Sometime tomorrow, Rivian plans to launch its newer, smaller, and more affordable R2 electric SUV. That's not the only thing the company has cooking, though, because it is getting ready to make some changes to its larger R1 line, which includes the R1S SUV and R1T pickup. The base versions of both are going away soon, which will likely raise the starting price significantly. You still have time, though, and the company is hyping a lease deal to help move the metal before it goes away. 'Refining' The Lineup Rivian "We're refining our R1 vehicle lineup later this year," a Rivian spokesperson told CarBuzz. They added "and with that will be sunsetting the R1 Dual Standard." Later this year isn't a firm timeline, but it is a sign that if you want the cheapest R1S or R1T, you might want to act sooner rather than later.Dual Standard, confusingly, sits below the Dual in the lineup of both the pickup and SUV. The version comes with a smaller battery pack that delivers 270 miles of range for both vehicles, along with 533 horsepower. As the name suggests, Dual Standard comes with dual motors to provide all-wheel drive.The more basic version has features like 20-inch wheels instead of 22s on Dual, bright trim instead of dark trim, and fewer drive modes. The pickup has a payload that's slightly lower at 1,902 pounds to 2,116 on the pickup, (2,017 vs 2,119 for R1S) though towing is the same 7,700 pounds for both Dual Standard and Dual models.Dropping to the Dual Standard model saved some serious cash. The R1T starts from $72,990, and jumping to Dual raises the price to $79,990. On the R1S, the price climbs from $76,990 to $83,990. Will There Be A New Base Model? Rivian We assume Rivian will not introduce a new base model, though the company did not confirm that. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has said that the introduction of the R2 could help make the existing models more affordable thanks to its new generation electronics. It already cut out costs when the facelifted R1 models launched in 2024.Rivian may be planning to lower the price of a Dual to make up for the change, but Rivian could also be looking to make space for the R2. That model is expected to start from $45,000, and a top-spec model will likely at least approach the $70,000 range.The EV brand is currently offering a lease deal on the R1S and R1T Dual Standard models that makes the price gap to a Dual even larger. Both Dual Standard models are currently being offered for $749/month on a 36-month lease. There's plenty of fine print there, like a $6,500 down payment, and it has to be silver with the optional 22-inch wheels. But the jump to a Dual is $1,029/month for R1S or $1,019 for R1T.Dropping the Dual Standard could also simplify production at Rivian's plant in Normal, Illinois. The factory was recently expanded to build the R2 as well as the R1 models, and for a new company, less complexity is always a plus.Source: Rivian
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