Rivian is making steady progress with its EVs, and the R1S SUV is leading the charge alongside the R1T pickup. The R1S packs quirky features, efficient design, and an impressive range. Customers can also have the R1S in different drivetrain and battery configurations. There are two variants; Launch Edition, Explore and Adventure.
Here’s everything we know about the Rivian R1S as of April 2022:
Design
The Rivian R1S has a traditional two-box SUV design. While most manufacturers are going beyond the textbook rules with overly done cuts and creases and complex touches, Rivian has settled for a minimalist approach. It works exceptionally well, making the R1S look futuristic. Like its pickup sibling, the R1S has a full-width LED light bar up front that also doubles up as a charging status indicator.
The hood is high off the ground and has subtle character lines. The front bumper houses the air intake to cool the battery and has two tow hooks, a chunky metal skid plate, and integrated horizontal fog lamps. The SUV comes with 21-inch magnesium-aluminium alloys wrapped in road tires as standard. Three 20-inch all-terrain tires and two 22-inch low-profile tires are available as paid options.
The full-width LED bar at the rear accentuates the width of the Rivian R1S. Images: Rivian
From the side profile, the R1S looks long and rectangular. Even though there aren’t any sophisticated aerodynamic principles applied to this box, Rivian has provided flush door handles as standard. A thick C-pillar that houses the brand logo separates the rear quarter glass from the glass area. The full-width LED bar at the rear accentuates the width. Thanks to their fluid design, the side body cladding and the front and rear bumpers seem like one unit.
The LA Silver color is standard. There are eight other options to choose from, each costing USD 1,750 extra.
Interior & features
The Rivian R1S is a 7-seater. The middle and third-row seats can fold, allowing owners to mix and match the seating configuration depending on the requirement. The seats fold flat, so sliding up items from the boot can be smooth. Total enclosed storage space in the R1S is up to 105 cu ft. Rivian hasn’t conducted press drives of the R1S yet, so there are no reports on whether the third row can accommodate adults comfortably or just children.
The Rivian R1S is a seven-seater EV. Images: Rivian
All variants get vegan leather seats with premium stitching. The Explore variant has two interior design themes: Black Mountain (included) and Ocean Coast (USD 2,000 extra). A third option, Forest Edge (dark brown), is available on the Adventure variant at an extra cost of USD 2,000. Adventure variants get perforated vegan leather seats with patterned stitching, yellow accents, and natural grained ash wood finishes, making the cabin appear truly upmarket.
The R1S has an extra-large, 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with LTE and Wi-Fi capability, Bluetooth connectivity, and support for Alexa voice commands and OTA updates. However, there’s no Apple CarPlay, which many owners may find disappointing. A 12.3-inch digital cluster showcases driving information like range, charging status, gear position, and more. There’s also a panoramic sunroof and a Meridian sound system.
The Launch Edition comes with all the bells and whistles. Launch Edition customers get priority delivery, Launch Edition interior badging, special Launch Green paint color option and 20-inch All-Terrain or 22-inch Sport wheel upgrade options without having to pay extra. That said, the cabin is devoid of physical buttons and has plenty of storage spaces.
Adventure Pack
Like the R1T, the R1S can be had with a host of optional accessories. Since the R1S has no central tunnel storage, there’s no sliding kitchen counter. However, owners can choose the Camping Package at USD 3,100, adding a three-person tent and cargo crossbars on the roof. Other optional items include the recovery kit, wall box charger, and more.
Rivian R1S Specifications
The Rivian R1S measures 200.8 inches long, 81.8 inches wide, and 77.3 inches tall. It has a 121.1-inch wheelbase. It’s nearly 17 inches shorter than its pickup sibling and almost 1 inch shorter. The R1S is about 2 inches longer than the Tesla Model X and the Ford Explorer.
Powertrain
There are two drivetrain options on the Rivian R1S: a quad motor AWD layout with one electric motor for each wheel and a dual-motor AWD option with one electric motor on each axle. The quad motor set-up is good for 835 hp and 908 lb-ft, blasting the R1T from 0-60 mph in just 3 seconds. The dual-motor set-up isn’t a slouch by any means, producing a combined output of 600 hp and 600 lb-ft with a 0-60 mph time of 4 seconds.
Battery & Range
Rivian has announced two battery pack options – Standard (105 kWh) and Large (135 kWh). However, it will offer the Standard pack from 2024, which means that only a single long-range battery is available currently. The Standard Pack is expected to provide over 260 miles of range (claimed).
On the dual-motor R1S, the Large pack offers a claimed 320 miles of range. The official EPA estimate for the Large pack on the quad motor Rivian is 314 miles. EPA rating for the rest of the battery-motor combinations is pending. Moreover, the quad-motor set-up can only be had with the Large battery.
What’s more, the battery pack and the drivetrain come with an eight-year/175,000-mile warranty, whichever comes first. The long warranty period is a testament to Rivian’s belief in the reliability of its offerings.
Charging
Rivian chargers will be powered by 100% green energy sources and have an output of 200 kW. Image: Rivian
By the end of 2023, Rivian plans to have 3,500 plus DC fast chargers across 600 sites. Along with level 2 AC chargers, Rivian’s entire network is projected to comprise 10,000 chargers by the end of 2023. They will be powered by 100% green energy sources and have an output of 200 kW, eventually increasing to 300 kW. The connected car technology lets owners locate charging stations and monitor charging status through the Rivian app.
Rivian R1S specificationsValueLength (in.)200.8Width (in.)81.8Height (in.)77.3Wheelbase (in.)121.1Drivetrain layoutdual motor AWD / quad motor AWDHorsepower600 hp / 835 hpTorque600 lb-ft / 908 lb-ftBattery105 kWh (Standard) / 135 kWh (Large) Range 260 miles (Standard) / 314-320 miles (Large)Charging (DC)200 kWTowing capacityUp to 7,700 lbsTotal storage area105 cu ft
Range figures are early estimates by Rivian.
Off-road capabilities
The Rivian R1S comes with adaptive air suspension as standard. The system can raise the ground clearance up to 14.9 inches, to help the SUV clear large obstacles. The suspension can also be lowered to 8.8 inches while loading cargo or to aid ingress and egress. That said, the R1S gets approach, departure, and breakover angles of 35.6, 34.3 and 29.6 degrees. Additionally, it is capable of wading through more than 3 feet of water.
There are eight driving modes, of which four are off-road modes including Off-Road Auto, Off-Road Rock Crawl, Off-Road Rally and Off-Road Drift. The R1S with the quad motor AWD set-up can control torque on each wheel independently, eliminating the need for differentials. The Off-Road Rally mode activates torque vectoring to distribute torque between the wheels depending on the grip. On the dual-motor AWD, the torque split is adjusted between the front and the rear axles only, and not between individual wheels.
Rivian R1S off-road specificationsValueApproach angle35.6 degreesDeparture angle34.3 degreesBreakover angle29.6 degreesGround Clearance (maximum)14.9 inchesWater wadingOver 3 feetOff-Road modesAuto, Rally, Rock Crawl, Drift
Rivian R1S Price & Rivals
For the Explore variant with the dual-motor set-up and the standard battery, the price starts at USD 72,500 (Rivian estimate, before taxes and federal grant). The Large battery pack would cost USD 6,000 more. Adding the Quad-Motor powertrain would entail an identical additional cost. The Adventure variant starts at USD 78,000 for the dual-motor-standard battery combination. The Quad-Motor powertrain and the Large battery pack options cost USD 6,000 each in this variant as well. The Launch Edition has the Quad-Motor powertrain and the Large battery pack as standard, and it costs USD 90,000.
The Tesla Model X is touted to be the Rivian R1S rival. But both models have vastly different appeals. Besides, the Model X costs 114,990 onwards, which means the Rivian SUV is much more affordable.
Rivian R1S variantsRivian R1S PriceExploreUSD 72,500AdventureUSD 78,000Launch EditionUSD 90,000
Launch edition comes standard with quad motors and the Large battery pack; for the other two, customers have to shell out USD 6,000 extra for each.
Production & Release Date
The Rivian R1S is manufactured in Normal, Illinois. Deliveries started in December 2021, but the supply is yet to normalize. Reservations for the Launch Edition are full.
Rivian also confirmed plans to expand its manufacturing by constructing a second facility in Georgia starting this summer. The upcoming ‘carbon conscious’ campus would be located east of Atlanta, in Morgan and Walton counties. Rivian would invest USD 5 billion in this forthcoming facility. It would create 7500 jobs, and the plant will have a production capacity of 400,000 vehicles annually. Production will begin in 2024.
The R1S on the assembly line at Rivian’s Normal plant in Bloomington. Image: Rivian
Backed by Ford and Amazon
In 2019, Ford invested USD 500 million for a 12% stake in the brand. Rivian and Ford had also agreed to develop an EV jointly. Ford was slated to use Rivian’s skateboard platform. However, the agreement was axed in November 2021. Ford CEO Jim Farley told Automotive News in November 2021 that the brands would pursue EV development independently. Amazon also is an investor with a 20% stake in Rivian. The e-commerce giant is also a customer; it has placed an order of 100,000 electric delivery vans with Rivian.
Featured Image Source: Rivian
Keyword: Rivian R1S – Everything we know as of April 2022