Rivian Teases Something Mysterious, R1T Related in New Photos
The automaker has released four images in total ahead of the February 19 event, with no hints or explanation available in the caption. The first features a line of off-road tire tracks across a rippled sand surface; the second shows protrusions at the ridge of a dune; the third highlights an R1T close up in black and white; the final image features a tall dune as shot from a distance through the brand's beloved gear tunnel. On their own, the images don't do a ton to hint at what might be coming — but that's not to say there are no existing clues.
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— Rivian (@Rivian) February 11, 2025
The 2025 model year saw the introduction of the heavily updated second generation of R1S and R1T models. That said, the brand has yet to roll out the Quad-motor variants of the new R1 platform for customers. Those models will provide buyers with 1025 hp and 1198 lb-ft of torque, gains of 190 hp and 290 lb-ft over the previous Quad. (I can confirm that it is a rapid truck, having posted a 2.89-second 0-60-mph sprint on the way to a 10.89 second ¼-mile pass in a pre-production unit at Pacific Raceways outside of Seattle. Rivian thinks the production trucks will run closer to 2.5 seconds and 10.5 seconds, respectively.) Given that the other MY2025 variants have been on sale for a few months now, the range-topper's arrival would not come as a surprise.
There's a much less exciting possibility pointed to in the photos, however. During Unreal Fest Seattle 2024, keen-eyed viewers spotted a previously unannounced exterior color during a technical breakdown of the Unreal Engine-based Rivian interface. That hue was called California Dune, a name that fits rather well with the images at hand. That's particularly true if you take the black and white exterior shot and final dune highlight together as a series. A sandy hue will be a departure from the existing tones on offer, and is fitting for an off-road vehicles.
It's entirely possible that Rivian will use the launch of the Quad Motor to show off the new exterior color, but at the very least, we suspect California Dune is almost certainly coming on February 19. We won't have to wait long for the update from Rivian, but here's hoping we get some hardware to drool over in addition to some fresh paint.
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