Rivian is an American EV company that is looking to redefine the capabilities of electric utility. By waiting to showcase their upcoming models until a fully functional concept model was ready, they have managed to avoid a lot of the skepticism that electric startups often face. The fresh design, incredible standard equipment and fantastic level of utility preview what could very well be a segment-leading vehicle both on and off-road.Their headquarters is located in Plymouth, Michigan but they have recently bought and are revamping a former Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois, which is likely to be the home of the R1T. They haven’t disclosed when deliveries of the R1T will begin, but it should arrive in late 2020, as a 2021 model.It will be available in two different specs for launch, with a third option joining approximately a year later. The 135 kWh pack has been rated at 754 hp and 826 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds. The top spec 180 kWh model will be slightly less quick and powerful but should have a range greater than 400 miles.Pre-orders are open now and are completely refundable with a $1000 deposit. Similar to how Tesla sells its vehicles, Rivian will be selling directly to the customer with the potential for storefronts in the future. The R1T will start at $69,000 plus destination charge, but buyers can take advantage of the $7,500 federal tax credit.With pricing that undercuts other premium EV’s like the Model X and specs that are some the best we’ve seen from a production electric, Rivian is making the case that compromises are a notion of the past.