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Rivian overhauled the R1S and R1T to entice new buyers ahead of cheaper R2 launch

The company has revamped the inner workings of its electric SUV and pickup truck in a bid to reach profitability -- and make them much faster.

The result of Rivian’s second-generation reboot is an all-electric truck and SUV with improved ride quality, more powerful drivetrain options and other bells and whistles, including an electronically tinted sunroof and a so-called “launch mode” that can catapult the new R1T quad-motor trim from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in less than 2.5 heart-pumping seconds. Rivian has left the exterior of the second-generation R1 line mostly untouched — with the exception of a new lighting feature that provides a charging status bar across the front, Storm Blue paint color and wheels — a decision that executives told TechCrunch was intentional. Rivian rounds out its offerings with a quad-motor max pack trim, which delivers an eye-popping 1,025 horsepower, 1,198 pound-feet of torque and an off-the-line to 60 mph acceleration time of less than 2.5 seconds when using the so-called “launch mode” feature.

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