Check Out The Rivian R1S Facelift Before Its Debut

The Rivian R1 refresh is right around the corner, but before it’s unveiled we already have images comparing the facelift to a pre-facelift model. Posted on the Rivian Forums, a user was in Ann Arbor, Michigan when he spotted the refreshed R1S in the parking lot parked next to an older R1T, perfectly showcasing how the company has subtly tweaked the platform but mainly kept the formula the same.

With the Rivian R1T and R1S having been on sale since 2022, it’s still somewhat early in their lifecycles to be offering a refresh, but we welcome the changes as they go deeper than just cosmetic alterations. The company is planning on subtracting weight thanks to a lighter battery, decreasing road noise, and adding heat pumps for improved cooling.

Subtle Aesthetic Changes

It’s not often you get as direct a comparison as this when it comes to a refresh, and fortunately, the poster, DrBluey, nabbed a great picture of the fronts of the cars. A previous leak said that the refresh will offer new headlights with improved capability, and you can see how the shape of the R1S’ horizontal lighting strip has a ridge on the bottom instead of the flat unit on the R1T. The vertical oval lights also appear to be different, as evidenced by the relocation of the Rivian logo to the bottom of the housings.

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The rear looks unchanged, but you can see the vehicle sports new wheels and different door handles that may include a haptic function of some sort. There’s only one shot of the interior, and you can’t make out much, but you do see that the steering wheel shape has remained unchanged. The poster also says he saw changes to the charging pad showing an update. This unit could be the new “premium” trim that’s been talked about, as evidenced by the lack of tow hooks in front and large new wheels.

Other Changes Leaked

Thanks to a previous leak, we know the company is shaving 150 lbs of weight off of the R1 models thanks to the inclusion of a new 105.9 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, but it still hasn’t been confirmed if charging speeds are going to see an increase. We know of the aforementioned heat pump, but the vehicle is also seeing updates to its cameras and may even see new ADAS features.

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A Tri-Motor setup should either debut with the refresh or at some point later this year, and additional cosmetic changes include new badging and no chrome, seemingly offering a “blacked-out” design option like many other automakers. What we haven’t heard about is the inclusion of the NACS port that was promised. Integration may have proven to be more complicated than previously hoped, or the company is planning a rollout later this year as it promised the port will replace the CCS connector with all models introduced after 2025.

Source:
Rivian Forums