Rivian's Desert Mirage: 850 HP R1T and R1S California Dune Edition
Image Credit: Rivian.
Just when you thought the electric vehicle world couldn't get any more… well, electric, Rivian decides to throw a sandstorm into the mix. Literally. They've just unveiled the California Dune Edition of their R1T pickup and R1S SUV. We've seen some questionable automotive trends over the years - remember when everyone thought spoilers on hatchbacks were a good idea? - but this… this one me likey. A lot.
The color is called "California Dune." It's… sandy. Shockingly so. I half expected to find a miniature Joshua Tree growing out of the dashboard. It seems Rivian's design team took a trip to Death Valley, scooped up a few tons of dirt, mixed it with paint, and proclaimed, "There! That's it!" And honestly? It kinda works. It's certainly distinctive. You definitely won't lose this thing in a parking lot, unless that parking lot happens to be in the Sahara.
Image Credit: Rivian.
Rivian being Rivian, they haven't just slapped on a new coat of paint and called it a day. They've gone full "desert survivalist" on this thing. You get special 20-inch wheels with an appropriate set of rubbers. They've also thrown in an All-Terrain Package, which includes an air compressor and underbody protection. And if you happen to get stuck in said desert, there are even Maxtrax recovery boards mounted on the roof. Nothing says "I'm prepared for anything" like strapping a pair of oversized plastic planks to your $100,000 electric vehicle.
But all that is just a dress-up party. The really interesting things are happening in the empower department. This beast comes with a tri-motor powertrain. That's one motor in the front and two in the back. Rivian claims this setup produces a monstrous 850 horsepower and over 1,100 lb-ft of torque. They say it'll do 0-60 mph in a blistering 2.9 seconds. Which is ludicrous in a vehicle this size. I'm picturing some poor desert tortoise getting absolutely flattened by a two-and-a-half-ton electric pickup doing a quarter-mile run.
And the range? Rivian claims 329 miles on a single charge. In the real world, that probably translates to about 250 miles if you're actually using that horsepower to do anything. Still, not bad for an EV that weighs as much as a small bungalow.
The California Dune Edition gets a special "Adventure" interior. Which, as far as I can tell, means they've used a lot of cream and black leather. And some dark ash wood trim. They've also added some stylish Chilewich floor mats, just in case you track in a lot of sand after your desert expedition.
Now, for the price. Look - no one has ever said Rivian was building cheap cars. The R1T California Dune Edition starts at $99,900. The R1S SUV version will set you back a slightly more eye-watering $105,900. So, yeah, it's not exactly a budget-friendly option. You could probably buy a decent used sports car and a small camper van for that kind of money. But do you really need practicality when you can have a sand-colored electric truck with enough power to launch itself into orbit?
I'm not entirely sure what to make of this thing. It's ridiculous, it's over-the-top, and it's probably completely unnecessary. But… I kinda love it. Rivian took all the stereotypes about electric vehicles being boring and sensible and threw them out the window. And replaced them with a giant, sand-colored middle finger to convention.
Image Credit: Rivian.
So, would I trade my trusty petrol-powered steed for one of these electric desert cruisers? Not yet, but we are getting much, much closer to that day. Too close for my comfort. But if I ever find myself stranded in the Mojave Desert with a broken-down camel and a sudden urge to do 0-60 in under three seconds, I know what I'd be calling for.
