Watch now: Rivian, Normal's economic rebound featured on 'Today Show'

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Great article and video:

Excerpt:

"NORMAL — Rivian and the Town of Normal are under the national spotlight.

Both were highlighted in a "Today Show" segment Sunday by NBC correspondent Kevin Tibbles. The news package showcased the electric vehicle company's cutting-edge technology and plans for expansion.Rivian plans largest expansion at Normal plant since its acquisition

Rivian's Brian Gace said in the report that their R1T pickup truck is "the coolest thing on the planet."

The nationally-broadcast show noted how Normal's uptown business district is thriving, and Heartland Community College already offers EV mechanics classes.

Read the rest and see the pics here:

https://pantagraph.com/business/local/achievements/watch-now-rivian-normals-economic-rebound-featured-on-today-show/article_75a0c576-e341-5cda-b60c-2302d67594ef.html

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The Rivian R1T starts the electric pickup races

It isn't cheap and is not for everyone. But I ordered one. Why? Back road fun and Tesla like luxury ride on the pavement, with blistering acceleration! Even faster than my Model Y by a tiny bit.

Excerpt:

"Whenever traffic slowed, which happens a lot when you're heading out of New York City on a Friday afternoon, people wanted to look at the bright blue pickup I was driving. Some wanted to ask questions. Fortunately, an engineer who helped design the truck was riding with me, and rolled down the window to answer them while I concentrated on maneuvering through traffic.

The Rivian R1T has recently become the first of an expected mini-stampede of electric trucks to hit the market. It has already carved out a niche for itself as a stylish -- but rather high-priced -- piece of outdoor equipment, sort of like a Tesla in flannel and hiking boots. I had been looking forward to my first chance to try it and was eager to get it out of the big city.

Besides its eye-catching color, the Rivian R1T looks like no other pickup on the road. It's not as radical as the Tesla Cybertruck but, really, the Cybertruck just follows a general industry trend in pickup design. It's scary. Angular and pointy, it looks intimidating and dangerous. Most gasoline- and diesel-powered pickups aim for similar levels of dread with massive grills and headlights that look like squinty eyes gauging your potential as a snack.

The Rivian R1T, on the other hand, just looks like it wants to borrow your teddy bear. Its eyes are big ovals. There's only the slightest visible grill, like a friendly half-smile. A band of soft light runs like a unibrow across the tops of those gentle "eyes." You don't want to run from this truck. You want to pet it.

In the event that you've been living in a hole so deep even this 800-horsepower four-motored electric truck couldn't pull you out, maybe you haven't heard of Rivian. The company has received a lot of attention as a startup electric vehicle maker with major corporate backing. It has received financing from Amazon and Ford and has an initial public offering coming up soon. Besides the R1T truck, Rivian plans to make an SUV called the R1S and, perhaps most importantly to Rivian, has a contract to make 100,000 electric delivery vans for Amazon.

Amazon has a bit more clout with Rivian than most pickup buyers since it owns 20% of the company, as revealed in recent financial filings.

The R1T differs from other electric pickups such as the Cybertruck, the F-150 Lightning and the GMC Hummer EV, in another critical way. It's in production now. Pickup manufacturing has started slowly at Rivian's plant in Normal, Illinois while others are months away at best.

Cost is one challenge the R1T will face, though. Prices start at $67,500, or about $60,000 once a $7,500 tax credit is factored in. That's hardly an unheard-of price for a truck these days, but it puts the R1T firmly in the "luxury truck" category. That makes for tough comparisons with bigger, more richly equipped gasoline powered pickups that are roomier and even more capable.

For those who really just want an electric truck to get stuff done, the Ford F-150 Lightning and its $40,000 starting price, not even including tax incentives, has to be considered. The smaller R1T, with its 4.5-foot bed, falls into the midsize category where it also competes against gas-powered models like the Ford Ranger and the newly redesigned, and very good, Nissan Frontier. Neither is as stylishly appointed as the R1T, a genuine luxury product, and they have gasoline engines, but they perform basically the same roles and cost half as much.

What it's like to drive

We weren't able to take the R1T off-road which is kind of a shame. It would have been fun. With its four electric motors, one powering each wheel, clamoring through muddy, rock-strewn trails and over sand dunes is supposed to be part of the truck's core skill set. Given how good it's supposed to be off-road -- Rivian says it can drive through three feet of water and climb a 45 degree slope -- its performance on pavement was especially impressive. The tires look aggressive and knobby but provided a smooth and quiet ride.

Beyond that, the R1T provides a genuinely "car-like" driving experience. It doesn't feel like a big, lumbering truck. That's not going to please everyone. A lot of traditional truck buyers appreciate feeling like they're driving a proper rig, not a crossover SUV. But the R1T, with its adjustable air suspension and hydraulic controls to minimize body lean in corners, feels like a tall luxury sedan. Also, it's fast. When merging onto the highway -- Rivian claims zero to 60 mile per hour times of about 3 seconds are possible, comparable to a high-end Porsche -- R1T drivers need to pay at least as much attention to vehicles ahead as those coming up from behind.

The Rivian R1T's interior design follows Tesla's minimalist esthetic but with a more pleasing design and nicer materials. The dashboard and parts of the steering wheel are covered in "reclaimed" wood. The seats are also covered in faux leather, and an optional glass roof gives the car an airy feel."

Much more here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/autos-trucks/the-rivian-r1t-starts-the-electric-pickup-races/ar-AAQ9Eio?ocid=msedgntp

 

Edited November 1, 2021 by RV_