New Rivian R1T to rival Tesla electric pick-up
Electric car start-up Rivian plans to sell its new R1T electric pick-up truck in the UK
Tesla’s forthcoming pick-up looks set to have some local competition after American EV start-up brand Rivian announced that it will launch its R1T at the Los Angeles Motor Show.
The R1T is a 5.5-metre, five-seat pick-up truck designed primarily for the US market, although it will form part of Rivian’s plans when the brand arrives in Europe in 2021.
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It’s being offered with three battery sizes – 105kWh, 135kWh and 180kWh – and despite a kerbweight of around 2.6 tonnes, the R1T is capable of 0-60mph in only three seconds. It can travel between 230 and 400-plus miles on a single charge, depending on the battery.
The truck has four electric motors, each delivering up to 197bhp and 14,000Nm of torque. Rivian claims this gives the R1T impressive off-road ability – a key factor for target buyers, who are said to want an EV that’s happy in rough conditions.
It has approach and departure angles of 34 and 30 degrees respectively, while adjustable air suspension means its ground clearance can be stretched to as much as 360mm. The maximum wading depth is a full metre.
The car’s design makes extensive use of the sandwich platform to free up handy storage space. There’s a hefty 330-litre front boot, and a novel 350-litre compartment between the back doors and the rear wheels.
Rivian is led by entrepreneur RJ Scaringe, but the new cars are being engineered under the direction of Briton Mark Vinnels, who brings a wealth of experience from Lotus and McLaren.
You've seen the Rivian R1T, but would you pick it over the new Tesla pick-up? Let us know your thoughts below...
