Rivian continues to build a market for itself as a maker of premium all-electric vehicles that are specifically designed for the adventure community.
Are you a rock climber looking to haul yourself and a crew of free-spirited thrill seekers to the next amazing challenge? Rivian has you covered. Need a spot for your always happy, always muddy dog to sit on? Check. Rivian’s R1T gear tunnel makes for the perfect selfie pedestal. While you’re at it, pause for a moment and take in the majestic views of some snowy Colorado mountain range, with the gorgeous quad motor all-electric R1T set as the centerpiece.
Serving as the foundation for Rivian’s outdoor adventure narrative is the R1T and R1S. The Amazon-backed electric car company takes daydreamers on journeys ranging from 11,000 feet above sea level in Aspen to the concrete jungle of New York City, distilled into three-minute short films and perfectly manicured social media.
A series of cinematic videos posted by Rivian sets the tone for this type of all-electric adventure lifestyle. An adventure that we didn’t know we wanted, or needed, but it all somehow makes complete sense. It’s sorcery, combined with some genius storytelling. In the end, $1,000 magically takes shape as your first Rivian deposit.
The Rivian R1S and the R1T are aimed at the upper end of the market. Describing the company’s strategy, CEO RJ Scaringe mentioned that Rivian’s target is the demographic that spends “$70,000 or $80,000 on a GMC Denali or a Chevy Suburban or a Land Rover Discovery or a fully loaded Ford F150.”
The Rivian R1T and R1S are impressive on paper, with a range of up to 400 miles per charge and a quad-motor design that allows the vehicles to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3 seconds. Recently published patents also revealed that Rivian is working on several innovations that will make its trucks even more attractive to the adventure community. Among these is an auxiliary battery pack that can extend the trucks’ range beyond 400 miles per charge, as well as modular components that can optimize the vehicles for specific tasks.
The Rivian R1T pickup truck has a starting price of $69,000, while the R1S SUV starts at $72,500 before incentives. Both vehicles are expected to enter production in 2020, and can be pre-ordered on Rivian’s official website today.