√Configurator Challenge: Rivian R1T and R1S

Among the latest crowd of electric vehicles, Rivian’s R1T ute and R1S SUV are some of the most hotly anticipated. Here’s how Drive team members would spec theirs.

Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but choice can be seriously confusing. In our configurator challenge, we let the Drive team loose on a manufacturer’s website to create their ideal combination for a certain model.

Electric four-wheel-drive vehicles are popping up in increasing numbers – and this week’s challenge focuses on one of the hottest battery-electric dual cab and SUV pairing of the moment, the R1T and R1S from US start-up Rivian.

Let us know what your ideal Rivian would look like in the comments below, and the cars you’d like us to configure next.

James Ward, Director of Content

Options selected:

Adventure Package ($US78,000 base price)
Dual-motor AWD powertrain
Large battery pack ($US6000)
Forest Green paint ($US1750)
20-inch wheels and all-terrain tyres ($US2500)
Ocean Coast interior ($US2000)
Reinforced underbody shield ($US2000)
All-weather floor mats ($US225)
Off-road recovery kit ($US600)
Cargo crossbars ($US500)
Snowboard/ski mount ($US340)

Total price: $US93,915 ($AU125,000)

Kez Casey, Production Editor

I’ve decided to play a dangerous game of pandering to aesthetics above all else. Well, actually, maybe I haven’t.

As cool as the tough-guy pick-up truck might be, the Rivian R1S SUV still looks pretty boss, so I’ve started with one of those in ‘base’ Explore specification. That was a tough call in itself, given the upscale Adventure adds a decent haul of interior enhancements, not to mention cool beige or green leather and wood interior accents.

Still, the R1S Explore works in Red Canyon with an Ocean Coast near-white interior, both of which are cost options. As much as I love the look of the wood trim, it’s not available in Explore trim – though the standard matte black adds a technical edge.

Despite not going all in on off-road equipment, the beefy 20-inch All-Terrain wheels with machined faces, shod in chunky all-terrain tyres, look suitably hardcore. Tick! Perhaps my pragmatic side kicked in, but the dual-motor drivetrain is plenty powerful enough with “more than” 447kW on tap, and a 0-97km/h (60mph) claim “as quick as 4.0 seconds” according to Rivian. It seems silly to want more than that in a seven-seat SUV. Or does it?

The only other options to tick are the long-range 515km-plus ‘Large’ battery pack, and a home wall charger.

While I try to be thrifty, that’s hard to do with a Rivian, and my final $AU121,150 ($US91,000) sticker reveals that even going easy on options is an expensive exercise.

Emma Notarfrancesco, Senior Journalist

I chose the Rivian ute with Adventure package with LA Silver paint. In the end my options come to a total of $US33,250 ($AU44,200) – these include the quad-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain, 22-inch Sport Bright wheels and the must-have Rivian Camp Kitchen with snow pack.

My chosen interior option, Ocean Coast, adds a further $2000, bringing the total cost to $US106,250 ($AU141,000).

Tom Fraser, Journalist

Like most, I’m a huge fan of what Rivian is up to over in America – I hope they expand out to Australia at some point.

In any case, if I was buying new my specification would entail Compass Yellow paintwork, the 22-inch Sport Bright wheels and the Adventure pack. Plus, my favourite option, the neat Camp Kitchen which slides out of the side of the car.

The light, bright and white interior looks fantastic against my chosen colour, in my opinion. I’ve also opted for the longest-range battery because, well, why not? It’s not my money…

Alex Misoyannis, Journalist

While most Rivian buyers are likely to spec their R1S and R1Ts for off-road capability – irrespective of whether they’ll ever venture beyond the gravel car park of a sport stadium – I’ve opted for an R1T ute better suited to a Californian canyon road.

The $US4500 Adventure package and $US6000 Large battery pack are the first option boxes ticked – though with a four-second 0-60mph (97km/h) time and 600 horsepower (447kW) on tap, the dual-motor powertrain will do me just fine (given the $US6000 quad-motor option only increases power, not the speed limit).

Highlights of my spec include hero Rivian Blue paint ($US2500), the no-cost black interior, and just two optional extras: a manual tonneau cover for $US1800, and a home wallbox charger for $US750.

Weighing over 3200kg, with nearly as much power as a BMW M5, I’d like the stickiest tyres money can buy – so the set of 22-inch Sport Bright alloy wheels ($US2500) it is for me, wrapped in Pirelli all-season performance tyres.

All up, my spec totals $US86,550, or $AU115,000 – similar money to a well-optioned Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, or about two mid-spec Ford F-150 Lightning electric utes. Ouch.

Which Rivian configuration is your favourite? Spec your own on Rivian’s website, here.

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