Electric truck manufacturing startup Rivian has begun taking orders in Canada for its first two models, the R1T pickup and R1S SUV. The announcement follows Rivian's appearance at the 2018 Los Angeles auto show, where it showed both vehicles in concept form.

Rivian makes big performance promises about the two vehicles, which share a platform and mechanical components: each wheel will get its own drive motor, and that quartet will generate 750 hp. Not only will that make the R1T and R1S quick, but it also promises precise handling and traction owing to the ability to adjust power to each wheel independently.

Placing a $1,000 deposit through the Rivian website will get your name on the list of people who will take delivery of the company's first production vehicles. Rivian says it will begin building the R1T and R1S in 2020, with the former to be offered at about C$85,000 (according to current exchange rates), while the R1S will cost closer to C$90,000.

On paved roads, Rivian says the trucks will be capable of scooting from zero to 100 km/h in about 3.0 seconds. Using electricity more judiciously, a 180 kWh battery pack should be good for about 640 km of driving range. Rivian says that following the launch of the R1S and R1T, smaller and less-expensive battery pack options will become available.

With no combustion engine air intake to worry about, these electric utility vehicles are designed to ford water 91 cm deep (better than a Jeep Wrangler), haul up to 800 kg worth of payload and tow trailers up to 5,000 kg.

Other neat features include a fully trimmed front trunk boasting 330 L of cargo space. The R1T pickup takes advantage of the Rivian platform's lack of a traditional driveline and places a cargo tunnel between the rear doors and rear wheels good for 350 L of volume. Meanwhile, the R1S SUV trades that for a 180 L cargo compartment in the rear of the passenger compartment.

Electric utility

1/3/2019 3:20:53 PM

1/3/2019 3:20:53 PM