Rivian registers the name R1X, and speculation is growing about a possible high-performance version of the R1S

A recent post on the main user forum for Rivian has revealed that the American company obtained, a few months ago, registration from the United States Patent and Trademark Office of the name R1X for a possible future electric model. This discovery has quickly led many to speculate about the possible launch of a high-performance version of the brand’s electric SUV, the R1S.

Rivian presented a new compact SUV called the R3 at the beginning of this March, but it didn’t stop there, also announcing a high-performance version of this model which it named R3X. Given this precedent, it is quite evident that the launch of a new model with the name R1X should also correspond to a high-performance version of the company’s Premium SUV.

Apparently, the American manufacturer filed the application to register the name R1X in 2021, so it has been in the works for a while. However, it was not until last October that it received favorable confirmation from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The application was, moreover, filed in November 2021 by a subsidiary of Rivian Automotive known as Rivian IP Holdings; so the whole process was carried out until its approval over a period of almost two years.

Better not to get ahead of ourselves

Although many fans of the company dream of the SUV R1X becoming a reality, it must be made quite clear that registering this name in no way means that this is going to happen. Quite a few manufacturers make this kind of registration to secure the option of naming a future model with a particular set of initials, and ultimately end up leaving that registration on file.

The Rivian R1S already features four electric motors, one for each wheel, which together deliver 615 kW of power and 1,230 Nm of torque. These technical specifications allow it to reach 100 km/h from a standstill in just over 3 seconds. Not bad for an SUV that weighs a little over 3,000 kilograms on the scales. It is therefore fair to ask whether a high-performance version that substantially improves these figures would really make sense.