Neither the Rivian R1T pickup or R1S SUV have hit
the production line yet, but the start-up has already confirmed that it’s
working on a third model with a greater focus on off-roading. While recently scoping out Rivian’s Michigan
headquarters, Carscoops spy photographers were able to snap some images of a Rivian
R1T pre-production model being driven around. Of more interest, however, is the
body of a mysterious model that can be seen in the background.
The blue vehicle appears to be a seating buck of an
all-new Rivian model. Likely made from plywood and painted foam, or maybe clay,
it appears to show the bodywork design. It might be just a prototype and not
the finished item, but its styling is much different to the R1T and R1S. For
example, it clearly features four doors and has a more curvaceous roof design
than both the R1T and R1S. In addition, a protruding front wheel arch is
visible.
Rivian itself hasn’t gone into details about its
third model other than confirming that it will have a shorter wheelbase than
the R1S and offer an increased ground clearance. Company founder and chief
executive RJ Scarnige also claims that the vehicle will offer “bananas”
off-road performance.
Of course, we’ll have to wait until the R1T and R1S
hit the market before we see the, as yet unnamed, off-roader. The good news is
that Rivian has secured a healthy cash injection thanks to Amazon, so it should
avoid the pitfalls other electric startups have encountered and which has led
to many of them closing shop.
