Given that, I would probably skip the Michelin tire setup. But that made the truck impressive. Acceleration was a real eye-opening, as you would expect, while the possibility of seamless electricity on every wheel if needed, resulted in a reliability-inspiring machine when clearing the traffic. Only the complete lack of steering feedback bundled the pleasure, but the R1T Quad engine is much more attractive on the road than a truck that has this size.
Time to get dirty.
Credit: Rivian
But it became even nicer when the road ended.
Rolling dirty
The second half of my time behind the wheel was spent in an R1S quad engine equipped with the more aggressive Pirelli Scorpion tires. That SUV with three rows brought me up and over some amazingly difficult terrain, including a pure rock wall that would need a ladder on foot.
Over loose gravel and difficult articulations, the new quad showed its ability to lean with grip on those tires, while quickly cutting the power to those hanging in the air. This is the type of traction management at the next level that the locking of differentials surpasses and makes an R1 quad engine a cinch to drive even the most extreme site.
It was also easy to go. On loose surfaces, with the rain set to maximum and the central display of the SUV with the output of the individual engines, I could see how each angle of the vehicle raised its rain or down to match the available grip. The result was a clean, straight descent.
Tire choice is very important.
Credit: Tim Stevens
The quad engine is even easy to turn around in tight spaces. The original refueling of Rivian, return, now renamed and expanded as the kick turn, which allows 360-degree spins on loose surfaces or even tail drain around sleek corners. The process of enabling this mode is a bit awkward, so you have to hold buttons on the handlebars at the same time with both thumbs to indicate the spiny. But if this is off-road at least, this helps to make up for the constant lack of rear control of the R1.
At the end of the day I was really not sure if I was more impressed by the on-road or off-road possibilities of Rivian's new quad engine machines. That spectrum of performance makes the top-board R1 series unique, an addictive mix of supercar speed and super truck capacities.
