That’s right, although Tesla’s Cybertruck is still a conceptual fantasy, it is a real, God-honest mass-produced electric truck manufactured in Normal, Illinois. Meet Rivian R1T. In the United States, almost all major automakers have issued announcements about electric versions of their current trucks, but until now, no fossil-free version of the truck has come off the assembly line.
In terms of size, the R1T is a bit larger than a standard European pickup truck (such as the Ford Ranger), a bit wider, 5.5 meters long, and about 300 mm long. Approximately the same number as the iconic F150 in similar specifications. It's a nice size-but a better design, combining familiar truck proportions with bold, almost inharmonious, futuristic styling cues. A full-width luminous white LED strip straddles the nose, replacing the traditional grille, and there is a matching full-width taillight behind it. The vertical headlights — Rivian calls them stadium lights — didn't look right at first, but I was surprised how quickly my brain normalized them.
The two integrated tow hooks on the front bumper are the biggest indicator of its true off-road capability (they remain connected even if the R1T is dragged from the mud to the door handle) and there is also a tow hook, neatly hidden behind the panel . From any point of view, this is obviously a "real truck", which is very important in the United States-based on my research on shopping mall parking lots. But from there, things became very strange. Look down and you will see...
bingo. There is no locking differential, no transfer case, no fragile basic mechanical devices hanging down and waiting to bend on the stump. The floor is completely flat. This is very good off-road news, because a small clamp is usually needed to get around obstacles so that we don't smash the differential, and now we can drive directly through without any effort. Even if something scratches the floor, it's just the floor. You will still go home. The adjustable air spring can raise or lower the chassis by up to 165 mm. After reaching the maximum value, a gap of 370 mm can be provided.
We have four powerful permanent magnet motors, two at the front and rear, instead of a traditional locking differential. These motors are installed in pairs in the center, which can completely vector the torque to either side individually, and there are a lot of them. Only the front motor can generate about 415bhp, and the rear motor can generate more power, totaling 835bhp. Even better-and more importantly-both motors provide complete beans with over 900 pound-feet of torque. This is enough to push Pangea back together. Combine crazy power data with the precise real-time control of R1T, and you will have an off-road vehicle with amazing performance.
beautiful. R1T can even command the wheels on both sides to rotate in opposite directions, spinning the truck like a Tasmanian devil.
agree. So back to something more useful. R1T has a range of about 300 miles, of course, we use it to climb mountains faster. But with the regenerative brake set to maximum, we increased the range during the descent, and the regeneration is very powerful, you can effectively bypass this thing with a single pedal.
But in the end, all dirt roads must end. In the past, this meant determining our position in the eternal off-road compromise: the better the off-road performance of a vehicle, the worse it will perform on the road. Huge, roaring tires. Turn more than Bill Shakespeare. Hopeless fuel economy, because we installed short gears to help with poor acceleration due to huge roaring tires. you understood.
R1T’s highway etiquette may be the most shocking part of the entire truck. First, thanks to the flat-packed "skateboard" chassis, the air suspension is lowered to maximize the already low center of gravity. The active damper is a three-valve single-tube shock absorber from the external fuel tank, which works in conjunction with Rivian's roll control system. The electro-hydraulic system connects all four corner suspensions together.
Neat, flat turns. From pickup truck. On heavy off-road tires. Imagine what it feels like on the optional 22" sports wheels. It grips the corners well, but more importantly, it runs smoothly and delicately.
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to a certain degree. Because here is how to check if your car is driving well: try using a touch screen. You can be here, but no matter how refined the ride, every control from the off-road mode to the stereo in the center touch screen is a hassle.
Yes, but you forgive it here, because the cabin design is more similar to a high-end Volvo than a regular truck. It is stylish and modern, with high-quality, durable surfaces everywhere. The roof is a piece of glass, you can see the panoramic view of the sky. There is solid wood on the dashboard, all of which are sustainably sourced. The Meridian audio system is one of the best audio systems I have heard in any new car. If you pull the handle on the bottom of the center console, you will find that it is actually a Camp Speaker, a wireless Bluetooth-powered high-fidelity audio system. Carry. Thoughtful contact like this makes R1T unique.
This is another gear tunnel. Behind the rear passenger door, there are two small doors on the side. When opened, you can see a storage area that spans the width of the truck. You will find someone there, and based on the fact that there is a luminous release button in it, I am not the first person to think of this. The open door doubles as a seat. Or stand to help you put things on the bed. The tunnel can also contain the optional Camp Kitchen, a slide-out pod with convection burners, utensils and even a grey water system.
Combined with a lockable power trunk lid and another loading rack under the hood (what, do you think there is an engine in front?) this must have the most concealed storage space ever.
R1T is indeed a huge achievement. Doing something so purposeful, so thoughtful, and so beautiful is an achievement for a company like Ford or Land Rover, but what about making it the first car of a startup? Perhaps this new and pioneering thing cannot come from a large company. There are too many cooks in the kitchen.
The best part is that I don't have to tell you that it costs as much as your house. The R1T has 900 pound-feet of torque and most of the above features, and only costs $67,000 (£48,800) in the United States. Continue to compare it with all other vehicles sold today, driving at 0-60 mph in three seconds. I will wait.
The relevance of the UK remains to be clarified. Obviously, Rivian is negotiating with the British government to build a factory near Bristol, not necessarily to produce R1T, but to use the same technology to produce other smaller, more European-focused cars. this? It is expected that from the beginning of next year, some imported goods will land. This is a game changer in the truck market, not a Cybertruck.
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