Rivian R1T (2020)

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After almost a decade of operating in a certain level of stealth, Rivian Automotive is coming out in a big way today by unveiling its all-electric pickup truck: the Rivian R1T.

They are promising some unbelievable specs that would compete with any gas-powered pickup truck on the market.

Unlike other high-profile electric vehicle startups, Rivian mostly stayed in the shadows to develop its EV technology and prepare a plan to secure volume production of its vehicles.

https://electrek.co/2018/11/26/rivian-r1t-all-electric-pickup-specs/

 
This is looking better than anyone expected:

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Rivian R1T: The Electric Pickup With a Front Trunk That Does 0 to 60 MPH in 3 Seconds

Like a lot of electric car startups, Rivian has been something of a mystery. With just 560 employees, the Plymouth, Michigan-based company bought a former Mitsubishi factory in Normal, Illinois last year but has kept itself largely under wraps—until now. After years of working in the shadows, Rivian is debuting its all-electric pickup truck, the R1T, as well as itself as a company, today on the world stage. And if Rivian can pull this off, it could do for trucks what Tesla did for luxury sedans.

(Full Disclosure: Rivian bought us lunch and showed off the R1T to us in Detroit a little while back.)

So you may be thinking: What the hell is Rivian? While it isn’t coming out of nowhere, it hasn’t exactly tooted its horn much until now, when it plans to show off its wares at this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show.

But instead of building hype, Rivian says it’s been building a business, utilizing the expertise of Michigan locals with automotive know-how. And there’s the Mitsubishi factory in Normal, Illinois, with plans to invest over $175 million into the site by 2024, InsideEVs reports.

So it’s refreshing, in an age where most startups feel like they run on hot air, to see some rigorous planning instead of just empty promises.

My first thought at seeing the fascia of the R1T was that it reminded me of way back when Google was building its own car, only all grown up. Like a nerdy friend you’ve had since middle school who came into their own as an adult, the same round-eyed nerdishness has now morphed into something surprisingly attractive.

The light bars across the front and back also recall the Volkswagen Tanoak concept. The light bar even flashes green when it is charging, like an electric toothbrush. The future is indeed here, and apparently, it involves a lot of light bars. (They’re still cool, just don’t overdo it, automakers.)

Admittedly, it looks very concept-ish for now. But behind one of those light bars is a Jalopnik holy grail: a frunk. A glorious frunk that can fit a huge cooler and duffel bag with ease. Rivian’s skateboard-based design (think of it as a battery on wheels) allows for some entertaining use of space and the company takes full advantage of this.

There are enough hidey-holes to satisfy even the most accessorized outdoorsy person, including a tunnel storage unit ahead of the back wheels big enough for your snowboard. Plus, the hatch door of that doubles as a seat.

The large bed is wide enough to store a sheet of plywood, comes with a cover as well as customizable cross bars and roof rails that owners can move or switch at any time. The bed includes an air pump for bikes as well as an integrated security cable to keep unattended items safe in the bed.

Each wheel is powered with a 147kW drive unit, allowing for precise torque control. It also means all of the power and batteries sit below the height of the wheel. This naturally makes for a low center of gravity for Rivian to build up on, perfect for a truck or SUV.

All of that torque and power push the R1T from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed three seconds and 100 mph in less than seven seconds. Also, they say it can tow up to 11,000 pounds.

Between those wheels can sit several different sizes of battery pack, the largest being a 180 kW battery pack that can reach 400 miles on a single charge and will hit 80 percent battery power in under an hour using DC fast charge. The really interesting claim is this: Charging for 20 minutes lends 100 to 150 miles of range, more than what most people drive in a day.

That’s very much on the optimistic end of what we have now with EVs, but it feels attainable.

Inside, the truck is roomy and as ready to party as the exterior. The floors are made of tough rubber rather than carpet, and the seats are covered in a tough but soft woven vinyl fabric called Chilewich. The entire interior was built for wiping mud off of while keeping in touch with the modern world.

No less than 10 USB charging ports are splayed all over the interior, which also means Instagram will never miss out on your woodsy exploits.

The point of this truck is to be both a daily driver and outdoor adventuring vehicle. The R1T comes with off-roading maps pre-programed into its navigation for a reason. Designers and marketers at Rivian point to brands like Patagonia as inspiration for their designs and consumer set. Cliché? Maybe, but also not a bad idea if that’s the audience you want to aim for.

Rivian says it wants to prove that an electric car can be tough and rugged as well as environmentally friendly. The truck is designed to be an off-roader, with the giant skid plate undergoing testing similar to ballistic events to make sure the precious battery pack can’t be punctured on rocky roads. And it’s so well sealed up the R1T can wade into a almost a meter of water, despite its low slung battery pack.

To keep that battery pumping out the juice, an advanced cooling system is used to keep the cells at the perfect performance temperature, regardless of terrain or outside heat. Adaptive control algorithms learn driver behavior, optimizing user-specific battery management for maximizing battery life, reliability and second-life reusability. Rivian also claims the R1T will come with semi-autonomous tech and all the safety features you’d expect.

Rivian says the truck starts at $61,500 after the $7,500 EV tax credit, and that it aims to start deliveries in late 2020. The fully equipped, 180 kWh and 135 kWh battery trucks will begin production first, with other variants to follow, the company says. A base variant with 250 miles of range will come later.

The company is aiming for a direct sales model, which may get them into hot water in their own home state, where Tesla continues to challenge Michigan’s ban on the no-dealer-necessary model. (Remember Tesla also says it has a pickup truck on the horizon, and given the dominance of trucks and SUVs in sales at the moment, someone’s going to pull this off sooner rather than later.)

Other electric car startups have made lofty claims before, but Rivian wants to prove it’s the real deal. That may a tougher job for this truck than any towing or hauling.

https://jalopnik.com/rivian-r1t-the-electric-pickup-with-a-front-trunk-that-1830646607

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Rivian reveals bold electric bakkie with supercar performance

In a renovated old cash register factory in suburban Detroit, 300 engineers are toiling away on an all-electric pickup truck and an SUV that they hope will take the electric vehicle market by storm, and beat Tesla at its own game in the process.

All of them work for Rivian, which has just unveiled its innovative and fascinating new electric bakkie ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show, with the SUV expected to be shown shortly.

Set to go on sale Stateside in late 2020, the R1T pickup has an electric motor on each wheel - something that should prove particularly handy when tackling off-road trails - and it's said to be capable of rushing from 0-60mph (96km/h) in just three seconds, putting it squarely in supercar territory.

Under easier throttle loads, however, the battery-powered pickup has a claimed range of more than 644km on a single charge.

The double cab seats five occupants and also has an innovative retractable bed cover as well as a frontal boot (or 'frunk') where the engine would normally have been.

Other novelties include a fully digital dashboard, a 'gear tunnel' for storage between the rear seats and rear wheels, a flexible crossbar system for securing items above the load bed, and three 110V outlets for your tools.

The vehicle also has an 800kg payload and 5000kg towing capacity, according to Rivian.

Furthermore, it will offer Level 3 autonomous driving capability (eyes and hands free) on highway routes.

It's not going to come cheap though.

While pricing has yet to be finalised, the company's 35-year-old CEO RJ Scaringe says the basic version with a 370km range should start at under $70 000 (R970 000), while the aforementioned longer range flagship is likely to sell for $90 000 (R1.25m).

Long road to fruition

The small startup still has a long way to go before it can start selling vehicles, however, even though it claims to have $500 million in funding. It has to develop a sales and service network, announce a battery cell supplier and start producing vehicles in the former Mitsubishi plant that it owns in Normal, Illinois.

Rivian is among a growing line of startups and established car companies looking to enter the fully electric vehicle market.

The influx of vehicles that run solely on batteries almost certainly will pull buyers from the current leader, Tesla, which likely will deliver over 300 000 vehicles worldwide this year.

Michael Ramsey, senior analyst for Gartner, says Tesla "will unquestionably lose market share as more competitors come in."

What is unknown, though, is whether the demand for electric vehicles will rise enough so that there's room for everybody.

Currently the market is tiny. In the US, electric vehicles only amounted to 0.8 percent of new vehicle registrations through August this year, according to data from IHS Markit. But that's substantially more than the 0.5 percent at the same time in 2017.

Globally, Navigant Research predicts huge growth in the next seven years, from just over 1 million sales this year to 6.5 million by 2025.

As competition ramps up, prices are gradually coming down, edging closer to cars with internal combustion engines. At the same time, electric range is on the rise.

https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/late...ric-bakkie-with-supercar-performance-18280700

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Meet the 520 kW Rivian R1T all-electric bakkie

Rivian, an American electric vehicle manufacturer, has released images and information about its all-electric double-cab bakkie set to debut at the LA motor show, along with the R1S SUV to follow soon.

The R1T’s distinctive styling incorporates strong proportions and clean continuous lines. The main body line wraps up and around the cab while highlighting the “gear tunnel” cutline (see images above). The R1T features short overhangs, high ground clearance and competitive approach and departure angles.

Moving to the interior the brand’s designers looked to create a premium, comfortable yet robust cabin. To do this, inspiration from outside of the automotive industry such as contemporary furniture design and hiking and outdoor gear were evaluated to drive the design.

With an electric motor for each wheel, the Rivian R1T is capable of producing up to 520 kW and 1 120 N.m. The manufacturer claims an impressive 600+ km operating range and a wading depth of up to 1 metre. More impressive though is a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 3,2 seconds.

The bakkie utilises a sophisticated suspension setup incorporating double-wishbone suspension up front and a multi-link suspension in the rear. The suspension setup also features dynamic roll control and adaptive dampers along with ride-height adjustable air-suspension.

“We’re launching Rivian with two vehicles that reimagine the pickup and SUV segments,” says Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe. “I started Rivian to deliver products that the world didn’t already have – to redefine expectations through the application of technology and innovation. Starting with a clean sheet, we have spent years developing the technology to deliver the ideal vehicle for active customers. This means having great driving dynamics on any surface on- or off-road, providing cargo solutions to easily store any type of gear, whether it’s a surfboard or a fishing rod and, very importantly, being capable of driving long distances on a single charge. From the inside out, Rivian has developed its vehicles with adventurers at the core of every design and engineering decision”.

https://www.carmag.co.za/news/meet-520-kw-rivian-r1t-electric-bakkie/
 
Electric start-up Rivian unveils R1S SUV and R1T pick-up to rival Tesla

Electric five-seat truck and seven-seat SUV will have four-wheel drive and a range of up to 400 miles; to go on sale in late 2020 from $61,500

Rivian R1S official reveal - hero static
Electric car start-up Rivian has revealed its second model, the R1S. The seven-seat SUV follows the reveal earlier this week of the R1T pick-up truck, with models due for a public debut at the LA motor show.

Rivian is hoping to have the kind of impact Tesla has made in shaking up the established automotive set and believes it has found a niche with the creation of go-anywhere electric vehicles.

The R1T and R1S, the first and second in a series of models eventually planned, are built on a bespoke electric ‘skateboard’ chassis, that’s modular and can be used on all different types and sizes of vehicles. The initial pair are closely related, the chief difference being a slightly shorter wheelbase in the R1S. The R1S is 5040mm long, making it Range Rover-sized, while the 5465mm-long R1-T is marginally longer than the Mercedes-Benz X-Class.

In both cars the lithium-ion battery pack is mounted in the floor, and in the in the R1T is good for a 230-mile range in its standard 105kWh capacity, 300-mile range in a 130kWh capacity, or up to 400 miles with the 180kWh ‘mega pack’. In the R1S, the same battery packs are offered with figures of 240, 310 and 420 miles respectively.

The two models share their drivetrains, too. Four electric motors, one for each wheel, give the electric models four-wheel drive. Each motor produces 197bhp (total combined figures through the gearbox are 754bhp and 826lb ft in the 135kWh version), which allows for prodigious performance. It’s claimed both vehicles can crack 0-60mph in just 3.0sec, and 0-100mph in less than 7.0sec in the 135kWh versions.

Double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension features, alongside air springs and adaptive dampers. Rivian claims the electric drivetrain and chassis set-up allows for both impressive on-road performance and handling and precise off-road control that surpasses any existing mechanical solutions off the asphalt. Its flat floor is also reinforced with carbonfibre and Kevlar to protect the battery pack, while both models get five-star crash test safety ratings in the US.

A distinctive front-end exterior design appears on both cars, while the spacious interiors get premium but durable materials that are easy to clean, in keeping with the cars’ off-road lifestyle brief. Two screens feature inside, that run Rivian’s own software and graphics.

There are packs of novel hidden features and clever solutions in both models, including a 330-litre front storage under the nose, and in the truck a full width storage hole that runs between the rear doors and rear wheels that’s good for housing golf clubs.

Rivian, first formed in 2009, is looking to do things differently to other start-ups by having its entire business plan and funding in place before going public with its intentions, and even then keeping targets conservative.

Company founder and CEO, RJ Scaringe, has already gone through two stillborn versions of the R1T to get to this third, production-ready version.

The US-based company is backed by investors from the Middle East, and employs some 560 people worldwide. It’s design and engineering centre is based in Plymouth, Michigan and other key sites include a battery development facility in Irvine, California. It has opened an advanced engineering centre in Chertsey, Surrey, too.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...vian-unveils-r1s-suv-and-r1t-pick-rival-tesla

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Fok thats ugly. Will watch the videos later, but the front is horrendous.
 
The front end looks like it has a unibrow.

I would be interested in knowing the range it can get while towing 5 metric tons.
 
Ford invests $500m in Rivian, gains access to new EV platform

Ford Motor Company has announced an equity investment of $500-million (that's around R7,2-billion) in US automotive technology company Rivian, with the deal also giving the Blue Oval brand access to the Michigan-based start-up's “skateboard” EV platform.

A joint statement says the companies have agreed to “work together to develop an all-new, next-generation battery electric vehicle for Ford’s growing EV portfolio using Rivian’s skateboard platform”.

This will be in addition to Ford’s existing plans to develop a portfolio of electric vehicles. As part of its previously announced $11-billion EV investment, Ford already has confirmed two key upcoming electric vehicles: a “Mustang-inspired crossover” and a zero-emissions version of its F-150 bakkie.

The statement added Rivian will remain an “independent company”, with the investment “subject to customary regulatory approval”. Following the investment, Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president of automotive, is expected to join Rivian’s seven-member board.

https://www.carmag.co.za/news/indus...0m-in-rivian-gains-access-to-new-ev-platform/
 
Ford invests $500 million in EV company Rivian

Strategic partnership will lead to Ford using Rivian's skateboard architecture for a new battery electric model

Ford has agreed a deal with Rivian to develop a new model on the fast-rising electric vehicle (EV) maker's platform - and take a minority stake in the firm.

Rivian is currently developing its R1T pick-up truck and R1S seat-seat SUV, which will both be built on a bespoke 'skateboard’ chassis that was designed to be modular, so it can be used for a wide range of machines.

The new strategic partnership, in which Ford has taken around $500 million (£386 million) equity investment in Rivian, will result in engineers from the two American companies working together to develop a battery EV for Ford.

There are no details yet on the type of vehicle the firms will work on, although it will be “all-new”. In the US, Ford has shifted its focus to pick-ups and SUVs, and it's currently developing an electric version of its hugely popular F-150.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/ford-invests-500-million-ev-company-rivian
 
Ford Invests Into Rivian: What It Means

Ford Motor Company has invested $500 million into electric pick-up startup Rivian. What does this mean for the market?

In news this week, there was a $500 million investment into Rivian by Ford Motor Company, with the primary deal being both companies working together to design and engineer an all-new, next-generation battery electric vehicle. The keyword there is vehicle. At this point, Ford has not confirmed that it will be assembling an electric bakkie.

“This strategic partnership marks another key milestone in our drive to accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility,” said RJ Scaringe, Rivian founder and CEO. “Ford has a long-standing commitment to sustainability, with Bill Ford being one of the industry's earliest advocates, and we are excited to use our technology to get more electric vehicles on the road.” "As we continue in our transformation of Ford with new forms of intelligent vehicles and propulsion, this partnership with Rivian brings a fresh approach to both,” said Jim Hackett, Ford president and CEO. “At the same time, we believe Rivian can benefit from Ford’s industrial expertise and resources.”

Rivian's electric pickup platform has intrigued the motoring industry as a whole, and its launch products 5-seater R1T bakkie and 7-seater R1S SUV are looking very promising. With over 500 km of electric range, plus offroad capability, Rivian's offerings should hit the market towards the end of 2020.

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/ford-invests-into-rivian-what-it-means/46565/
 
Rivian Bakkie Doubles as 562 kW Kitchen

Tesla’s bakkie-building rival is sitting pretty after an R7bn investment from Ford. But that doesn’t mean that Rivian is feeling complacent.

The Californian electric vehicle start-up revealed by far the most convincing battery powered bakkie concept with its RT1, late last year. Immense power from a huge battery pack and crushing performance courtesy of a 562 kW peak power electric motor option has made even the most ardent diesel bakkie owners take notice.

Beyond its incredible power output, the RT1’s utility features are deeply impressive too. There’s the 330-litre frunk (where you’d expect a conventional internal combustion engine to be), offering weather-proof loading space. And an ability to flip-open a panel at the rear of the cab, allowing the loading of cargo longer than the loadbin.

Now Rivian has revealed an additional feature to its RT1’s specification. This is one which is sure to find favour with South African bakkie fans: a mobile kitchen.

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/rivian-bakkie-doubles-as-562-kw-kitchen/46755/

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The Rivian R1T Electric Pickup Looks Awesome In Its New Blue

The upcoming Rivian R1T is a packaging wonder and a promising start to the inevitable electric pickup truck wars, promising to put Ford, GM and Ram scrambling to catch up. We finally get to see it in something other than the boring silver color. Now it’s blue, and it’s a very good blue.

When the R1T was announced, it was promised to start at around $69,000 before any federal or state incentives, with production and deliveries of fully equipped, 180 kWh and 135 kWh battery trucks to start first in late 2020 with a base variant to be introduced later.

The 180 kWh battery model is claimed to achieve a max range of around 400 miles on a single charge, and be capable of recharging to 80 percent capacity in “under an hour” connected to a DC fast charger.

If this is the future, we should have fun. I’m glad Rivian is offering colors that aren’t limited to just the boring standard greys, whites and blacks most people seem to option their pickups with. Let the future be fun.



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Watch The Rivian R1T Truck Execute A Perfect Tank Turn

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. We believe there is a more responsible way to explore the world and are determined to make the transition to sustainable transportation an exciting one. We designed our emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles to challenge what’s possible. We hope they inspire you to do the same.

The Rivian R1T and R1S make use of a quad-motor setup which means each wheel can be driven independently by an electric motor. This allows them to run two forward and two in reverse like tank treads. The result, some pretty epic tank turns and endless amounts of fun in the mud.

Rivian is the brand behind the development of electric vehicles which will kick off with the R1T (Truck) and the R1S (SUV). They will be able to do 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3 seconds and pack as much as 750 hp (560 kW).



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