Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has announced an upcoming option for owners of its standard dual motor models, the R1T and R1S. This new over-the-air (OTA) update will boost their vehicles' horsepower to 665.

A post on the Rivian Forums announced the news but limited details are known at this stage. The upgrade reduces the 0 to 60 mph acceleration time from 4.5 seconds to 3.5 seconds. 

Rivian's dual motor configurations currently offer a standard model with 533 horsepower and a performance version at 665 horsepower. However, the new $5,000 OTA Performance Pack enables existing standard dual motor owners to upgrade without needing a new purchase. This decision plays a significant role in helping owners keep their upgraded vehicle's total cost under the $80,000 limit for the federal EV tax credit.

An example given by Rivian illustrates the potential savings: a standard Dual Motor R1T with a large battery pack originally priced at $84,000 becomes eligible for a $7,500 tax credit after applying the performance upgrade and readjusting the price to $79,000 post-purchase. This strategic pricing keeps it under the threshold required for federal tax incentives.

Currently, Rivian also offers discounts on large battery packages for its dual motor models, amounting to savings of up to $6,000. Owners opting for either Performance Dual Motor or Quad Motor configurations can enjoy a discount of $4,000.

Source: Rivian Forums 

Евгений Ушаков
Evgenii Ushakov
15 years driving