Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
The electric vehicle maker Rivian is gearing up for a significant mid-cycle refresh of its R1S SUV and R1T truck expected for later this month. Rivian‘s factory in Normal, Illinois, was recently spotted with dozens of 2025 Rivian R1S in its final form, devoid of any testing wraps.
As of today, the official date for the launch of the refreshed R1T and R1S models is still unknown with rumours pointing for later this month.
On Monday, the company has disclosed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filings for its upcoming Rivian R1T and R1S in several variants including All-Terrain, Performance, and All-Terrain Performance.
The documents, made public on Monday, reveal that the 2025 Rivian R1 Dual-Motor Max will feature a 140.8 kWh battery pack and a dual-motor setup. The battery chemistry is listed as Lithium Ion, deviating from the popular Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) technology.
As noted by a Rivian owner on X, the 2025 Max Pack R1 includes the same components as the 2025 LFP standard pack, such as the heat pump and relocated compressor, while maintaining the same usable battery capacity as the current max pack (141 kWh).
Notable features highlighted in the documents include an Electric Heat Pump and a relocated air compressor. The vehicle will support DC Fast Charging (DCFC) speeds of up to 210 kW and the document filed by the automaker can be accessed here.
Last week, Rivian‘s senior research and development fabricator Scott Vittelle posted on Instagram a picture — meanwhile deleted — from the filming session in Seattle as the official launch approaches.
NEVER MISS AN UPDATE
The refreshed R1S and R1T models are expected to debut next weeks, with dozens of updated vehicles ready for delivery seen at the company’s Normal, Illinois factory. Speculation points to June 27 as a potential launch date, coinciding with Rivian’s annual Investor Day.
Regarding cost optimisation for the new version, the chief executive RJ Scaringe has recently disclosed that the company was able to reduce the components in the battery pack from 41 to 16.
The refreshed R1S features a chiseled front light bar, reminiscent of the smaller R2 and R3 models, blacked-out badges, silver brake calipers, and new wheel designs.
The CCS1 charging port on the front-left remains, suggesting that Rivian will not switch to the NACS inlet for the R1 models yet, with the R2 expected to be the first model to feature this update.
According to a Rivian Forums user who shared photos of the revamped version earlier this week, the new R1S also includes new cameras, advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), and faster charging capabilities, though these claims have not been officially confirmed.
A leaked certification document reveals that the biggest changes are beneath the surface. The R1S will now come standard with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack and a heat pump. These replace the outgoing nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries and resistive heater HVAC system.
NEVER MISS AN UPDATE
The new LFP battery has a capacity of 92.5 kilowatt-hours, slightly smaller but lighter and more space-efficient than the NMC battery with the charging speed remaining the same and the peak rate reaching 210 kilowatts.
In preparation for the launch of the refreshed models, Rivian has rolled out a series of incentives to boost sales and clear out inventory of its 2023 and 2024 R1 models.
These incentives include significant discounts, free upgrades, and lowered prices on battery options. This move comes as the company addresses logistical challenges and delivery delays, particularly for customers in Washington state.
Rivian’s Vice President of Software Development, Wassym Bensaid, noted in late April that “about 80 percent” of the new features will be available for the first version of R1 cars. These updates include improvements in computer, sensor, and high-voltage charging hardware.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe attended last week the Bernstein’s Annual Conference in New York where he revealed that the R3, expected to be launched in early 2026, will be priced at “mid to high $30,000s”.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
