Photo: @RivianTrackr via X
Two days before the rumored launch day of the refreshed R1 models, Rivian is not shy about using the vehicles as rolling billboards. As social media posts reveal, people encountered R1 refresh prototypes in various locations. A new set of pictures shows previously unknown details about the updated R1 models.
Rivian is expected to formally announce the launch of the 2025 R1S and R1T models on June 6 during the Electric Summer Kick-Off event. The launch will happen simultaneously at Rivian Spaces across the US, although no vehicles are expected to be displayed. Instead, Rivian will offer presentations and visuals to show the changes. The good news is that deliveries are expected to debut immediately, so we'll soon see plenty of refreshed R1 vehicles on the roads.
While people wait anxiously for the big event, there's not a single day without new revelations about the refreshed R1S and R1T. Besides leaked information shared in the Rivian community circles on social media, we've also seen many pictures of Rivian R1S prototypes. This suggests that the R1T might not be a priority at this time. Indeed, demand for the R1S is through the roof, while deliveries of the R1T pickup truck have slowed significantly.
On Sunday, one lucky fan caught a refreshed R1S in a parking lot and parked his 2023 R1S next to it for a nice side-by-side picture. This revealed the subtle design changes Rivian brought to the R1 lineup, although some unknowns remained. A new set of images from Monday cleared some misunderstandings about the refreshed models.
One of the most intriguing things we've seen was the missing two hooks on previous R1S vehicles. Based on the new pictures, it appears that the presence (or absence) of the front tow hooks depends on the vehicle's trim. It's been speculated that Adventure trims will still come with tow hooks, whereas the Premium trims will not have them. A new side-by-side picture shows that Rivian also plans a "chrome-delete" option. In this case, the tow hooks are also black.
We've learned that the new wireless charging pad has a middle divider to allow two phones to charge simultaneously. However, we've only now got a picture of the new pad, and it doesn't look like Rivian used this opportunity to adopt the latest wireless charging tech. The divider will hopefully keep phones from sliding around while driving, but it doesn't feature Qi 2/MagSafe for proper alignment. Instead, it relies on the old Qi 1.x standard, often criticized for its lackluster performance.
The pictures reveal new details from the updated model's cabin. Rivian has replaced the mechanical door handles with an electric release button. Also, the speaker grille has a new design, although it's unclear whether the refreshed R1S features new speakers or is a design change. Sadly, there's no sign that Rivian will bring the new Halo Rollers steering wheel controls to the R1 lineup. Halo Rollers have been highly appreciated on the R2/R3/R3X prototypes.
While people wait anxiously for the big event, there's not a single day without new revelations about the refreshed R1S and R1T. Besides leaked information shared in the Rivian community circles on social media, we've also seen many pictures of Rivian R1S prototypes. This suggests that the R1T might not be a priority at this time. Indeed, demand for the R1S is through the roof, while deliveries of the R1T pickup truck have slowed significantly.
On Sunday, one lucky fan caught a refreshed R1S in a parking lot and parked his 2023 R1S next to it for a nice side-by-side picture. This revealed the subtle design changes Rivian brought to the R1 lineup, although some unknowns remained. A new set of images from Monday cleared some misunderstandings about the refreshed models.
One of the most intriguing things we've seen was the missing two hooks on previous R1S vehicles. Based on the new pictures, it appears that the presence (or absence) of the front tow hooks depends on the vehicle's trim. It's been speculated that Adventure trims will still come with tow hooks, whereas the Premium trims will not have them. A new side-by-side picture shows that Rivian also plans a "chrome-delete" option. In this case, the tow hooks are also black.
We've learned that the new wireless charging pad has a middle divider to allow two phones to charge simultaneously. However, we've only now got a picture of the new pad, and it doesn't look like Rivian used this opportunity to adopt the latest wireless charging tech. The divider will hopefully keep phones from sliding around while driving, but it doesn't feature Qi 2/MagSafe for proper alignment. Instead, it relies on the old Qi 1.x standard, often criticized for its lackluster performance.
The pictures reveal new details from the updated model's cabin. Rivian has replaced the mechanical door handles with an electric release button. Also, the speaker grille has a new design, although it's unclear whether the refreshed R1S features new speakers or is a design change. Sadly, there's no sign that Rivian will bring the new Halo Rollers steering wheel controls to the R1 lineup. Halo Rollers have been highly appreciated on the R2/R3/R3X prototypes.
Close ups pic.twitter.com/Z0vQqQriBQ
— Chad Moran (@ChadMoran) June 3, 2024
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