Rivian is adding Launch Mode to the Dual-Performance R2 midsize SUV in its next over-the-air software update.
Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid confirmed the feature’s arrival on Thursday, by sharing a video on X showing the engineering team testing Launch Mode in the R2.
“Team testing Launch Mode on R2,” Bensaid wrote alongside the clip, which showed the R2 Performance completing a full acceleration run, adding that the function is “coming in the next OTA update!”
The activation sequence shown in the video follows a process similar to the one used on the R1: the driver swipes up on the Gear Guard character displayed on the center screen to arm the system, holds the brake pedal and the accelerator simultaneously, then releases the brake to launch.
The video includes on-screen telemetry throughout, providing a real-time view of the vehicle’s performance during the test.
The headline figure from the run was a 0-to-60 mph time of 3.45 seconds — 0.15 seconds faster than the 3.6 seconds Rivian currently lists on the R2 support page.
Rivian‘s official spec does not reference Launch Mode for the R2; the 3.6-second figure is tied to the R2 Performance’s 656 horsepower and 21-inch wheels without specifying a drive mode.
The R2 reached 100 mph in 6.99 seconds, pulled to a top speed of 130 mph, and completed the quarter mile in 11.31 seconds.
Bensaid had previously confirmed in March that the R2’s top speed matches the R1 Quad-Motor at 130 mph — available in regular drive modes, not only in Launch Mode.
The first-generation R1 Quad-Motor posted a 0-60 time of approximately 3.0 seconds but ran the quarter mile in roughly 11.6 seconds, according to early owner tests.
The R2, half a second slower off the line, closes the gap and beats the original Quad through the quarter mile — a reflection of what reviewers have described as unusually strong mid-range pull between 60 and 80 mph from the R2’s dual-motor drivetrain.
Launch Mode
Rivian describes Launch Mode on its website as the feature that makes it easy to experience its quickest acceleration.
On the R1 Quad-Motor, the mode actively lowers the vehicle, stiffens the ride, and fine-tunes torque distribution to each tyre to maximize off-the-line acceleration, enabling a 0-to-60 time of 2.5 seconds for the R1T (2.6 seconds for the R1S) and a quarter mile in 10.5 seconds.
Rivian specifies the mode is designed for use on a closed-circuit track in dry road conditions and should not be used on public roads.
Launch Mode was initially exclusive to the R1 Quad-Motor configuration — four independent electric motors, one per wheel — which allowed the system to precisely manage torque distribution across all four corners during the launch sequence.
Gen 1 Quad and Dual-Motor
Rivian expanded Launch Mode to a broader set of R1 vehicles with the 2026.03 software update, which began rolling out in February.
Gen 1 Quad-Motor and both generations of Dual-Motor Performance vehicles gained the feature, extending the acceleration mode beyond the second-generation Quad models where it had debuted.
To activate, drivers select Sport Mode, press the flag icon on the center display, then hold the brake and the accelerator simultaneously before releasing.
Rivian noted at the time that the mode is designed for closed-circuit track use in dry road conditions and that drivers should ensure a clear, flat surface and check vehicle surroundings beforehand.
Bensaid had first announced the Gen 1 expansion in December last year, responding directly to a Reddit user who asked about performance enhancements for first-generation R1 vehicles.
The 2026.03 update also introduced Sport Mode across all Dual-Motor R1 variants, an Apple Watch companion app, and cold weather range transparency features.
R2 Dual-Motor Performance
The R2 Performance is the first — and so far the only — R2 variant in customer hands.
Rivian launched the lineup at SXSW in March with a Performance Launch Edition starting at $57,990, excluding a $1,495 destination charge.
A dual-motor all-wheel-drive system produces 656 horsepower and 609 lb-ft of torque from two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors developed in-house.
EPA-estimated range reaches up to 330 miles from an 87.9 kWh battery, with 10-to-80% DC fast charging in under 30 minutes.
A limited-time Launch Package bundles a lifetime Autonomy+ subscription, a tow package rated at 4,400 lbs, an anodised Rivian Green key fob, and exclusive access to a Launch Green exterior colour.
Rivian listed eight drive modes for the Performance variant at launch: All-Purpose, Conserve, Snow, All-Terrain, Rally, Soft Sand, Sport, and Launch.
Launch Mode, however, was not active when R2 deliveries began on June 9.
Bensaid had acknowledged that the company deliberately launched the R2 with a pared-down feature set to protect software quality, committing to deliver missing capabilities through monthly OTA updates over the summer.
Rivian Assistant, Pet Mode, Climate Hold, the full Gear Guard suite, vehicle hotspot, and garage door opener were among the features listed as arriving after launch.
Thursday’s video now places Launch Mode in the next R2 update, alongside Pet Mode, which Bensaid confirmed last week.
