Rivian Rivian - started production


Rivian is an American EV maker founded 2009. It builds rugged, outdoor-focused models like the R1T and R1S on its modular platform. Official: Rivian
Rivian R1S and R1T Present Weird Panel Gaps and Quality Control Issues
We have been telling our readers about quality control issues with Tesla vehicles for years. Everything suggested that Lucid would present better products, but recent reviews and customer complaints show the startup desperately needs to improve. We thought Rivian had escaped that. Kyle Conner and the Out of Spec Detailing YouTube channel show that this automotive newcomer also has a lot to learn.
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Conner released a short video presenting all the panel gap problems he found on a Rivian R1S. The frunk lid has several misalignment points, such as close to the windshield and over the headlights. The roof seems to have been resprayed, and the upper extreme of the tailgate is not even with the top.

The right side appears to be the worst: both the rear and front closed doors look like they are not properly latched, with steps between them and the body. On the left, the driver’s door handle is defective. The title of the short video is “get your sh*t together, Rivian!”

Colton runs the detailing shop that Conner visited and presented another example of a problematic Rivian with an R1T. The more extensive video shows more problems with Rivian products than just uneven panel gaps, even if these are pretty evident. The charging port, doors, frunk lid, and tailgate all have problems, making it look like the body structure is slightly twisted.

The frunk lid misalignment can be connected to loose plastic parts underneath it. Colton discovered that the clips were not correctly fitted. That also happened with the rubber sills on the left side of the electric truck, which presented noticeable bulges around them and were easy to move. The right side sills and weather strippings were properly attached, which made the comparison even easier and more concerning.

The last thing Colton analyzes is the paint quality. Rivian vehicles used to come with sanding marks to remove dust nibs. After his channel started disclosing that, the Denver Rivian Service Center began to buff the paint in a clumsy way. That generated dual action (DA) haze in plastic parts, which is a pain to remove. In its will to deliver cars with better paint, the service center ended up creating a bigger problem, which takes more time to solve than the original one.

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I saw two test videos, and in both the driving on the road was labeled as terrible, even dangerous in this video, the software was bad, etc. I do not understand all the noise of these Start-ups that cannot make a competent vehicle, they should dedicate themselves to making Smartphones , it's like an "attempt" to make an SUV
 
I saw two test videos, and in both the driving on the road was labeled as terrible, even dangerous in this video, the software was bad, etc. I do not understand all the noise of these Start-ups that cannot make a competent vehicle, they should dedicate themselves to making Smartphones , it's like an "attempt" to make an SUV

That's not very good is it? I'm not very familiar with them. I see an occasional video etc.

I'm confident that the Lucid Air is the real deal, however I agree spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases for these machines may not be prudent.
 
I agree spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases for these machines may not be prudent.
Yes, It's not even cheap at all, sort of to make up for the drawbacks, quite a few major drawbacks
 
I’ve driven both the Rivian suv and truck. They’re both amazing. And they’re quite cheap, relative to what’s comparable. A fully loaded GMC work truck is $75k+. My rivian SUV order is $78k.
 
2026 Rivian R2: What We Know About The Smaller Electric SUV And Pickup Models
Building on the well-received R1s, Rivian is preparing a pair of smaller and cheaper R2S SUV and R2T Pickup models

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This story includes speculative renderings from Carscoops that are neither related to nor endorsed by Rivian.

Rivian Automotive is working to established itself as a major player in the EV market with its R1T pickup and R1S SUV, both of which have been well-received by critics and consumers alike, as well as the adorable Electric Delivery Van (EDV) that’s being built for Amazon in three sizes.

However, the innovative EV company that was founded in California back in 2009 isn’t resting on its laurels and has set its sights on the future with a smaller R2 platform that will form the base for a new, and critically, more affordable lineup of vehicles.

These include a smaller SUV and pickup truck, likely named the R2S and R2T respectively, which were originally planned to be introduced in 2025 but have since been delayed for at least another year so that its future plant in Georgia would be ready, while also giving the company time to focus on streamlining the production of the existing R1T and R1S. However, this decision hasn’t affected the ongoing development of the smaller and cheaper Rivian


Rivian’s upcoming R2 platform was mentioned in a letter to shareholders last June. The company didn’t include many details about the new underpinnings but said it is destined for smaller and more affordable models, in both SUV and pickup bodystyles. Those will slot under the larger and more expensive R1T pickup and R1S SUV in the brand’s lineup, allowing the company to go mainstream and target a broader swath of the market, both in terms of demographics and geographically.

We haven’t seen any prototypes on the road yet, so it’s too early to tell what the new R2s will look like. However, with our input and the help of AI software, we attempted to envision a few design paths that the SUV and pickup truck model could follow, focusing on a more youthful take on the R1’s aesthetics. We tried both a traditional and a more sporty, coupe-crossover-ish approach for the R2.

In terms of powertrains, the new R2s will probably use a dual electric motor setup, which in the case of the R1 delivers 600 hp, most likely in different (lower) output variants. Rivian might choose to keep the R1’s Quad-Motor setup producing 835 horsepower and 908 lb-ft (1,320Nm) of torque that allows for a 0-60mph (0-96 km/h) in 3 seconds flat exclusively for the larger models. In any case, those will be combined with smaller capacity 800V batteries that will still allow competitive range figures for the smaller and lighter vehicles.

The Rivian R2 family will be produced in a new $5 billion factory in Georgia, US. The plant is scheduled to open in 2024, starting with the production of another model prior to the debut of the new platform. Mind you, besides the current R1T, R1S, Amazon delivery vans, and the upcoming R2 models, Rivian is also rumored to work on a rugged SUV set to rival the Jeep Wrangler.

The market launch of the Rivian R2 in the US is expected in 2026, while the models could also be offered in Europe as well as other global markets, thanks to their more suitable footprint compared to the American (full) sized R1S and R1T. In a letter to shareholders last November announcing the one-year delay for the launch of the new models, Rivian said: “We expect the R2 platform will unlock a global market opportunity for Rivian and are excited about the early development work that is underway”.
It is possible we will start seeing early development prototypes in 2024 or 2025, giving us a better idea of the model’s styling and proportions. Until then, check out out speculative renderings in the galleries

 
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Who you got? LOL!
 
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That's a hell of alot of financial loss, so he's stating at least?:unsure:
 
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🤔
 
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Some interesting bits on future R2 & R3 vehicles.I like RJ - he seems like a very level headed guy - get Clark Kent vibes from him with the glasses

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Contrary to the CEO‘s portrayal, Rivian (and Lucid) are in pretty deep trouble currently. Yes, Rivian still has cash but they urgently need to improve in this changed market if they want to make it to 2026/2027.
 
Tested: 2023 Rivian R1T Dual-Motor Performance Doesn't Sacrifice Much

Although less powerful than the Quad-Motor, the R1T Dual-Motor still provides neck-snapping acceleration; composed handling; and a classy, comfortable cabin.

BY CALEB MILLER

PUBLISHED: JUL 13, 2023

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Rivian burst onto the scene with the R1T Quad-Motor, an 835-hp supertruck that can tackle gnarly off-road obstacles and match sports cars to 60 mph. Now there's a more sensible 533-hp Dual-Motor variant, which can be bumped up to 665 horsepower by means of a $5000 Performance package. The R1T Dual-Motor Performance isn't as extreme as the Quad-Motor, but it retains the same composed driving demeanor, well-appointed interior, and clever packaging, with nearly a Corvette Z06's worth of power still bringing gut-punch acceleration.


The cheapest Dual-Motor models start at $74,800, but the Glacier White Performance version we tested came in at $92,850. The Dual-Motor tipped our scales at 6914 pounds, 122 fewer pounds than the Quad-Motor. Most of that weight loss can be attributed to the Dual-Motor having a tire-inflation kit instead of a full-use spare. The 128.9-kWh "Large" battery—a $6000 add-on required with the Performance pack—provides up to 352 miles of range, but the 22-inch wheels (shod in Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season Elect rubber) on this example drop the EPA's rating to 341 miles. Available all-terrain tires cut range even further to 307 miles. Our 75-mph highway test revealed the Dual-Motor can travel 280 miles on charge—a bit of a letdown considering the Quad-Motor rolling on the same tires returned an identical number and that the number is significantly shy of the Dual-Motor's EPA estimate..


The separate eco-minded Conserve mode from the Quad-Motor is folded into the Dual-Motor's All-Purpose mode, which disconnects the rear motor around 20 mph in the majority of driving scenarios to boost efficiency but will reconnect it at low speeds or when more power is needed.

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Sport mode keeps the Dual-Motor in all-wheel drive and unlocks the full power output, with the two electric motors combining for 829 pound-feet of torque, 79 less than the Quad-Motor. That's enough shove for the R1T to leap to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, putting it 0.4 second behind the Quad-Motor. The quarter-mile flashed by in 12.0 seconds, trailing the Quad-Motor by 0.5 second. The All Season tires helped the Dual-Motor record 0.82 g on the skidpad, the same as the Quad-Motor wearing that identical rubber. Braking performance from 70 mph improved by three feet to 173 feet.

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The main difference versus the Quad-Motor is how the torque is dished out. Instead of precise torque delivery to individual wheels, the Dual-Motor splits the output across the front and rear axles. From there, brake-based torque vectoring routes the torque to the wheel with the most traction. This reduces the R1T's ability off-road, where the four-wheel vectoring is key for sniffing out every last bit of traction. In daily driving, you won't notice the difference, with the front/rear system still keeping the truck balanced when you're zipping down a two-lane road.

The Dual-Motor is otherwise identical to more powerful R1Ts, with excellent body control and accurate steering. The ride can feel jittery on bumpy roads at lower speeds, but on the move, the air-spring suspension is well damped. This R1T emitted some loud thuds over broken pavement around town and a slight clunk from the rear when the motor disconnects. The R1T's whisper-quiet operation—recording just 68 decibels at 70 mph—might have made these noises more apparent.


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Indeed, the cabin remains a pleasant place to be—full of rich-feeling faux leather and open-pore wood—even if too many functions are buried in the screen. The Dual-Motor also remains a practical choice with the sizable frunk and a nifty gear tunnel with 12 cubic feet of space.

The R1T Dual-Motor Performance is a pricey proposition but provides nearly all of the same mind-bending on-road capability. If you don't care about winning stoplight drag races, skipping the Performance pack will save you $5K while still providing the ability to sprint to 60 mph in a Rivian-estimated 4.5 seconds. So, you can skip the Quad without much loss of muscle.

Specifications
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 135.8 in
Length: 217.1 in
Width: 79.3 in
Height: 73.0 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 59/48 ft3
Cargo Volume: 23 ft3
Curb Weight: 6914 lb

C/D
TEST RESULTS

60 mph: 3.4 sec
100 mph: 9.4 sec
1/4-Mile: 12.0 sec @ 110 mph
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 3.5 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 1.8 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 2.3 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 111 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 173 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 351 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.82 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY AND CHARGING
75-mph Highway Range: 280 mi."



EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/City/Highway: 76/81/75 MPGe
Range: 341 mi."

 
Been a couple years for Rivian now I still think they’re the coolest car on the road and I love it every time I see one. And yes I still have one on order.
 

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