Rivian makes changes to its models and surprises with a downgrade

Electric models are something relatively new, and for that reason they are subject to many changes that can alter their configuration and how they are used. That is why it does not surprise us that Rivian has introduced quite significant changes to its two initial models, the R1S and the R1T. The update planned for 2025 has brought quite a few changes, and some of them have been quite surprising.

These changes are supposed to improve the performance and usability of the models, so the 2025 models will adapt to these changes, which are surprising but which we assume have been made to make driving these electric models more comfortable and practical.

Major changes at Rivian

Among these major changes, we find that the battery of the base versions is being replaced. This means they will no longer fit the 105.9 kWh batteries; the new ones, made of lithium iron phosphate (LFP), will have a capacity of 92.5 kWh. This may be offset by the lower weight of the battery, which drops from 796 kg to 727 kg.

This battery has not yet undergone homologation tests, so its range is not known exactly. Rivian has announced that the model equipped with 20-inch wheels will be able to cover up to 612 kilometres in urban driving and up to 528 kilometres on the highway.

If those same vehicles use 22-inch wheels, the range can be up to 652 kilometres in the city and up to 547 kilometres on the highway. Obviously, these results were obtained with the vehicles moving on a controlled circuit, so the data is not entirely reliable and these figures will surely be reduced considerably.

Charging power remains at up to 210 kW, although the ACS charger fitted as standard, which allows use of the Tesla Supercharger network, will remain optional and will not be standard on both models. There are, however, other quite interesting changes in both Rivian models.

The standard heat pump, besides offering a new location for the air-conditioning compressor, improves their performance. Two versions of the 22-inch wheels are debuting, “Performance” and “Aero“, which help the vehicle’s aerodynamic efficiency. As for the 21-inch wheels, these have been withdrawn and are no longer offered, leaving only the 20- and 22-inch options.

As for the exterior, there are no visible changes, at least in the images released so far, which show the bodywork covered in camouflage that hides the details of the bodywork. The launch date of this update is not yet known,