RIVIAN R1T FACTS

Price starts at $70,000 for the base model

Gets between 260 and 400 miles on a full charge

An onboard sair compressor system can reach all four tires (or inflate kayaks)

Camp mode makes the flatbed horizontal for sleeping inside a tent or beneath the stars

The front trunk has 11 cubic feet of storage

Can drive through three feet of water, rock crawl at 100% grade and tow up to 11,000 lbs

Accelerates from zero to 60 mph in just three seconds

Among its other performance superlatives, there’s an ability to drive through three feet of water, rock crawl at a 100 percentgrade and tow up to 11,000 lbs. Ground clearance is 14.9 inches and the R1T can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just three seconds. Eight drive modes range from offroad and tow mode to all-purpose for tooling around town and a “conserve” setting that optimizes range for longer trips by switching to front-wheel drive only and lowering the vehicle into a more aerodynamic stance.

So, it’s set to rumble up mountains, through snow, and across unrelenting desert. But what about the comfort level for the driver and passengers inside the cab? “Our R1T and R1S are designed with premium comfort in mind for adventurers of all kinds including families, friends and pets,” says the Rivian spokesperson.

The pickup interior seats five in vegan leather heated and ventilated seats. Owners can opt to activate Alexa for voice control over nearly anything managed from the 16-inch touchscreen center display including navigation, media, climate, and drive modes.

The separate 12-inch driver display provides gear, speed, range, navigation, status indicator, and drive mode information alongside real-time vehicle visualizations. Between the flatbed, the front truck, and the aforementioned gear tunnel there’s plenty of storage space. There’s also on onboard air compressor system with an extended hose that can reach all four tires (or inflate kayaks, pool floaties, etc.).

Rivian recently launched a Camp Mode to make camping out as convenient and comfortable as possible via an auto leveling feature that makes the flatbed perfectly horizontal for sleeping inside a tent or beneath the stars. An optional Camp Kitchen module for cooking anywhere is currently in development.

Manufactured at a reworked Mitsubishi Motors factory in Illinois, the first R1Ts rolled off the assembly line in September of 2021. But they didn’t roll into auto showrooms. Customers must order online — a process that includes appraising your trade-in vehicle, arranging financing and insurance, registration and scheduling delivery to the nearest Rivian service center (there are three in Southern California including one in Costa Mesa). Many service centers also offer test drives (appointment only).

The company is creating a nationwide Rivian Adventure Network of DC fast chargers. The first launched this past summer Salida, Colorado while the latest just opened outside an REI store in Sacramento.

Meanwhile, the Rivian Waypoints Network of Level 2 (11.5 kW) chargers is currently in its second year of growth, with charging sites in 16 states as well as Yosemite National Park. Both networks are powered by 100% renewable energy.

And what about that smiley face front end?

“Apart from being inspired by a carabiner, our signature stadium headlights presented us with an opportunity to build our brand identity,” says the Rivian spokesperson. As the new kid on the pickup block, the company felt it was important to have an instantly recognizable face.

“We don’t have history. We’re a new brand,” said Jeff Hammoud, Rivian’s head of design, while introducing the vehicle at the 2018 L.A. Auto Show. “It does want to feel like it’s strong, confident, intelligent. It’s not like a traditional truck where you differentiate it with a big, huge grill. We don’t need that. That’s not how we’re going to make our vehicle look tough.”