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Rivian shows off new details at NY Auto Show before heading home
Rivian has been on a promotional whirlwind since the company came out of the shadows last year at the 2018 LA Auto Show, and with it, the all-electric adventure company’s attendance at the New York International Auto Show this year has now generated quite a few more vehicle detail revelations from interviews posted online by show attendees.
Thanks for the warm welcome, #NY! See you again soon. pic.twitter.com/RNTHh5bYy3
— Rivian (@Rivian) April 28, 2019
Brian Gase, Rivian’s Chief Engineer of Special Projects, appeared in a number of videos describing features of the R1T truck and R1S SUV that are unique and otherwise not commonly known about the vehicles.
First, the number of storage compartments were one of the smaller details that stood out. In the R1T, the back passenger seats have bins underneath the cushions, and both vehicles have sliding bins underneath the driver and shotgun seats. A full size spare tire is in the R1T bed and can be removed for even more storage if needed, but to save space for storage and its usable third row seating, the R1S has an inflatable spare tire under the trunk floor.
Rivian’s plans for interior color options were also mentioned, and there are three: Forest Edge (the green inside the demo R1T), Lunar Rock (the grey inside the demo R1S), and black. Additional premium options will be offered for interior fabrics which are already a blend of traditional materials and the types of fabrics you’d find in durable outerwear. The cabins also feature quad-zone climate control.
On the performance side, 170 kW of independent power is provided to each wheel which also provides for torque vectoring. The approximately 750-800 total horsepower in each vehicle works out to about 180 hp per wheel from each of the four motors.
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- Rivian R1S SUV at New York Auto Show 2019. | Image: Dacia J. Ferris/Teslarati
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- Rivian R1S SUV at New York Auto Show 2019. | Image: Dacia J. Ferris/Teslarati
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- Rivian R1S SUV at New York Auto Show 2019. | Image: Dacia J. Ferris/Teslarati
Rivian’s high density battery pack, complete with a thermal control system that adapts according to charging and driving behavior, then powers the whole package. A giant battery might not seem like it would be a great choice for four-wheel adventures, but Rivian has tightly encased its vehicles’ power supply using advanced materials science to be capable of wading up to three feet of water. Since there’s no engine requiring air, only buoyancy prevents a deeper crawl.
Progress in the automotive self-driving arena is moving fast, and Rivian has already integrated that reality into the R1T and R1S designs. The camera and radar hardware on production vehicles will be capable of Level 3 autonomous driving that’s upgradable via over-the-air software updates. Rivian’s initial vehicles will ship with Level 2 capabilities and use data accumulated from its customers’ driving sent to the cloud to develop its Level 3 transition, very similar to Tesla’s strategy. Previously, Rivian has additionally suggested Jurassic Park-style autonomous tours might be available for owners wanting a guided, real-world adventure experience.
Rivian has several test mules on the road using F-150 bodies, but only one production design model of each car has been made to be used at shows and in videos.
Finally, you might know that Rivian was founded in 2009 by CEO RJ Scaringe, an MIT graduate (he holds an MS and PhD in mechanical engineering), but it seems lesser known how his personal life story is imprinted right in the company’s name. Scaringe grew up near the Indian River region of Florida, and that’s where the Rivian name is derived (RIV(er)-(Ind)IAN).
BACK TO BASICS
All of those tidbits will now join the overall more well known features driving the appeal of Rivian’s R1T truck and R1S SUV. A recap of the basics may put them into a better perspective still.
On battery packs, Rivian’s focus on outdoor adventure means that decent battery capacity and range are key components if their product ideas are to be successful, and their much-touted 180 kWh battery “megapack” boasting a 400+ mile range seems to fit that bill. The mid-range 135 kWh pack claiming a 300 mile range is also decent for well-planned routes, and it just so happens to have a fun number of 2170 battery cells – 7,777 exactly if you count the battery inside the in-door flashlight. The 135 kWh battery pack vehicles are also the versions that will do 0-60 mph in 3 seconds, although all versions are speed limited to 125 mph. A lower end 105 kWh pack with a 230 mile range will be produced last, per the usual new EV strategy of offering premium cars before more affordable variations.
https://twitter.com/PrincessDeixa/status/1118957811285811200
The first R1S and R1T deliveries are set for the end of 2020, and Rivian is currently taking preorder deposits to reserve their upcoming vehicles. Purchase prices will start at $69,000 for the R1T and $72,500 for the R1S before tax incentives.
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Aside from being first to unveil a near-production all-electric pickup truck, two other features in Rivian’s electric cars have stood out. First, the quad-motor “skateboard” chassis that forms the base of current and future vehicles centralizes and simplifies Rivian’s innovations into a flexible electric car platform for its future product lines. This feature has also drawn interest from big-name partners like GM and Ford, the latter having just signed a $500 million deal with Rivian to use its tech to develop their first all-electric vehicle.
A somewhat new tidbit about the skateboard platform is the size difference between the R1S version and the R1T version. The R1S chassis is 375 mm shorter than the R1T to boost its off-road capabilities. Both vehicles’ towing capacity is around 11,000 pounds.
The second well-known feature about Rivian’s two outdoor-purposed vehicles is the amount of storage space incorporated into the designs. The frunks are spacious with a 330 mL capacity, and the R1T truck has what they call a ‘gear tunnel’, which is essentially a large cargo space tunneled through the lower middle of the truck’s cab. It looks to have the makings of the next social media photo craze, but that’s obviously speculation.
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- Rivian R1T truck at the NY Auto Show 2019. | Image: Dacia J. Ferris/Teslarati
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- Rivian R1T truck at the NY Auto Show 2019. | Image: Dacia J. Ferris/Teslarati
Both the frunk and tailgates have powered open and close functions for ease of use, the tailgate opening a full 180 degrees, and the bed has a powered built-in tonneau cover strong enough to support loading. Also included in the truck bed are 110V power outlets, onboard air, lights to illuminate the bed, and a gear cable that’s electronically connected to the vehicle. If the cable is cut or disconnected for any reason, the owner receives a notification on their Rivian app.
Other details to mention are the electrochromatic glass roof built into both the R1T and R1S that can change color on demand, specifically in response to outside weather and light conditions, and the daytime running lights that also act as turn signals and charging status indicator lights. A charging status indicator is also in the back of the vehicles.
Check these #rivian R1T features out! The sun roof changing colors and the height adjustable air springs in action! #NYautoshow2019 #electricvehicles #electrictruck #truck pic.twitter.com/Wc517rt8dM
— DJ (@PrincessDeixa) April 18, 2019
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The last major Rivian feature to mention is the adaptable air suspension. Both vehicles’ ride height can be easily raised or lowered depending on road conditions to adjust comfort and handling characteristics. There’s even a ‘kneel’ mode to ease vehicle entry and exit.
STILL TO COME
Rivian’s R1T truck and R1S SUV already have enough innovative details to drive their consumer appeal as-is, but the company has even more developments going on in the background. Recently published patent applications have revealed a modular system for swapping out vehicle components based on activity need and a digital jerry can to extend the battery range even further for longer trips away from a charging network.
Additionally, trademark applications filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office have teased several other products in the works with names like 1C, 1A, and 2R. An interview with RJ Scaringe published by Bloomberg confirmed that Rivian is indeed working on six other products.
Details surrounding Rivian’s plans for a service network are still slim despite the abundance of other important information about the Michigan-based company. The R1S and R1T vehicles will use CCS charging ports, but whether a charging partnership or a home-grown effort is planned remains to be seen.
A NY International Auto Show attendee recently posted on Reddit details gathered from speaking with Rivian’s team, including Scaringe, and indications were made that the company is interested in using Tesla’s Superchargers, although they’ve had some difficulties with the effort. A potential roadshow tour offering test drives was also mentioned.
A couple of the Rivian video interviews can be watched below:
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Lemonade has expanded its innovative Autonomous Car insurance program to Tennessee, giving Tesla owners in the state a substantial discount on Full Self-Driving (FSD) miles. Announced on August 3, the product offers 50 percent off every mile driven with FSD activated, positioning the digital insurer as a leader in pricing insurance around autonomous technology.
The program, marketed as Lemonade Autonomous Car insurance, uses a direct connection via Tesla’s Fleet API (with customer permission) to automatically distinguish FSD-engaged miles from manual driving. Policyholders pay a low base rate when the vehicle is stationary and a few cents per mile when moving, with the 50 percent reduction applied specifically to FSD miles.
If you’re driving a Tesla in Tennessee, FSD miles now cost 50% less to insure with Lemonade. Autonomous Car is now live in TN.https://t.co/4CDTuhyORi pic.twitter.com/QZk4LBIs6f
— Lemonade (@Lemonade_Inc) August 3, 2026
Coverage includes standard protections such as liability, collision, comprehensive, roadside assistance, and Tesla-specific benefits like access to certified repair shops and emergency crash services. Eligible vehicles require Hardware 4, as well as recent firmware.
Lemonade first unveiled the product on January 21 of this year, describing it as a first-of-its-kind offering designed for self-driving cars, starting with Tesla FSD. It began rolling out in Arizona on January 26, followed by Oregon about a month later. Subsequent expansions brought it to Indiana in early June 2026 and Colorado later that month.
Tennessee marks the fifth state.
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Tesla Full Self-Driving gets outrageous insurance offer with insanely cheap rates
The discount rests on Lemonade’s strong belief in the safety of Tesla’s FSD system. The company cites Tesla’s data showing that FSD-driven miles are twice as safe as those driven manually, or associated with roughly a 50 percent crash reduction.
Lemonade Co-founder and President Shai Wininger has emphasized this distinction: “Traditional insurers treat a Tesla like any other car, and AI like any other driver. But a car that sees 360 degrees, never gets drowsy, and reacts in milliseconds can’t be compared to a human.”
He added that “Teslas driven with FSD are involved in far fewer accidents” and committed that as FSD software improves and becomes safer, Lemonade’s prices will drop further.
Tesla Full Self-Driving gets an offer to be insured for ‘almost free’
This approach leverages Lemonade’s existing pay-per-mile technology and AI-driven risk models, which analyze nuanced vehicle data including software version and sensor performance. The company expects the model to reward higher FSD usage with greater savings while supporting mixed households that include both Tesla and non-Tesla vehicles under one policy. Bundling with home, renters, or pet insurance can yield additional discounts.
As autonomous driving technology advances, Lemonade’s state-by-state expansion of usage-based pricing that directly reflects real-world safety data represents a notable shift in how insurers evaluate risk.
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Tesla owners in the five available states – Arizona, Oregon, Indiana, Colorado, and now Tennessee – can obtain quotes quickly through the Lemonade app or website, potentially lowering the overall cost of ownership for vehicles equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems. Further states are expected as regulatory approvals progress.
Tesla has continued to flex the strength, rigidity, and robustness of its all-electric pickup, the Cybertruck. In fact, since 2019, Cybertruck’s ability to avoid dents, dings, and even gunfire has been one of the main selling points Tesla has used to attract buyers who are looking for a vehicle that can handle the most intense challenges.
But that does not mean Tesla is not still actively trying to make it even better.
In a new hardware update, Tesla has decided to change the material of the Cybertruck’s underbody panels from aluminum to carbon fiber, a move that aims to not only increase pricing efficiency but also improve strength.
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Cybertruck Lead Engineer Wes Morrill confirmed the change was made to the Cybertruck recently after it was spotted by Coleton Guerin of Out of Spec. This particular trim level was a Cyberbeast, but it is being applied to all trims to keep supply chain efficiency high and have less variance across trim levels.
Morrill said that Tesla tested different materials for the underbody panel protection, and carbon fiber performed better than aluminum, which is what the company was using since its first deliveries in 2023.
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Additionally, there are some efficiency improvements because Tesla can better form the areas around the bolts to keep underbody airflow cleaner than previously.
good eye – it’s a new material. Testing showed it to be more durable than the aluminum while being lower weight and cost. Also slight efficiency improvement since we can better form the areas around the bolts to keep the underbody airflow cleaner than what stamped aluminum allows
— Wes (@wmorrill3) July 30, 2026
Carbon fiber is traditionally lighter and more durable than aluminum, which is why it is such a popular material among luxury automakers, and EV makers will utilize some of the materials around battery packs to save weight.
This is the first instance of Tesla utilizing carbon fiber on the Cybertruck’s exterior to help with overall performance and strength. As previously mentioned, Tesla used aluminum to protect the underside of the body, but it is pretty typical for the company to continue making engineering changes that will improve the car in the future.
Tesla released Full Self-Driving version 14.3.7 yesterday, and after about 90 miles of testing today, it is evident there are some definite fixes from version 14.3.6, which I wrote about last week and called a regression.
Within the first 40 minutes of my drive on v14.3.7, it saved me from getting into an accident with an unaware Dodge Charger driver, and some of the things Tesla seemed to miss in v14.3.6 were definitely improved. All in all, the release so far has some really great performance, and I’m looking forward to testing it further.
For now, here’s everything I noticed with v14.3.7:
Overall Improvement
Just generally speaking from a ride perspective, this was a really great experience. A lot of the hesitancy I experienced on v14.3.6 was gone. There were no instances of brake-stabbing, wheel-jerking, or any uncertain or unconfident movements. It was void of anything that I felt made it timid with v14.3.6.
The one thing I do hope to see down the road is a smaller need to adjust Speed Profiles so often. Because Tesla calls FSD “Supervised,” I’m okay with needing to hit the scroll wheel a few times a drive.
However, I hope that things can be incrementally improved upon with speed. Sometimes it’s too fast; other times it’s too slow. It’s a difficult thing to hone in and refine, but I hope it eventually gets there.
I didn’t notice any significant left lane camping or any behaviors that were completely out of line. I am hopeful that this opinion does not change, but after driving a few days with this version and putting it in a variety of different situations, you are exposed to more behaviors, some of which are not necessarily what I’d prefer.
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The big things to notice, at least in my experience thus far, are that the major issues with previous versions — meaning the braking stabbing and wheel jerking — simply weren’t there. That’s enough to already consider this progress compared to .6.
Manual Signal Override is More Responsive
On .6, I had quite a few issues with FSD ignoring my manually input turn signals. If Tesla wants to call it “Supervised,” then the car should not ignore any input the driver gives. If I touch the accelerator on FSD, the car speeds up.
🚨 Tesla FSD v14.3.7 obeying manual turn signals https://t.co/6eqToXpQfC pic.twitter.com/vHBlFQ4PDV
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) August 2, 2026
The car did a great job of obeying my turn signals when I wanted it to change lanes, which is welcome.
Parking Lot Performance
Before .6, I traditionally took over in nearly every parking lot my car entered, because I knew it would not park somewhere that I wanted, and usually, it was just a tad too timid in this setting.
The one bright spot of .6 was how well it handled parking lots. This continued with v14.3.7:
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I’m always really happy to see progress at all, but once parking preferences come to FSD, as long as this performance is still around, that could potentially be the biggest improvement I’ve seen in FSD in the year I’ve been using it personally on a daily basis.
Full Self-Driving Averts Disaster
A Dodge Charger changed into my lane without checking if I was there, running me off the road. FSD made the initial avoidance maneuver; I grabbed the wheel out of instinct, looked in my side mirror to ensure I had nobody following closely behind, hit the brake, and straightened the car back up to avoid a curb:
🚨 Guys this is why you all NEED to stay vigilant behind the wheel, even on Tesla Full Self-Driving
Human drivers are UNHINGED and have no idea what they’re doing anymore. This was a kid obviously younger than 20 years old with zero awareness.
First drive with v14.3.7 https://t.co/1vTbCMpCn8 pic.twitter.com/lz7KKEF6bj
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) August 2, 2026
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There have been quite a few responses to this video stating that I should never have grabbed the wheel. To be honest, I really wish I had not done so, because I do believe FSD would have avoided any sort of collision with anything, including the car or the curb.
However, this was the first time I had ever been this close to being hit while using FSD. My natural reaction was to take over. I think if I had had something like this happen before, my reaction might have been different.
Hitting the brake avoided hitting the curb, while FSD swerved to avoid the car. My concern after the car was clear of my front end was the curb. All in all, I’m really happy with how things turned out, and I think anyone could be a critic of how I handled it. I only had a split second to really make a decision, and thankfully, any damage was avoided.
It is clear FSD managed to avoid the car coming down before I was able to. I truly credit FSD for avoiding the collision.
What Needs to Improve
Better Recognition of Potholes, Uneven Roads, Sharp Changes in Roadway/Bumps
On Friday, my Fianceè and I were in the car, and FSD was driving us. We crossed over a roadway that has a traffic light, and FSD was traveling at 40 MPH on Standard, 5 MPH over the speed limit. Everything was more than reasonable.
However, the road we were crossing at the light has a major bump both as you start and finish crossing it. Without a speed reduction, your car can go airborne. The Tesla did just this on Friday on v14.3.6; it was an uncomfortable bounce that pretty much confirmed I would not ever let FSD go over again unless we were sitting at that intersection when there is a red light.
I even tried scrolling down into Sloth quickly, but I ended up just taking over:
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This is that big bounce that I mentioned in the quoted post.
It’s just a tad too drastic to take at the speed FSD wants to go over it. You can see me quickly swipe down into Sloth, but I intervened. https://t.co/K20PK9ysBg pic.twitter.com/81Oc82ZJcZ
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) August 2, 2026
A few people have said it remains related to the vision-based approach and its difficulty comprehending 3D. This is a huge issue because this can cause serious damage at certain speeds.
Navigation
Nothing new here. I still turn off “Online Routing” quite frequently to get the car to take logical routes from time to time.
Auto Wipers
Auto Wipers are just plain bad. I really hope Tesla just uses a rain sensor. I thought they had improved at one point, but I still get dry wipes, Speed 4 on a drizzle, and Speed 2 on a steady rain. In reality, these should be switched.
You can watch our full review of Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.3.7 below:
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🚨 Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.3.7 saved me from an accident! FULL REVIEW: https://t.co/1vTbCMpCn8 pic.twitter.com/9mHmKVoMVA
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) August 2, 2026
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