RIVIAN IS TRYING TO PROVE EVS CAN BE SERIOUS FUN
Rivian is entering a new chapter, and the setting could hardly be more dramatic. On the frozen landscape of Montana, the American electric vehicle manufacturer is preparing to introduce a new high-performance division called the Rivian Adventure Department, shortened to RAD. With this move, Rivian is openly positioning itself alongside legendary performance arms such as BMW’s M division and Mercedes AMG.
The debut location was not chosen by accident. The FAT Ice Race in Big Sky, Montana, will serve as the stage where Rivian plans to demonstrate just how far it intends to push its vehicles.
Motorsport As A Development Laboratory
Motorsport has long served as a laboratory on wheels. In extreme environments, where traction, durability, and engineering limits are constantly tested, teams discover solutions that cannot easily be replicated in traditional testing facilities. Rivian understands this dynamic well.
The young electric vehicle manufacturer already tasted success in 2023 when it won the Rebelle Rally, one of the toughest off-road navigation rallies in the United States. Lessons learned during that demanding desert event were later translated into a new driving mode known as Desert Rally.
That same year, Rivian also appeared at the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, where it set a record for the fastest production electric pickup to complete the course. The company improved that record again in 2024.
Those experiences directly influenced the creation of the RAD Tuner. This software tool allows drivers to fine-tune how power is distributed across the drivetrain while adjusting torque balance, stability settings, and regenerative braking behavior. The RAD acronym has evolved beyond the name of a development team. It now represents Rivian’s broader philosophy of tailoring vehicles to the terrain ahead.
From Engineering Team To Full Division
Encouraged by these motorsport successes, Rivian has expanded what began as a small group of engineers into a full performance-oriented division. In keeping with Rivian’s adventurous brand identity, RAD will make its public debut on snow and ice.
The FAT Ice Race, a festival celebrating car culture, is crossing the Atlantic for the first time and arriving in Big Sky. The event blends historic and modern vehicles with design, music, and community activities, all centered around racing on snow-covered courses. It provides a fitting backdrop for Rivian to showcase the extreme side of its electric adventure vehicles.
Taking part in the action will be a second-generation R1S equipped with Rivian’s quad-motor powertrain, wearing the distinctive colors of the RAD division. The goal is to demonstrate what an electric SUV can do when performance development becomes the priority.
The R2 Takes Center Stage
The race itself is only part of a much broader strategy. Rivian will also use the same event to begin its promotional campaign for the upcoming R2, a model widely viewed as one of the most important vehicles in the company’s future lineup.
A prototype R2 wearing the new RAD branding will be displayed to the public during the event, even though it will not compete in the race. The message is clear. RAD is not simply a motorsport project. It could eventually represent the top tier of Rivian’s lineup, potentially delivering extreme versions that go beyond today’s performance packages across the brand’s vehicles.
The official unveiling of the R2 is scheduled for March 12 at the South by Southwest festival in Texas. That presentation will reveal the vehicle’s full specifications, available options, and pricing. Order reservations are expected to open at nearly the same time, although early access to the online configurator will likely be offered first to customers who already hold reservations, similar to the process Rivian used for the R1.
Software At The Heart Of Rivian Performance
One of the clearest signals that Rivian is serious about performance development comes from the RAD Tuner itself. The software acts like a digital equalizer for the vehicle’s drivetrain, allowing owners of quad motor R1 models to adjust ten separate parameters. These include power distribution, steering weight, wheel slip behavior, suspension firmness, and other key elements of vehicle dynamics.
Drivers can also select specialized modes such as Hill Climb and Desert Rally, both derived from real-world competition setups used during the Pikes Peak climb and the Rebelle Rally. Owners are even able to save custom driving profiles tailored to their personal preferences.
“RAD is where we push our vehicles to their limits,” said Luke Lynch, chief engineer for the R1 program. “We test them in extreme environments, from climbs that reach 14,100 feet at Pikes Peak to the demanding desert stages of the Rebelle Rally. Competition is only part of the story. The other part is the rigorous validation of every system, component, and algorithm.”
Rivian has made it clear that RAD will represent more than just hardware and software development. The division will also serve as the company’s presence at events that celebrate automotive passion and performance culture.
How far this new performance arm will ultimately go remains to be seen. The company is already preparing a three-motor version of the R2, which only adds to the anticipation.
One thing is certain. Rivian no longer wants to simply participate in the conversation about performance. With the RAD badge, it intends to lead it.
This article originally appeared on Autorepublika.com and has been republished with permission by Guessing Headlights. AI-assisted translation was used, followed by human editing and review.
Read More 2026-03-09T11:35:45Z
