The Rivian R1T may be one of the most anticipated electric vehicles to be coming out later this year. As far as anyone knows, the R1T is also the only electric pickup truck that will be coming out then. Its one of two electric vehicles Rivian will be launching in 2020. So not only are people excited about the vehicles, they’re excited about this new automotive company and what they will have in store.
Rivian R1T Interior Photos
Rivian R1T Design Features
- Stadium Headlights: The iconic “stadium” headlights use LEDs for less power and their design casts a wider beam of light.
- Sustainably Sourced Wood: Some of the interior surfaces feature sustainable sourced wood for both look and feel.
- Digital Touchscreen Dashboard: (fairly standard in high end vehicles now like Tesla) Will be interesting to see how they have designed their user interface and experience.
- Retractable Tonneau Cover: A button located on the pickup bed retracts the tonneau cover automatically.
- 4 Roof Options: Steel roof, glass roof, electrochromic glass roof (all fixed). The fourth option is 2 lift out composite material panels, which sound ideal for the beach and warmer climates.
“We will offer multiple roof styles including electrochromic glass (which turns from opaque to transparent on demand), a fixed glass panel, a two-piece removable composite roof and a standard fixed roof.”
Rivian (@Rivian) August 13, 2019
Fun Fact: Inside the driver side door is an electric flashlight that uses the exact same battery found inside the main battery pack. It also charges while inside the door.
Rivian R1T Utility Features
- Level 3 Autonomous Driving: Rivian stated they will be aiming to have level 3 autonomy. Which is autonomous driving in certain conditions. This allows the driver to hand over “general driving tasks” to the vehicle.
- Gear Tunnel: Lockable pass through storage compartment.
- Side Steps: The doors to the Gear Tunnel act as steps to gain access to the roof and are an ideal height to sit on for changing.
- Front Trunk: Since there is no engine the front trunk provides extra storage space.
- Rear Bin: Compartment under truck bed that holds a full size spare tire.
- Camping: The modular crossbar system above the pickup bed is capable of supporting a tent platform for camping.
- Tank Turns: Can make the same turns as a tank which turns the tires on opposite sides of the vehicle in opposite directions.
- Onboard Kitchen (optional):
- Modular Crossbar System: Expandable racks on the roof, bed and bed floor that allow you to mount gear to.
- Truck Bed Utilities: x3 110 V outlets, compressed air generator and lockable Gear Guard system. Optional bike rack system.
- Daytime Running Light Bar: The daytime running light bar at the front of the vehicle also acts as a charge light indicator so that you can see at a distance how much charge you have. It turns green when full.
- Swing and Drop Tailgate: This new design of tailgate acts as steps allowing the user to get in and out of the truck bed easily while also providing more ergonomic access to items in the back.
Rivian R1T Swing and Drop Tailgate
In July of 2019, Rivian filed a patent for a “Swing and Drop Tailgate“. What this design of tailgate does is allows the user to be up closer to the truck bed which is far more ergonomic for loading and unloading compared to traditional truck tailgates. It also acts as a stepping platform to easily get in an out of the truck bed. This design will save Rivian truck owners from wasted time compared to the standard flip down and if you desire to use it as a regular tailgate, you can with the press of a button. With standard truck tailgates (that are literally on every single pickup truck made) your distanced from the back of the truck bed at least 1.5 ft having to bend further forward when its open to get things in and out. There is no other option. Getting in and out of the truck bed usually meant lifting yourself up into it, utilizing steps that some companies built into the side of truck or buying an aftermarket bolt on. With the Swing and Drop Tailgate, Rivian makes a truly innovative solution to what has been a decades long pain point for truck owners.
Rivian R1T Specifications
- Width: 6.6 ft
- Length: 18.09 ft
- Clearance: 14.5 inches (max)
- Wheelbase: 135 inches (11.25 ft)
- Wading Depth: 3ft (meter)
- Front Trunk Space: 11.1 cu ft (330L)
- Gear Tunnel Space: 12.4 cu ft (351L)
- Seating Capacity: 5 Seats
- Horsepower: up to 750 Horsepower
- Torque: 829 ft/lbs combined
- Speed: 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3 seconds
- Towing: 11,000 lbs (max)
- Drivetrain: Quad Motor AWD
- Charge Port: CCS
- Battery Sizes: 105kWh / 135kWh / 180kWh
- Range: up to 400+ miles (643+ kilometers)
- Price: Starts @ $69,000 USD
- Release Date: Late 2020
According to Mark Vinnels, Rivian’s Executive Director of Engineering & Programs, the motors on the Rivian vehicle platform create 14,000 Nm of torque at the wheel. That would be 10,325 ft/lbs of torque which is much higher than what other media outlets are reporting. It may be possible that they will limit the torque through the software in order to extend the life of the motors.
Tank Turns in the Rivian R1T
Yes, it can actually make tank turns. While the Rivian R1T will only be able to perform this feat in off road mode, its actually kind of cool. The reason it wouldn’t work on pavement is the tension on the rubber would tear up the tires.
The practical application of a tank turn would be in an off roading situation where your in a tight or dangerous space with very little room to move and you’d like to get out of there ASAP. If your towing a camper or trailer and need to get it into place, this would eliminate the need to do multiple point turns to position it correctly. For off road parking, like RV Parks, we may see drivers come up some unique solutions. Other than that, its a fun trick to do off road in the dirt and brings “doing donuts” to another level.
Camping in the Rivian R1T Electric Pickup
Rivian calls their vehicles ‘Electric Adventure Vehicles’ and they were the first ever electric vehicle to attend Overland Expo West. They demonstrated the R1T’s ability to use the modular crossbar system to act as a mounting point for a tent with a drop down ladder. This makes it possible to go camping wherever you park your R1T. Eliminating the need to have an additional camping spot or to tow an RV trailer. The optional pull out kitchen is housed inside the massive Gear Tunnel that comes with 2 electric stove tops, multiple storage areas and a sink. Read more about the Rivian R1T Electric Pickup Truck.
