Rivian has just finished building the first dual-motor variant of the R1T pickup truck for a customer prior to deliveries of the new model commencing in June.
Up until this point, all examples of the Rivian R1T and R1S have been powered by the startup’s flagship quad-motor powertrain. This powertrain is supplied by Bosch and delivers 835 hp and 908 lb-ft (1,230 Nm) of torque but let’s be honest, no one really needs a pickup or an SUV with that much power. That’s where the new dual-motor version comes in.
In standard form, these two electric motors combine to produce a touch over 600 hp and 600 lb-ft (812 Nm) of torque but can be tuned to over 700 hp and 700 lb-ft (948 Nm) with the optional Enhanced Dual-Motor AWD. The reduced power figures compared to the quad-motor system have a positive impact on range.
Indeed, dual-motor models equipped with the standard Large Pack battery can travel up to 350 miles (563 km) on a charge, whereas the quad-motor version with this battery pack is capped at 328 miles (528 km). Rivian also offers the dual-motor R1T and R1S models with its more substantial Max Pack battery, giving the R1T a cool 400 miles (644 km) of range and the R1S a range figure of 390 miles (628 km). Both of these figures are for vehicles with 21-inch wheels.
“I’m unbelievably proud of what all our teams have accomplished,” Rivian vice president of manufacturing operations Tim Fallon said. “Introducing our Dual-Motor variants is a major milestone in ramping our facility to its full capacity, and they have done a great job working across so many functions to make this happen.”
Read: Rivian R1T Owner Says Fender Bender Repair Bill Totaled Over $42,000
Rivian actually started building vehicles with its dual-motor powertrain in February, but these were all for the EDV van that it is building for Amazon.
Prices for the dual-motor R1T start at $73,000 in the U.S. and rise to $78,000 for the R1S. Both models qualify for a $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
