Some R1 refresh mechanical info from a Rivian service tech, announcement next week?

[ChargeSetGo]

Hi all,

Usual disclaimer: As always take this info with a grain of salt since it's information/opinion shared by a tech I talked to recently. I also may have misunderstood things or may be misremembering.

I dropped off my R1S recently and had a chance to talk to a tech. I brought up the refresh and he gave me some info that was new to me and couldn't find after a quick search on r/Rivian and on rivianforums.

• Refresh is being launched next week. (!!!) I assume he means that it will be announced next week.
• They had a refresh R1S in the shop for a while and the techs already have all the information on servicing it, etc.
• Working on the refresh seems to be better/easier from the techs' perspective. Maybe it's because of less wiring, etc.
• In his opinion the suspension and ride quality is noticeably better. I failed to ask if this was due to mechanical changes or just software.
• Motor noise is much quieter. I think he mentioned the noise dampening is better, rather than the motor having different design, etc.
• New AC compressor, quieter and better in general.
• Pricing on the dual motors should be same/similar, but the quad motors will be more expensive. Quad motor version not ready yet.

He also mentioned exterior differences, heat pump, wireless charger, and new battery, but I think these were already known with recently leaked photos and documents.

Before I left I asked the ultimate question... knowing what he knows now about both versions, if he were to buy a R1S right now, which would he choose? He said he felt bad for saying this (I mentioned I owned the car for just over 2 months), but definitely the refresh. I feel like this carries some weight coming from someone who knows firsthand a lot about the mechanical changes in the refresh.

With all this said, I heard 80% of new features will be passed down to pre-refresh vehicles. I could only guess here but maybe the suspension and the better ride feel that the tech mentioned could just be a software update. I should have asked more in detail if the suspension/motor changes are all hardware or not.

I'm definitely happy with my R1S but I thought I'd share and add to the refresh hype and maybe help some people with their decisions.

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[kurtlikevonnegut]

The bit about the quad being more makes me wonder if they are going to make QM only available with the premium trim.

 

[Kidentist]

Oh well......

 

[monzarottie]

The bit about the quad being more makes me wonder if they are going to make QM only available with the premium trim.

or Enduro

 

[R1SFamilyGuy]

The tri motor is probably going to be Enduro. Everyone who ones one enjoys the quad but it will probably be a true flagship variant that they stop making..

just spitballing here

 

[DuoRivians]

I’m waiting for the refresh R1S

 

[ukyank]

I’d be more disappointed if he told you he would choose the pre-refresh. We need the company to succeed & that doesn’t happen if they are not improving/selling more vehicles

 

[MidnightRivian]

I would like to see the quad motor come out with 1200 HP and higher speed limit.

 

[Dark-Fx]

or Enduro

Bosch (Origin) is out already. Ascent is the new quad drive program. I know no details on the motors but I am really hoping to see some of Rivian's drivetrain patents make their way into these drives. They should be more costly if so.

 

[ChargeSetGo]

I’d be more disappointed if he told you he would choose the pre-refresh. We need the company to succeed & that doesn’t happen if they are not improving/selling more vehicles

I guess I haven't thought about it that way! I agree that things improving is good for the company and as a result for the customers. Just a bit of FOMO on the new features but overall I am very happy with my R1S already.

 

[riviatl]

What obviously sucks the most about this is that they really didn't start mass-delivering R1S vehicles until about a year ago, so even though it was first demoed in 2018, they're launching significant refreshes in just a year. I know cars historically had model year changes, but year to year isn't generally that significant. This seems like a 3-4 year mid-cycle refresh.

 

[R1Guest]

I think that’s a pretty standard answer. I’ve felt like all the iPhones have operated relatively the same the past 8 years. That doesn’t mean the latest one isn’t technically the best option. Incremental upgrades usually be better. It doesn’t necessarily mean the old one isn’t nearly as good or noticeably different.

 

[SlaterGS]

NGL I'm tempted to sell my quad and buy a dual refresh just for the upgraded AC and heatpump.

 

[jebinc]

Hi all,

Usual disclaimer: As always take this info with a grain of salt since it's information/opinion shared by a tech I talked to recently. I also may have misunderstood things or may be misremembering.

I dropped off my R1S recently and had a chance to talk to a tech. I brought up the refresh and he gave me some info that was new to me and couldn't find after a quick search on r/Rivian and on rivianforums.

• Refresh is being launched next week. (!!!) I assume he means that it will be announced next week.
• They had a refresh R1S in the shop for a while and the techs already have all the information on servicing it, etc.
• Working on the refresh seems to be better/easier from the techs' perspective. Maybe it's because of less wiring, etc.
• In his opinion the suspension and ride quality is noticeably better. I failed to ask if this was due to mechanical changes or just software.
• Motor noise is much quieter. I think he mentioned the noise dampening is better, rather than the motor having different design, etc.
• New AC compressor, quieter and better in general.
• Pricing on the dual motors should be same/similar, but the quad motors will be more expensive. Quad motor version not ready yet.

He also mentioned exterior differences, heat pump, wireless charger, and new battery, but I think these were already known with recently leaked photos and documents.

Before I left I asked the ultimate question... knowing what he knows now about both versions, if he were to buy a R1S right now, which would he choose? He said he felt bad for saying this (I mentioned I owned the car for just over 2 months), but definitely the refresh. I feel like this carries some weight coming from someone who knows firsthand a lot about the mechanical changes in the refresh.

With all this said, I heard 80% of new features will be passed down to pre-refresh vehicles. I could only guess here but maybe the suspension and the better ride feel that the tech mentioned could just be a software update. I should have asked more in detail if the suspension/motor changes are all hardware or not.

I'm definitely happy with my R1S but I thought I'd share and add to the refresh hype and maybe help some people with their decisions.

I wonder if the nice R2 steering wheel will make its debut? Hoping it can be retrofitted onto existing R1s!

 

[R1Thor]

Everyone upset they're missing out on the refresh:
Don't buy the refresh.

It's a terrible idea.

Because you know, at some point, they'll refresh the refresh! And you'll miss out on that one!!!!! (THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!--but not yours, theirs. The 'refresh' of your children, if you will... )

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