Rivian R1S & R1T - fully electric AWDs
The Rivian R1T and R1S proved, when they were revealed, that a fully electric adventure vehicle was not only possible but genuinely better than the internal combustion equivalent for buyers who spend real time outdoors. The R1T is a pickup truck and the R1S is a seven-seat SUV, both built on Rivian's proprietary skateboard platform with quad electric motors delivering all-wheel drive traction to every corner.
The Rivian Skateboard Platform: Why It Changes Everything for Electric AWD
Rivian's approach starts with an integrated skateboard chassis that contains the battery pack, motors, suspension, and drive units in a single structural module. Four independent electric motors, one per wheel, replace the complex differentials, transfer cases, and driveshafts of a conventional 4x4. Each motor can be torque-vectored individually, giving the Rivian a dynamic capability that no mechanical system can match.
The most powerful configuration uses a 180 kWh battery pack producing a combined output of 562 kW (approximately 755 hp) and offers more than 400 miles of range on a full charge. The quad-motor R1T can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds while still being rated to tow 11,000 pounds and wade through water more than a metre deep.
Rivian R1T: The Electric Pickup Truck Reinvented
The R1T is a full-size pickup truck with a bed, but Rivian added something no conventional truck offers: the Gear Tunnel. This lockable storage compartment sits between the rear of the cab and the rear wheel arches, running from one side of the truck to the other. CEO RJ Scaringe described it as providing more than 350 litres of space for gear of any size. The bed itself is covered by an integrated tonneau cover and features three 110-volt outlets delivering up to 400 watts each, turning the truck into a mobile power station for camping, job sites, or events.
Interior specification is high: leather and wood trim, a large central display, cameras, lidar sensors, radar, a high-precision GPS with high-definition map data, and a driver assistance suite moving toward autonomous capability. By 2026, the R1T's starting price in the United States sits at approximately $70,990 for the Dual-Motor variant, rising to $119,990 for the Quad-Motor configuration.
Rivian R1S: The Electric SUV That Replaced the Land Rover
The R1S is the SUV sibling, a seven-seat vehicle that shares the R1T's platform but prioritizes passenger capacity and interior space. It offers the same off-road hardware, the same 400-plus miles of range at max battery, and the same quad-motor AWD option, in a three-row body that genuinely competes with premium SUVs from Range Rover and Cadillac. Starting price for the R1S in 2026 is approximately $76,990.
Both Rivian's R1T page and the R1S specification page detail the full configuration and ordering options currently available.
Electric Adventure Vehicles at TheArsenale
The Rivian R1T and R1S belong to a new generation of electric vehicles designed for real-world use rather than showroom appeal. TheArsenale's electric vehicle collection covers the full spectrum of electric mobility, from adventure-ready off-roaders to hypercars. For those who want electric-capable extreme terrain machines right now, the Sherp ATV is the gold standard for all-terrain amphibious performance, while the Rezvani Vengeance offers armored SUV capability in a package that takes obvious cues from the same adventure-first brief that defines the Rivian.
