so who's ordering a Rivian?

[Corbet]

Didn’t seem super clear from the article but is this even a high/low system? Electric motors can spin at high RPM. So why would you need to shift the system. Just install the gear reduction to save the motor at crawling speeds and then let it run at a higher speed on the highway. And if this is the case just do portal style boxes at the hub. Doing it at the motors will add stress to the axles. But I’m just a shade tree engineer.

 

[J1000]

I posted about Rivian low range back in Feb in this thread!

Didn’t seem super clear from the article but is this even a high/low system? Electric motors can spin at high RPM. So why would you need to shift the system. Just install the gear reduction to save the motor at crawling speeds and then let it run at a higher speed on the highway. And if this is the case just do portal style boxes at the hub. Doing it at the motors will add stress to the axles. But I’m just a shade tree engineer.

Presumably the truck is already geared to have the motor spin near max RPM at highway speeds. I know my Nissan LEAF was limited to 94 MPH and that equated to just shy of 11,000 RPM which is the RPM limit for the motor.

 

[mcgaskins]

Good call @J1000 I missed that.

To echo your points about driving style when rock crawling, I definitely found the key was keep at least a small amount momentum when approaching obstacles was critical to success - especially ledges. In Rivian's recent shareholder meeting video, I noticed a very shot clip of me climbing a ledge on Wipeout Hill just before the famous descent, and it was super smooth keeping about 1-2mph of speed on the approach. This was supposed to be part of a Tread Lightly content series I worked with our creative teams to put together, but it largely ended up just being used for B roll.

 

[Corbet]

Well if already spinning at max RPM then you’d need a selectable gearbox. One could argue that they could reduce the top speed some to gain some lower gearing. As 110mph is not legal anywhere in NA but you know Merica. I’m surprised it’s top speed is so low to begin with.

 

[mcgaskins]

Well if already spinning at max RPM then you’d need a selectable gearbox. One could argue that they could reduce the top speed some to gain some lower gearing. As 110mph is not legal anywhere in NA but you know Merica. I’m surprised it’s top speed is so low to begin with.

The top speed is electronically limited and I’ve seen higher speeds on non production trucks. I personally don’t care a much higher top speed except in one scenario - the top speed is reached well before the quarter mile which artificially lowers the Rivian time. It could easily shave a half second off the elapsed quarter mile time if the limiter was bumped to ~125mph. I was a right seat driver / instructor here for a journalist on a closed course and you can see just how hard the R1T launches off the line. That’s one dirty tires and a dusty course too because we came right from the off road section onto the road course. Good times!


View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbgIkuZJKZk/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

 

[Corbet]

Which only reinforces my point. We as consumers are programmed to look at 1/4 mile times when evaluating the performance of a vehicle. Fine in a sports car but when looking at trucks it’s kind of pointless. (Neither can do that legally on the street. But you might buy track time with a sports car). A 0-60 time for a truck would be fine. Or 0-80 if need be. At least that is a published speed limit in some states.

When comparing trucks I’m not really ever interested in 1/4 mile times. Give me ground clearance, payload, towing, gearing figures. They are what really matter in a truck for real world use. Well use as a truck anyway.

 

[gungriffin]

1/4 mile times are getting so low that they don't really matter anymore. There were articles about the Model S Plaid getting in trouble at drag strips for not having a full cage when times dipped below 10 seconds on the 1/4 mile. Most people cannot react fast enough at that level of acceleration. Many cars are becoming incredibly unsafe to drive anywhere near their limits on public roads and perhaps even at racetracks. The concerning part to me is that this level of performance is becoming so much less expensive. It used to be 650k cars, then it was 350k cars and now it is a 108k Model S Plaid. There is a preproduction version of the Lucid Air that is running about an 8.6 second 1/4.

The Rivian does an 11.9 in the 1/4 mile. That is the same time as a Ferrari F50 and a bit faster than the 700 hp TRX. Wow.

 

[DaveInDenver]

When comparing trucks I’m not really ever interested in 1/4 mile times. Give me ground clearance, payload, towing, gearing figures. They are what really matter in a truck for real world use. Well use as a truck anyway.

I'm of the same mind but would only mention that 1/4 mile is sort of a universally understood metric to most motorheads. Most of us can get a feeling of whether a truck is going to be like a mini truck or not trying to merge on the Interstate, e.g. praying you don't end up with Freightliner tattoo'd backward in your tailgate.

This is still sort of a relevant question, at least with Tacomas where forums were still complaining that the V6 was slow. That's not my opinion owning one. It's adequate (I think being stick shift is significant though, the 1GR/6MT I think is a good combo) but certainly no sports car either. So the hybrid 2024 will be a significant marketing aspect.

Acceleration is applicable because as Ryan mentions *everything* is faster now and there is a safety aspect to just being able to keep up. That's something I noticed maybe 2005ish with my 1991. Back in its day as a new truck most cars weren't that much higher performance so the difference wasn't as obvious but it became more and more.

 

[nakman]

I just learned when I type Matt Gaskins into my iphone the auto correct makes it say Matt Gas King. I found that to be wonderfully ironically humorous. @mcgaskins

 

[Romer]

I just learned when I type Matt Gaskins into my iphone the auto correct makes it say Matt Gas King. I found that to be wonderfully ironically humorous. @mcgaskins

I don't know. Have you seen him eat?

 

[mcgaskins]

I just learned when I type Matt Gaskins into my iphone the auto correct makes it say Matt Gas King. I found that to be wonderfully ironically humorous. @mcgaskins

Considering I now have 3 Cruisers that can't manage more than ~13mpg, I would say that's appropriate...and I should have invested in a gas station franchise!

I don't know. Have you seen him eat?

Touche

 

[nuclearlemon]

and I should have invested in a gas station franchise!

Join the crowd. i get a monthly statement from gas buddy and i fill 8-9xs a month

and i have a more economical daily driver

 

[J1000]

I got to drive Rivian R1S today on an auto-x course and holy crap what a vehicle! Really next-level performance. I also got to drive a Model Y and a Polestar Performance but honestly they were no where near the Rivian in terms of handling, driver feel, and feedback. I had high expectations for the Polestar because of their racing roots but it felt like a toy car and did not have any feedback through the steering wheel and the brakes did not inspire confidence. Sure they are all fast but you can't fake handling. The Rivian steering feel was as good as many sports cars, brakes were just right, and the handling was amazing! It was easy to place through the cones and keep neat and tidy while being just as fast. Just stunned by it. Can't get over that thing.

 

[3rdGen4R]

I got to drive Rivian R1S today on an auto-x course and holy crap what a vehicle! Really next-level performance. I also got to drive a Model Y and a Polestar Performance but honestly they were no where near the Rivian in terms of handling, driver feel, and feedback. I had high expectations for the Polestar because of their racing roots but it felt like a toy car and did not have any feedback through the steering wheel and the brakes did not inspire confidence. Sure they are all fast but you can't fake handling. The Rivian steering feel was as good as many sports cars, brakes were just right, and the handling was amazing! It was easy to place through the cones and keep neat and tidy while being just as fast. Just stunned by it. Can't get over that thing.

But what about the hummer?

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

@mcgaskins
Is this official Rivian stuff??

 

[mcgaskins]

@mcgaskins
Is this official Rivian stuff??
View attachment 118971

It doesn’t appear to be based on the plate I see. I know a group who tried last fall and decided to bail pretty early on when they realized what they were up against and didn’t want to pay the body damage toll!

 

[jps8460]

But what about the hummer?

Having driven the new hummer ev truck I can confidently say that it is not in the same ball park as the r1t on any scale or metric except for maybe R&D costs were significantly lower than the r1t

Everything interior rattled, excessive wind noise through the T-tops, drive mode selection is glitchy at best, interior felt cheap. Crab walk was cool, not sure what I’d use it for, but a neat party trick none the less. If I had to give it 1 positive star, it would be that the controls are very intuitive and I liked the use of tactile buttons vs driving an iPad.

 

[Hulk]

Rivian delivery truck for Amazon. Seen in Boulder.

 

[3rdGen4R]

Rivian delivery truck for Amazon. Seen in Boulder.
View attachment 118996

They are all over littleton making deliveries the last year,

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

Rivian delivery truck for Amazon. Seen in Boulder.
View attachment 118996

They sound weird. They are in my hood all the time.