ELECTRIC CARS
67
The whole Tesla Cybertruck thing was
a bit of a debacle, wasn’t it? Thankfully,
Rivian isn’t messing about when it comes
to its pickup – which not only looks a lot
less like a metallic doorstop than Tesla’s,
but also has more realistic statistics: a
range of up to 400 miles, a quad-motor
system for serious grip, a wading depth
of over 90cm (akin to that of the new
Land Rover Defender) and blistering
all-electric performance.
A distinct lack of gearbox, engine and
other oily bits meant Rivian could get
creative with packaging – and the R1T
boasts a neat gear tunnel for stowage
behind the rear seats, a multi-function
rear flatbed, and even a table that pulls
out of said gear tunnel for preparing the
campsite meals.
Like any modern car manufacturer
worth its salt, Rivian is also offering a
truckload of lifestyle optional extras, all
of which can be ordered online with the
vehicle itself. These include bike racks
for the flatbed, pop-up tents for hardy
explorers, lockable storage and a ‘rear
bin’, which isn’t for old apple cores but
for storing stuff like spare wheels, shovels
and, er, ‘bear mace’.
Pre-orders are being taken now via the
website alongside the equally boxy R1S
all-electric SUV, with deliveries of the first
pickup trucks expected in the latter half of
this year. But sadly, there’s no news on a
UK version just yet.PRICE £58,000 / rivian.com
KEY SPECS
ORange 400 miles
OPower 750hp
O0-62mph 3 secs
OTop speed tbcVW ID.4
Gone are the days of big
makers merely dabbling in
the EV game – now they’re
rapidly introducing proper
electric models riding on
bespoke platforms. VW’s
ID range is an example of
that – and following its
ID.3 hatch, it’s poised to
unleash a rear-wheel-drive
SUV version with a 311-
mile range. Expect punchy
performance, roominess,
and options for more
power in the near future.
£tbc / volkswagen.co.ukMAZDA MX-30
Mazda’s first electric
vehicle is coming and
it promises big things:
clever torque-vectoring
and peppy performance,
an interior festooned
with recycled materials
and, perhaps more
importantly than all
of that, massive warranties
on the batteries and
other such sensible
considerations. It’s also
pegged to be easy on
the wallet.
£tbc / mazda.co.ukWRIVIAN R1T
V SUVs & 4X4s PRACTICAL POWERHOUSES
Glow for it
When the R1T
is plugged in, this
front light bar glows
green – just like the
battery indicator
on your phone.Tow for it
With a theoretical
towing capacity of
5000kg, the Rivian
R1T should out-pull
the VW Amarok and
Toyota Hilux.