The Rivian R1T has gathered quite a following, so it was about time an aftermarket company did its magic with the electric truck. Apocalypse Manufacturing – known for its rugged six-wheeler conversions – has been working on the Rivian truck for the past couple of months, previewing a lift kit and massive wheels, and working on some extensive visual modifications. The teaser also included a small drag race with the Hellcat-powered Ram 1500 TRX, proving the EV’s dominance on a straight line.
In a short video, Joseph Ghattas, owner of the South Florida Jeeps and the Apocalypse brand, showcases the tuned Rivian R1T which is still under development. He said that the lift kit was “complicated” due to the sophisticated suspension, forcing the team to move the electric motors and subframe further away from the body. They also added custom skit plates covering the entire underbody.
More: 2024 Ram 1500 TRX Final Edition Debuts As $120k Send-Off
Screenshots: South Florida Jeeps / YouTube
The 38-inch off-road tires and the significantly increased ground clearance make the EV look like a bigfoot truck. While the setup will certainly sacrifice some of the electric range due to the rolling resistance and worse aerodynamics, it will also improve the Rivian’s off-road credentials alongside its head-turning score.
Speaking of aesthetics, Joseph thinks that the R1T “looks like a Kia“, and wants to make it “a lot more aesthetically pleasing”. He promised that the EV will be unrecognizable when Apocalypse is done with it, hinting at extensive visual modifications. Currently, the body of the Rivian R1T remains in stock condition, with a few plastic components being removed.
Screenshots: South Florida Jeeps / YouTube
The lifted Rivian R1T was also put to the test against a stock Ram 1500 TRX. The two very different trucks raced on a narrow and short street, with the Rivian being the clear winner despite the disadvantage of the larger tires.
The Ram 1500 TRX is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 producing 702 hp (523 kW / 712 PS) and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque. While those numbers are impressive, the TRX can’t match the Rivian R1T’s 835 hp (623 kW) and 908 lb-ft (1,231 Nm) of torque from the quad motor powertrain. This is mirrored in the Ram’s 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) time of 4.5 seconds, which makes it a full 1.5 seconds slower than the stock Rivian R1T.
We will keep an eye out for Apocalypse’s version of the Rivian R1T which will likely be presented sometime in the next few months. Until then, you can watch the video preview with the excessively loud music and the mixed-up specs.