Rivian boosts its flagship EVs past 1,000 HP

The U.S.-based electric vehicle manufacturer has unveiled a new modification of its R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck called the Quad. Prices start from $121,900 for the former and $115,900 for the latter, but you’ll have to either wait or throw in $4,000 extra for the Launch Edition.

The Quad version was first announced during the last year’s facelift, but we hadn’t learned any new details until today. As it turns out, the new powertrain comprises four oil-cooled motors jointly rated at 1,025 PS (1,011 hp / 754 kW) and 1,624 Nm (1,198 lb-ft) of torque. It’s enough to get the truck going at 96.6 km/h (60 miles per hour) in 2.5 seconds, while the SUV is one-tenth of a second slower. A quarter-mile run is usually over in 10.5 seconds, Rivian claims. Both are good for roughly 604 km (375 miles) of range per charge.

More technology will be coming to both EVs in the next several months. For one thing, Rivian promises a feature called RAD Tuner that will allow drivers to configure and save their own drive presets. It will be implemented via a dedicated set of sliders next to the infotainment display. For another, both EVs will be getting Kick Turn, which is an improved version of the regular standing turn meant to be used on rough terrain where wheels tend to get stuck.

Yet another feature, Launch Cam, will start recording a video using the vehicle’s existing cameras as soon as you activate launch control (useful for drag strip runs; can be deactivated). Finally, both the SUV and the truck will ship with a NACS-standard charging port to allow charging from Tesla’s Supercharger outlets.

The Launch Edition mentioned above will sport an exclusive exterior finish and come preloaded with premium features. It will also grant you a lifetime access to a number of online services, Rivian claims.