Rivian adds 700 hp Dual-Motor Performance option to R1T and R1S

Last year Rivian confirmed that its most powerful quad-motor would no longer be available together with the largest battery pack. The Max Pack battery option would only be available with the 600-hp dual-motor powertrain. That meant 164 hp and nearly 300 Nm less and many buyers were left disappointed with having to live with “only” 600 hp.

Rivian took the feedback to its heart apparently and the company just released a new powertrain option. From now on, those who wish to get the Max Pack battery option with the largest range can pair it up with a new powertrain. The new Performance Dual-Motor option comes with 700 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque (949 Nm) which perfectly slots between the quad-motor and the lower-powered standard AWD system.

The new Performance AWD pack can be coupled either with the Large battery pack or the Max Pack option, it is not available with the smallest battery though. With the Large Pack and on 21” wheels the Performance version gets 350 miles rating, changing the wheels to 22” lowers the range to 320 miles.

Max Pack with the 700 hp dual-motor system delivers 400 miles of range when the car is fitted with 21” wheels. On the larger set of 22” rims, the range expectedly drops to 360 miles. That’s really surprising because there is no range penalty for the more powerful drivetrain - both the standard 600 hp and the new 700 hp Performance options have an identical driving range.

The all-important performance figure is the acceleration and the difference is quite notable. Despite both the R1T and R1S being huge and heavy EVs, the extra 100 hp and 100 lb-ft of torque shave off exactly 1 second from the 0 to 60 mph time. While the standard R1T and R1S accelerate in 4.5 seconds, the Performance version does it in just 3.5 seconds - only half a second slower than the quad-motor version.

That extra performance comes at a price though. Regardless of the battery pack option, the Performance trim comes with a $5,000 price tag - both for the R1T and R1S. Those buyers who ordered the Quad Motor version with Max Pack and were told it was no longer available, will get the Performance version instead and their price will be adjusted.

That means anyone who ordered either the R1T or R1S with Quad Motor and Max Pack before March 1 last year, will save $2,500. Those who ordered their car after March 1 2022 and before May 25 last year, will save $1,000. Of course, as long as they opt for the new Performance trim. Downgrading to the standard 600 hp model will result in even bigger savings.

Via