- Rivian’s RAD cars promise significant enhancements. RAD, or Rivian Adventure Department, aims for substantial hardware upgrades, going beyond mere aesthetics.
- Focus on performance and thrill. RAD is designed to boost on-road and off-road performance, creating more exciting and adventurous vehicles.
- Motorsport and adventure influence. RAD vehicles will showcase distinctive designs and performance features, taking cues from the world of motorsports.
- RAD is Rivian’s innovative division. Inspired by divisions like BMW’s M and Mercedes AMG, RAD is dedicated to enhancing vehicle performance to new heights.
In summary: Rivian’s RAD division is poised to transform performance vehicles through significant upgrades, merging motorsport influence with adventure-focused capabilities.
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Rivian’s experimental performance division, abbreviated as RAD, or Rivian Adventure Department, is not about superficial enhancements.
In Park City, Utah, Rivian’s Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe participated in an exclusive interview on The Drivecast where he emphasized that RAD products are “not merely new badges. They’ll be fundamentally enhanced under the surface.” This will mean impactful hardware modifications to elevate the performance of RAD versions.
Tune into the full discussion starting from the point when Scaringe elaborates on the components of RAD vehicles below.
The RAD sector was officially revealed in February. The guiding principle of the department? Pose the question, “Should we amplify this?” with the consistent answer being “Yes!”
“RAD is one of the most thrilling aspects of vehicle development, particularly with models like the R2, as you encounter numerous trade-offs and compromises. The challenge lies in balancing these trade-offs skillfully so that the vehicle feels cohesive. However, certain areas will necessitate budget allocation decisions—if you invest heavily in the chassis, other aspects will be impacted. Therefore, we strive to distribute funds thoughtfully across the vehicle to form the optimal blend of features. Nevertheless, we make performance-related decisions aimed at pleasing the majority while knowing we can push boundaries further. So, can we dial it up to 11 for improved dynamic performance? Certainly, we have the engineering prowess for that. Thus, RAD is a chance for us to take a vehicle that is amazing—I’m genuinely pleased with R2—but turn it to 11,” Scaringe stated.
Scaringe continued, “This entails considering it for both on-road and off-road dynamics, even reflecting on the vehicle’s visual appeal—so the aesthetic aspects around it. We launched RAD as we recognized the balanced vehicles we create, but we also aspire to produce some that prioritize excitement, performance, and adventure a bit more. This is what you can expect from us. Therefore, these vehicles are not just outfitted with new badges; they will be fundamentally improved beneath the exterior, but that will incur additional costs, making them pricier, yet also very thrilling.”
The R3X was not associated with RAD when it first appeared. Scaringe addressed this, mentioning, “We showcased R3X before announcing RAD. However, if you contemplate RAD and its essence, R3X symbolized the kind of endeavors we will pursue with RAD. At that time, we hadn’t fully embraced the idea of establishing a performance sub-brand to categorize these vehicles. However, if we were unveiling R3X today, we would have branded it as a RAD vehicle. Examining it, the track width is broader, it sits higher, and the wheels are larger in diameter and width. The interior was also meticulously designed.”
The cork dashboard and woven bucket seats had a dream-like quality. “Indeed, those woven seats were incredibly appealing. They evoked a motorsports vibe, reminiscent of rally inspiration and capabilities. This exemplifies the potential direction for RAD. Additionally, the color palette we used for R3X aligns closely with that of RAD vehicles,” Scaringe noted.
Even Scaringe admitted that RAD serves as a genuine skunkworks division, reflecting its inception. “The most exciting aspect of RAD, in my lifelong passion for cars, is observing divisions like BMW’s M or Mercedes AMG evolve over time, or the GT aspects of Porsche like the GT2s and GT3s. It’s fascinating to learn the stories behind their beginnings,” Scaringe remarked.
He added, “You can see that many of them authentically originated from such contexts. RAD embodies this spirit. A group of us within the team identified a genuine desire to enhance vehicle capabilities, at times in a way that prioritizes performance and capability. It’s an exhilarating concept. Having a means to express this through RAD, along with a product plan that reflects it, assigning a skunkworks team tasked with taking these vehicles to the next level is thrilling. Many individuals involved in the program are already known to you. So, you’ve already mentioned a few names, but… expect familiar faces from the diverse group of folks you’ve encountered at Rivian participating in the skunkworks team.”
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