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Electric truck startup Rivian has offered details on the interior of its first vehicle, the midsize R1T. It offers the expected luxuries, plus a few unexpected features like detachable flashlights and a camp speaker.
One of several new electric pickups
The Rivian R1T is emerging as a solidly midprice option in the growing stable of forthcoming electric pickups. It starts at $67,500, placing it above the Ford
F,
F-150 Lightning and Tesla
TSLA,
Cybertruck, but under the price of the GMC Hummer EV pickup. Rivian says the R1T is good for up to 400 miles of driving range (a claim the EPA has not yet tested).
(Cox Automotive, parent company of Kelley Blue Book, is one of several companies to have invested in Rivian.)
Impressive performance numbers
The R1T offers the rugged looks of a conventional pickup but promises on-road performance beyond what most trucks can claim. Rivian says it will manage a 0-60 mph sprint in about 3 seconds (with optional performance tires). The truck will tow up to 11,000 pounds, Rivian says.
“Adventure-proof” cabin
Inside, the R1T is lined with what the company calls “adventure proof” materials. They include water-resistant vegan leather seats and “quick-drying, lightweight Chilewich floor mats that can easily be removed, hosed off, and replaced in minutes.”
The rear seats include ISOFIX car seat anchors at all three positions.
High-tech entertainment features
A huge 16-inch touch-screen display controls entertainment and climate functions. The center console can charge two phones wirelessly. The cabin also boasts six USB-C charging points and two conventional household-style outlets.
The showstopping feature is a Meridian audio system. It was “specifically developed around the shape and materials in the R1T cabin.” At 1,400 watts, it “features 18 speakers spread throughout the cabin in key locations for an immersive, three-dimensional audio experience for everyone in the vehicle.”
See:Curious about EVs? Here are answers to common questions about electric cars
Wilderness-ready adventure package
An optional adventure package includes a detachable Bluetooth camp speaker and a detachable flashlight built into the driver-side door frame and recharges when stored there. The passenger-side door, Rivian says, “has a compartment that holds the optional 130-piece Rivian Field Kit, which includes emergency essentials like a rescue blanket, poncho, and fold-up shovel.”
In keeping with the adventure theme, Rivian notes that its panoramic roof blocks 99.9% of UV light. “If an equivalent sunscreen existed,” Rivian says, “it would have an SPF of 96,173.”
In late May, the company said it expected to begin first deliveries of the R1T this July.
This story originally ran on KBB.com.
