Rivian’s upcoming refreshed R1S electric SUV has just been spotted while testing in Michigan ahead of its looming official debut in the United States.
Prototype spotted hints at design and potential feature changes
Rivian Forums member DrBluey shared on the online community his recent sighting of the updated R1S in a parking lot in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
It was sitting beside an older R1T model, revealing Rivian’s strategy of tweaking the architecture while maintaining the formula. The updated electric SUV will have lesser weight owing to its lighter battery.
It will also benefit from reduced road noise and heat pumps to improve its cooling capability.
Spy shot details
As you can notice in the spy shots, the refreshed Rivian R1S has a new headlight design. Its horizontal light bar now sports a sharper look and redesigned vertical oval lights. The Rivian logo has also been moved to the bottom of the headlight housing.
The revamped R1S’ rear seems unchanged. However, the new wheels and different door handle design are noticeable.
Inside, it maintained the same steering wheel shape. Interestingly, DrBluey also claims to have noticed some modifications to the charging pad showing an update. It will also have updated cameras and potentially new ADAS features.
This spied unit is highly likely the new “premium” trim as hinted by the absence of tow hooks in front and large new wheels.
Technical changes
Previous leaks revealed that Rivian will reduce the weight of the current R1 models by 150 lbs owing to its new 105.9 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
The company has yet to confirm if the R1S will have faster charging speeds. A tri-motor configuration could also debut either with the refreshed R1S or sometime later this year.
However, the integration of the Tesla NACs port remains unclear. Rivian may be planning to include the new port later this year as it previously announced plans to replace the CCS plug with all EVs introduced after 2025.
Rivian is expected to unveil the refreshed R1S and R1T models on June 6 to coincide with its Electric Summer Kick-Off event.
