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Rivian really wants you to envision adventure with R1T’s mobile kitchen

(Image: Rivian}

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Rivian has been on the move with publicity efforts surrounding a specialized kitchen set designed for their R1T truck’s gear tunnel that was unveiled at this year’s Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona. Several posts focused on the accessory have been published online recently to help jog potential customers’ imaginations and perhaps inspire a trip or two of their own with food at the forefront. It’s not just an idea being used as a photo prop, either. Rivian has confirmed the kitchen set will be available for sale when its R1T truck and R1S SUV are also hitting the market.

Shortly following the kitchen prototype’s debut, Rivian sent two company team members out on a Memorial Day overland trip to Sedona with the R1T wherein the portable dining station was put to use in the real world. Photos from the journey were subsequently shared via Rivian’s official social media, complete with Arizona’s red dirt and incredible mountain landscape in view. It’s probably safe to say the promo was successful in convincing audiences that the gear tunnel kitchen is a pretty cool accessory to have.

The R1T’s retractable kitchen includes two induction burners, cookware, utensils, and a sink with 5 gallons of water storage to both prep meals with and wash dishes. As demonstrated by Rivian’s Memorial Day road trippers, a ready-made way to cook up onions and peppers to enjoy with avocado and a desert sunrise definitely looks to be a scene that most of Rivian’s primary audience would enjoy. Overall, it’s a creative and convenient way to really tap into all the extra space Rivian’s flagship truck has to offer.

The debut of the kitchen accessory at an event like the Overland Expo makes sense for Rivian’s brand as well as an overland trip with the set itself. After all, overlanders are a creative bunch that embrace all the vehicle-supported living concepts they can imagine to get the most out of their travel experiences, and Rivian is promoting an electric adventure lifestyle in its product development and marketing. The company has also noted that the Overland Expo inspired its vehicle designs, and team members have attended prior expos to help fine tune their products to what future owners would be looking for.

Rivian’s gear tunnel itself gets a lot of coverage these days, and rightly so. Since the R1T doesn’t need to make room for all the extra parts needed for gas and diesel-powered engines, there’s tons of extra space for cargo, and a storage area separate from the truck bed provides the best of both traditional worlds for backend vehicle storage. The bed is great for hauling, as expected, and the gear tunnel is great as a “regular” trunk for things that are better suited to a more contained environment. The added convenience of using the gear tunnel’s door as a seat or stool is a bonus, and a significant one at that.

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With the debut of the portable kitchen set, it looks like the Michigan-based startup has decided to tap into gear tunnel enthusiasm in the form of an add-on available direct from the factory. Albeit, with as creative as Rivian’s designs seem to be already, the aftermarket will probably fill up with numerous crazy and/or useful concepts that might be difficult to even imagine right now.

As Rivian’s brand expands, so will its loyalty and audience seeking custom parts and accessories, something that other auto makers with similar marketing focuses like Jeep have fostered over the years. Considering the highly visual and product-centric marketing efforts Rivian has already undertaken, a bright future of inspired utilization definitely looks to be ahead.

Accidental computer geek, fascinated by most history and the multiplanetary future on its way. Quite keen on the democratization of space. | It's pronounced day-sha, but I answer to almost any variation thereof.

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Tesla Semi futuristic sci-fi acceleration sound will never get old

Videos that capture the Semi moving at speed are most notable due to their sheer cool factor.

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Credit: Tesla Owners Silicon Valley/X

The Tesla Semi is not yet in mass production, but the company has accumulated over 7.9 million miles across its test fleet. With Tesla using the Semi for its operations, it is no surprise that sightings of the Class 8 all-electric truck have been abounding. 

These sightings from Tesla enthusiasts vary, but those that capture the the Class 8 all-electric truck moving at speed are most notable, possibly due to their sheer cool factor.

Tesla Semi’s Roar

There is something that just stands out with the Semi, particularly on the road. While the Semi does not have the Cybertruck’s brutalist, angular design, it is still very striking because it’s such a massive machine that moves far too quietly for its size. This is, of course, one of the reasons why the vehicle also becomes extra noteworthy when it fires up its electric motors and accelerates.

Take this video from Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, for example, which shows the all-electric hauler accelerating while pulling what appears to be a full load. In these situations, the Tesla Semi actually becomes audible, but unlike traditional diesel-powered truck, the Class 8 all-electric truck “roars” with its own, unique futuristic, sci-fi sound. In such situations, one could feel the Semi’s raw power, which comes from its three independent motors on its rear axles.

Tesla Semi Ramp

Tesla has been promoting the Semi quite a bit as of late, and recent reports have suggested that the company is putting in a lot of effort to prepare the vehicle for its production in Nevada. Tesla’s Careers website has gone live with over 80 Semi-related job openings recently as well, and a recent report has suggested that Tesla has ramped the Semi’s factory workers in Nevada to over 1,000 employees.

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The company has even shared an update video of the Semi factory’s progress near Giga Nevada, as well as the design of the vehicle’s new logo. The Semi’s updated logo is quite interesting as it features elements from the Tesla Model 3’s first logo, which was unveiled way back in 2016.

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Elon Musk jokes he will join Mr Beast’s “100 Men vs 1 Gorilla” challenge

It’s a good sign, if any, that the overworked Musk is becoming a bit more lighthearted again.

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Credit: Elon Musk/X

Following the first quarter Tesla earnings call, CEO Elon Musk seems to have become a bit more relaxed—relaxed enough to joke about fighting a gorilla with 99 other people, at least.

It’s a good sign, if any, that the overworked Musk is becoming a bit more lighthearted again and not too busy picking fights with politicians on social media.

The Viral 100 Men vs 1 Gorilla Challenge

Over the weekend, a post on social media platform X went viral. The post itself was quite simple, with user @DreamChasnMike stating that he thinks 100 men could beat one gorilla. “Everybody just gotta be dedicated to the sh*t,” the X user joked. The post exploded on the platform, garnering 284 million impressions as of writing.

The silly question also triggered a massive debate about whether 100 men would really stand a chance against a literal gorilla. Some users even lamented that the premise was a sign of male hubris. Nevertheless, the question proved to be a fun topic on X, with some more dedicated users even posting simulated videos of what the “100 Men vs 1 Gorilla Challenge” could look like. 

Mr. Beast and Elon Musk Join In

The premise is quite similar to other viral videos from noted YouTube creator Mr. Beast, so it was no surprise that edited images of Mr. Beast YouTube thumbnails with “100 Men vs a Gorilla” also started spreading on the social media platform. Mr. Beast, who tends to be game to such silly ideas, actually reposted the edited image, joking “Need 100 men to test this, any volunteers?”

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In true Elon Musk fashion, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO noted that he would join the challenge. “Sure, what’s the worst that could happen” Musk wrote in his post on X. Musk’s reply triggered quite a few laughs on X, with some stating that the world probably still needs the CEO.

While silly, Musk’s comment and his recent, more frequent posts about his companies’ products like Starlink and Grok have been received well by his supporters. Over the past months, after all, Musk has been very political and quite confrontational on social media. With Musk soon taking a step back from the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) daily operations, however, it seems like X will soon get a more tempered and lighthearted Elon Musk once more.

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Possible first glimpse of Tesla “Model 2” affordable car in Fremont Factory

The models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.

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Image Credit: @metgodinwilderness7130/YouTube

During the Q1 earnings call, Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy set expectations on the design of the affordable models that the company is expected to launch this 2025. As per the Tesla executive, the models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.

Drone footage from the Fremont Factory earlier this month might have provided the EV community its first potential glimpse at Tesla’s affordable cars–fondly dubbed by EV fans and analysts as the “Model 2” or even “Model Q”–or at least their components and overall shape.

The Sighting

Tesla watcher and drone operator Met God in Wilderness, who has been posting aerial videos of the Fremont Factory for years now, recently shared some footage from his drone flyovers this month. While the Fremont Factory was abuzz with activity as usual, a couple of rather strange vehicles were quickly spotted by EV watchers on social media.

During the drone operator’s flyover on the 17th, for example, an unfinished vehicle could be seen parked next to what appeared to be fully-built Model S and Model Y units. What was especially interesting was the vehicle’s roof, which seemed to be slightly narrower than the Model Ys around it. Based on the video, at least, the vehicle seemed to be shaped like a crossover as well.

Footage from the 24th of April also proved quite interesting, with the drone operator capturing footage of another cryptic vehicle. Unlike the mysterious, unfinished, crossover-esque car spotted on the 17th, this particular unit seemed to have a more sloping rear, at least based on the shape of its covering.

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What Lars Moravy Said

In Tesla’s Q1 2025 Update Letter, Tesla noted that “plans for new vehicles, including more affordable models, remain on track for start of production in the first half of 2025.” Tesla also noted that the new vehicles will utilize aspects of its next generation and its current platforms. They will also be produced on the same manufacturing lines as its present vehicle lineup, likely the Model Y and Model 3. 

During the earnings call itself, Moravy specifically stated that the new models that would come out in the next months would resemble the company’s current vehicles. They will, however, be affordable. “Models that come out in next months will be built on our lines and will resemble, in form and shape, the cars we currently make. And the key is that they’ll be affordable, and you’ll be able to buy one,” Moravy stated.

Watch the drone operator’s footage from April 17 below.

The drone operator’s footage from April 24 can be viewed below.

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