Look out, Raptor, Wilderness, TrailSport, and all the other factory brands that turn blandmobiles into off-roaders. There's a new one in town, and it's literally going to be RAD. The Rivian Adventure Department (yes, RAD) has just launched, and while it doesn't have a new vehicle yet, it does have very big plans. Among them is a very advanced DIY tuning app for the R1S and R1T Quads. RAD Hits FAT In Montana Rivian Rivian is launching its adventure brand RAD at the FAT Ice Race. Not the one we're used to in Zell am See Austria, but the new American version. It's happening now in Big Sky, Montana, and it's the same mix of race cars old and new tearing up icy surfaces instead of the usual pavement.Is it the perfect place for an electric adventure brand launch? It might look out of place among vintage Porsches, retro rally specials, and modern hypercars, but it's also a place for people who like their racing different. Taking cars never meant to see the cold onto a frozen lake isn't exactly typical collector car owner behavior.Rivian The first product from RAD isn't a car, though. It's a software update. Sure that's a bit lame, but this is a tech-forward EV company. What did you expect? It's called the RAD Tuner, and it is launching for owners of Gen 2 Quad-motor R1T and R1S models. It lets you create your own drive mode, in real-time, but this goes beyond anything we've seen before.Typical drive mode adjustments let you do things like make the exhaust louder, turn the throttle to twitchy, and stiffen the suspension to sport in a way that you're never going to notice. Rivian says you'll get real adjustments – the ability to tweak horsepower output, torque bias between the four motors, and make changes to the stability control. Expect More Adventure-Ready Rigs Coming Rivian They're adjustments that promise performance and fun on ice, or on pavement, as well as on the trail. We're excited to find out just how much leash Rivian is willing to give owners. Can we make it send power to just one wheel all the time and drive in circles? Mix rear output and front regen to create a line-lock?The idea for RAD came six years ago when Rivian shipped two R1T prototypes to the tip of South America. They were there to accompany Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman as the two rode their electric Harley-Davidson motorcycles from Argentina to Los Angeles. The result was a show called Long Way Up, and the Rivians fared the trip much better than the Harleys.Rivian created the RAD Tuner for its Pikes Peak electric truck record runs. It had already created Desert Rally mode after winning the 2023 Rebelle Rally. Going up Pikes Peak needed more, so the adjustable dynamics tool was invented for the race engineers, and now it will be available for everyone.The electric vehicle company is going to race a 1,025 hp R1S Quad at FAT this weekend. It will show off the team and a new livery. Rivian calls RAD a beginning, "an invitation to explore what our vehicles can do." Expect more adventure-ready rigs from the department to come.