Wild Rivian R1X off-road performance EV still on track

Fresh reports overseas suggest a faster, wilder, off-road racing-inspired Rivian R1X is still on track to join the current Rivian R1T ute and R1S SUV.

Set to feature chunkier styling, bigger wheels, a higher ride height and a bespoke off-road-biased suspension tune, news of the Rivian R1X first surfaced back in 2021, when it was among a variety of nameplates registered by the US electric car-maker in its home market – and Australia.

More recently, patent images have surfaced via the US Patent and Trademark Office as the application process continues, which doesn’t mean Rivian will go ahead and build the hard-core X-rated model/s – but is clearly considering the case.

The developments come as Ford continues to study the prospect of a Ford F-150 Lightning Raptor, as shown by its recent Switchgear EV concept from Ford Performance.

There’s no word yet on just how much power the new high-performance Rivian model would boast, but it’s thought to be even more than the current quad-motor version that pushes out a remarkable 623kW and 1231Nm of torque.

Recently, the US brand signalled its intention to branch out into the performance market with the surprise reveal of the incoming Rivian R3X, which features a triple-motor powertrain that can send the mid-size crossover from 0-97km/h (60mph) in less than three seconds.

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