The Rivian hardware and software teams developed a new computing platform and electrical architecture for the second-generation R1.

"While the exterior of the R1 looks similar, the electrical system is completely redone, providing a significant increase in features as well as a dramatic increase in sensing and compute capability," Rivian's SVP of Electrical Hardware, Vidya Rajagopalan, said.

The "massive simplification" was a component of a change in zonal architecture, as the ECU count was reduced from 17 in the first generation to only 7 in the second generation. Autonomy, battery management, infotainment, and vehicle access have their ECUs. The remaining three are responsible for controlling all other vehicle functions.

RIVIAN AUTONOMY PLATFORM

The Rivian Autonomy Platform utilizes "11 internally developed cameras and five radars performing over 250 trillion operations per second, an industry-leading level of compute power."

The 4K HDR units, which have 360-degree visibility and can see three times further than the previous system, are now included in the high-resolution cameras. Additionally, they can see 10 seconds ahead at highway velocities.

These are the most camera megapixels of any electric vehicle in North America, which facilitates enhanced dynamic range and clear vision in high-contrast situations, such as tunnel entrances and departures.

Additionally, Rivian is employing a cabin-facing camera in the rearview mirror to identify driver fatigue and distraction while operating in Enhance Highway Assist mode, which is scheduled to be implemented later this year.

The Autonomy Compute Module is supported by dual NVIDIA DRIVE Orin processors, which provide a ten times greater compute performance than the previous system.

PRICING

The R1S and R1T will be priced at $75,900 and $69,900, respectively. Dual-motor configurations are promptly available and can be ordered today. Tri-Max is anticipated to be introduced in the latter half of the summer, and Quad-Max will follow shortly after that.

Photo: Clayton Cardinalli/Unsplash