The Rivian R1S–and we presume the R1T, too–will soon get a mid-cycle refresh and now we have photos of the undisguised EV before its official debut, courtesy of the Rivian Forums.
Dozens of updated R1S electric SUVs were spotted in the parking lot of the company’s assembly plant in Normal, Illinois, showcasing the rather subtle design changes, including different headlights, wheels and accessories. But as we previously learned from a leaked certification document, the R1S will get a couple of updates that are more than skin-deep.
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The R1S freshens up
The Rivian R1S debuted way back in late 2018 but deliveries only started four year later, in 2022. Now, Rivian's first SUV is getting a mild refresh that includes few cosmetic changes but compensates with a few important upgrades under the skin.
Design-wise, the refreshed R1S comes with a chiseled front light bar similar to the smaller R2 and R3, blacked-out badges, silver brake calipers, new wheel designs and no chrome in sight. Previously, the quad-motor R1S came with yellow accents and yellow brake calipers, while the dual-motor version had gray accents. The CCS1 charging port on the front-left is still there, which leads us to believe that Rivian won’t update the R1 EVs with the NACS inlet anytime soon and the R2 will be its first series production model to feature the new connector from the factory.
The Rivian Forums user who posted the photos said that the facelifted R1S also features new cameras and advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and faster charging capabilities, but it’s impossible to verify this information at this time.
The biggest changes coming under the skin of the electric SUV, according to the certification document referenced earlier, are a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack and a heat pump as standard. The outgoing models feature nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries and the HVAC system has a resistive heater.
Facelifted Rivian R1S spotted in the wild (Source: Rivian Forums)
2022 Rivian R1S
The two additions should make the adventure-oriented EV more efficient. In regard to the charging speeds, the certification doc said that the same 210-kilowatt peak rate of the current NMC battery packs will apply to the new 92.5-kilowatt-hour LFP battery. The new pack has a smaller capacity than the non-LFP battery currently offered by Rivian, but it’s also lighter and needs less space.
We don’t know when the refreshed Rivian R1S will debut, but judging from the dozens of ready-made cars waiting for delivery in the company’s parking lot, we’d argue that June 27 will be the day. Rivian will hold its annual Investor Day then, so it makes sense to reveal its latest and greatest on the same day.
In the meantime, you can jump to the comments to let us know what you think of the refreshed R1S.
Gallery: Facelifted Rivian R1S spotted in the wild (Source: Rivian Forums)
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The total number of people waiting for their R1T or R1S remains a mystery. Rivian gave its last and final public update in Nov. 2022, when it had "over 114,000 pre-orders," CNBC reports. Since then, the company produced just over 10,000 vehicles in Q4, and announced a goal to produce 50,000 in all of 2023.
Rivian estimates the Standard battery's range at 270 miles, versus the 352-mile range estimate for the Large pack and the 410-mile EPA estimate for the Max battery. The Standard battery costs $9100 less than the Large and $19,100 less than the Max battery.
Rivian sales are picking up and the company is targeting positive gross profit per vehicle by the fourth quarter. However, shares are down 40% in 2024 and facing resistance at key levels. For now, RIVN is not yet a buy.
Rivian models will be able to use the Tesla Supercharger network starting today. Rivian will ship owners of the R1S SUV and R1T truck free adapters for the Tesla NACS charger next month. New Rivians will be fitted with the NACS port from the factory starting in 2025.
The manufacturer has now produced 23,592 units for the first half of the year. This means it is still just under 33,500 cars short of the production target for 2024 mentioned at the beginning. Rivian is therefore clearly hoping for a strong second half of the year.
The Adventure Dual Max ($89,900) has an estimated range of 410 miles, which is the longest in the lineup. The price of the Ascend Tri Max trim with a tri-motor setup jumps to $105,900. Extras on this trim include six additional drive modes, a dynamic glass sunroof and a Rivian premium audio system.
Facilities. Rivian is headquartered in Irvine, California, with its location focusing on vehicle engineering and design, propulsion and battery system development, and commercial functions. Rivian's sole production factory in Normal, Illinois, manufactures vehicle components, such as battery packs.
Prices for a used Rivian R1S currently range from $65,977 to $79,999, with vehicle mileage ranging from 741 to 31,923. Find used Rivian R1S inventory at a TrueCar Certified Dealership near you by entering your zip code and seeing the best matches in your area.
The Rivian R1T is a battery electric mid-size light duty luxury pickup truck produced by the American company Rivian. The first production R1T was manufactured in Illinois on September 28th 2021, and was delivered to a customer.
Rivian's first attempt at an SUV skims just under the maximum MSRP threshold to be eligible for the full $7500 tax credit. The R1S starts price of $76,700, and it comes well equipped as standard.
Given typical daily driving distances, most R1S owners will only need to top up the battery pack for an hour or two every night. The Max battery, 400 mile R1S—if completely depleted—will take longer to fully recharge, under 13 hours using a 240-volt supply of home power.
Introduction: My name is Arline Emard IV, I am a cheerful, gorgeous, colorful, joyous, excited, super, inquisitive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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