CAR AND DRIVER February/March 2022 “YOUR MOVE SPACEBOY” “NASCENT EV MAKER RIVIAN BEATS TESLA, FORD AND GM TO THE FAT PART OF THE MARKET:PICKUP TRUCKS” By K.C. Colwell
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Summary by 2244
Image from Rivian.com
Rivian with a market value of $71 billion has beat Tesla ($945B), Ford ($72B) and GM ($72B) in launching what CAR AND DRIVER calls in its article “one hell of a little truck” that being the $74,075 Rivian RIT which is closer to a mid-size pickup but with 7173 pounds is “closer to that of the heavy-duty, three-quarter ton full-size pickup…” Batteries are heavy and this is no exception with 7776 cells it weighs in at 1755 pounds but it enables 835 horsepower delivering performance of 60MPH 3.3 seconds, 100MPH at 9.0 seconds and the quarter mile in 11.9 seconds reaching 110MPH using an electric motor for each wheel. “The motors also provide enough regen to allow for one-pedal operation…there is no need to step into the soggy and soft brake pedal and activate the four-wheel discs.” Unless “someone cuts you off” you won’t have to touch the brake but if needed to brake hard “the truck stops from 70MPH in [an impressive] 177 feet.” It’s quiet “the only sound you’ll hear on your way to 60 is your neck snapping backward…”
Having said all this,, there are “a litany of issues that need to be addressed before buyers take delivery” especially the touchscreen that reportedly has “frequent crashes and often lethargic reactions to inputs…” Range anxiety is always a question and for the RIT with highway tires the EPA estimate is 314 miles (Efficiency 70 MPGe) but will be only 220 miles (Efficiency 35 MPGe) with “all-terrain rubber” and possibly only 110 miles pulling a trailer.”
Much more at CAR AND DRIVER