New R1T High End Offering in the Offing?

[Max]

I have not read the thread so sorry if this has been mentioned; my concern is when new folks after March 1st make reservations with price bump, Rivian will have a lot of incentive to start delivery to them ahead of many of us while adjusting our delivery time. The more of those they get, the less how we feel about it matters. I know after current PR disaster, this is unthinkable but it is hard to justify to the investors why the hard to get batteries and chips are going to lower margin vehicles. High price R1s will come with NDAs standard.

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[mkg3]

The problem is that many people have a different definition of luxury vehicle to compare to. Its more than a feature set alone

I like simple without lot of frills and cosmetics. I don't need a back massager seats, rear seat foot rest, color changing dash panel or ambient lighting. Not knocking those things - just that I don't need it or want it.

For something to be luxurious, need better materials (e.g., Napa leather seats but we are all supposed to like vegan leather so there goes that...), craftsmanship (e.g., handcrafted - which introduces more errors so more precise robots assembling it??), finishes that goes beyond the ordinary (wait, I've read countless responses about gaps and fit on this forum...), and superior to competitors in terms of performance (certainly not in terms of cost of ownership for maintenance and repair).

I often see Lambo, Aston Martin, Bentley and RR SUVs these days. No thanks. I read that the first EV Ferrari and Lotus are both SUVs. For some reason, I can justify in my mind $250K 2 seater sports car but not SUV... Why? Here lies the last part of luxury equation. Its exclusivity. SUVs are more popular, practical and makes sense for most people compared to 2 seater; hence, significantly larger sales volume.

So Rivian luxury SUV/Truck? You do recall that RJ started out wanting to design a sports car right? He was convinced to pivot to SUV and trucks for volume and business success. So why would they bring something that's more distraction than making the company healthier? Clearly, Rivian is not an established luxury brand today - maybe someday but not today...

 

[crashmtb]

I would have been game for a R1S XL that sat in top of a R1T chassis. Max pack, 11k lbs of towing, count me in!

Someone made a composite of this from configurator images. It was spot on. Floating around the forum somewhere

 

[Scott]

More power seems crazy to me. RJ was quoted as saying that they are already having problems providing any more torque based on what the wheels can effectively transfer to the ground without slippage. Obviously there are tires that allow for that, but often times they sacrifice other performance factors (wet traction, off road performance, etc)

And if you NEED more than 0-60 in 3 seconds, your interest likely lies more in a sports car than a truck / SUV. Not saying that nobody is interested in more power. Just likely that the market is small.

I think Rivian's mission involves getting more buts in EV seats. They move downmarket before they move up

 

[Davethadog]

Not going to be happy with a 90k car that needs more noise control. One of the defining characteristics of the cars Rivian is said to have benchmarked. And those were ICE vehicles.

I mean I was just in an r1t today and it could definitely still be quieter.

 

[IHScout]

I don’t need it, but it sure seems like an efficient way to get more revenue out of the R1T platform. I assume that would be like a Tahoe vs. Suburban setup where the rear doors have a wheel well notch for the smaller (current R1S) one and are straight on the R1T-based XL?

OMG, maybe they could even fit a full-size spare on board then!

Haha! @SoCal Rob you just liked my post because you know how many kids I have to haul around!

I think it would be easily doable, and would spread out costs like you said.

Maybe one day....

 

[IHScout]

Someone made a composite of this from configurator images. It was spot on. Floating around the forum somewhere

I loved the way it looked

 

[No.92]

But seriously, how often would you use that winch?

 

[Rivian_Hugh_III]

I loved the way it looked

With a little magic you might be able to squeeze a gear tunnel and a third row of seats in that bad boy.

 

[crashmtb]

I have not read the thread so sorry if this has been mentioned; my concern is when new folks after March 1st make reservations with price bump, Rivian will have a lot of incentive to start delivery to them ahead of many of us while adjusting our delivery time.

this will only occur if they learned absolutely nothing from the way they handled price changes. If they were to do that they’d lose all of their good will with people who’ve had preorders in place for years at this point.


That‘s suicide for their brand.

 

[SoCal Rob]

I loved the way it looked

I wouldn’t want to take it off road, but I absolutely love the way that looks!

 

[crashmtb]

I wouldn’t want to take it off road, but I absolutely love the way that looks!

That’s the same wheelbase as R1T.
Someone just combined R1T with R1S configurator images. In whatever thread it was originally it was an animation. I can’t find it though.

 

[SoCal Rob]

That’s the same wheelbase as R1T.
Someone just combined R1T with R1S configurator images. In whatever thread it was originally it was an animation. I can’t find it though.

I understand, but the break over angle, increased turning circle, and overall length would make things more challenging on some trails. Versus a regular R1S, that is.

edit: clarity

 

[crashmtb]

I understand, but the break over angle, increased turning circle, and overall length would make things more challenging on some trails. Versus a regular R1S, that is.

edit: clarity

Fair points. Worth noting the R1T’s breakover is only a degree less than that of a 4 door jeep wrangler rubicon. Pretty good for something so long.

id rather take a R1T wheelbase version of an R1S offroad than a Tahoe or something ?

 

[SoCal Rob]

The problem is that many people have a different definition of luxury vehicle to compare to. Its more than a feature set alone

I like simple without lot of frills and cosmetics. I don't need a back massager seats, rear seat foot rest, color changing dash panel or ambient lighting. Not knocking those things - just that I don't need it or want it.

For something to be luxurious, need better materials (e.g., Napa leather seats but we are all supposed to like vegan leather so there goes that...), craftsmanship (e.g., handcrafted - which introduces more errors so more precise robots assembling it??), finishes that goes beyond the ordinary (wait, I've read countless responses about gaps and fit on this forum...), and superior to competitors in terms of performance (certainly not in terms of cost of ownership for maintenance and repair).

I often see Lambo, Aston Martin, Bentley and RR SUVs these days. No thanks. I read that the first EV Ferrari and Lotus are both SUVs. For some reason, I can justify in my mind $250K 2 seater sports car but not SUV... Why? Here lies the last part of luxury equation. Its exclusivity. SUVs are more popular, practical and makes sense for most people compared to 2 seater; hence, significantly larger sales volume.

So Rivian luxury SUV/Truck? You do recall that RJ started out wanting to design a sports car right? He was convinced to pivot to SUV and trucks for volume and business success. So why would they bring something that's more distraction than making the company healthier? Clearly, Rivian is not an established luxury brand today - maybe someday but not today...

I think that features don’t define luxury, but their absence is notable when comparing to other luxury vehicles. However, when features are missing which are available in much less expensive cars then I start to question luxury.

For quality of materials the vegan “leather” is a disappointment but apparently acceptable in today’s marketplace.

I completely agree that a coupe or convertible is easier to justify as luxury. For me it’s for a few reasons.

First, I never saw trucks as aspirational when growing up and when I started driving in the mid-‘80s. Maybe it’s not the age thing I think it is but I think younger people don’t have this issue.

Next, luxury is almost diametrically opposed to necessity/utility in my mind and trucks/SUVs are about utility. I mean, Utility is literally part of SUV. Luxury addresses wants beyond mere needs to me.

Finally, as you mentioned, exclusivity is key and coupes and convertibles are much rarer new purchases than trucks and SUVs these days.

I was briefly looking at alternatives earlier this week for some reason I don’t recall. I settled on a Defender 90 (2-door) because the lack of utility and rarity made it feel a little more special to me.

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