Rivian R1S Dual-Motor Max Pack Promises 390 Miles of Range

Due out in the fall, it’ll increase the available range for the R1S by about 20% and hit 60 mph in less than 4 seconds.

byCaleb Jacobs|
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There are so many Rivian R1T and R1S variants it's hard to keep track of them all. Now, there's another one coming in the form of an R1S SUV that sports Rivian's Max Pack battery and dual-motor all-wheel drive. It'll apparently be good for 700 pound-feet of torque and roughly 390 miles of range, making it the top-flight option if the latter is your main concern.

Currently, the Rivian R1S maxes out with 321 miles of range in Large Pack, quad-motor spec. That rig is more potent with more than 800 horsepower and more than 900 pound-feet of torque, but it's not like this new R1S is lacking. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe claims it'll be capable of hitting 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, which is more than impressive for a three-row SUV.

This Max Pack, dual-motor R1S was first mentioned in Rivian's Q4 2022 shareholders letter, so we already knew it was in the plans. It's slated to reach production this fall, which gives Rivian a few months to properly source all the necessary components for this fresh spec. What's more, it's a deadline the new automaker desperately needs to hit if it wants to avoid backlash from order holders.

There's more than one Rivian customer out there upset that they won't receive the Max Pack, quad-motor EV they were promised years ago. It was the originally intended flagship spec for the R1T and R1S that was subsequently canceled in December 2022. Rivian says it decided to remove that spec to simplify production as it scales up its manufacturing operations, though that wasn't enough for some agitated would-be buyers. There's no telling if the new Max Pack, dual-motor R1S will satisfy them, but it'll have to be because Rivian has made it clear that's the top offering it will provide in 2023.

Pricing for the long-range R1S isn't yet available, but I imagine it'll be somewhere close to the Large Pack, quad-motor model. That spec starts around $92,000 so no, this isn't likely to surprise you with its affordable sticker. Instead, it's an electric take on luxury and adventure that's similar to a GMC Yukon AT4, just with way more power.

Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@thedrive.com

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