Rivian R1T no longer available with Max battery plus quad motor drivetrain

Anyone looking to buy the Rivian R1T electric pickup truck with the available quad motor powertrain and 180kWh Max Pack battery will be disappointed as the configuration is no longer available. This only applies to the pickup as the Max package was never available for the related R1S SUV.

This also applies to R1T pre-orderers, who were informed by letter this week that they need to switch to a different configuration. The Max Pack battery can still be configured with the standard dual-motor drivetrain, while the quad-motor drivetrain can still be configured with the 135kWh Large Pack battery. In both cases the final price is reduced.

Rivian said the change will help simplify the production process as the company continues to increase the number.

Rivian also said the Max Pack battery will be available at a later date in combination with a quad-motor drivetrain with “additional capabilities”. While pre-orderers also have the option to wait for this new configuration, the delivery time may take a while. Pre-order holders willing to opt for one of the existing configurations could see their pickup truck delivered as early as 2023, Rivian said.

Rivian is also preparing an increase in performance for the dual-motor drive train of the R1T and R1S. Rivian will announce a software tweak in January that is expected to boost power to around 700 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque, compared to the current 600 hp and 600 lb-ft. The power increase is also expected to reduce the 0-60 mph time of dual motor models from 4.5 seconds to 3.5 seconds.

The increase in performance will only be available for new orders, at least initially.