Some Rivian owners will soon be able to unlock more driving range and acceleration in their R1T pickups and R1S SUVs — for a fee.
The company will soon sell its Performance Pack upgrade as a software download for owners who chose not to buy it at purchase. It will add a downloadable range boost later.
The fan site Riviantrackr noticed it first, and Rivian software lead Wassym Bensaid later confirmed the news on the social media site X (formerly Twitter).
Available on dual-motor Rivians, the Performance Pack costs $5,000 as a one-time purchase with a new vehicle. It bumps horsepower from 533 to 665 and torque from 610 lb-ft to 829, which brings faster acceleration. It also adds Sport and Soft Sand modes to the drive selector. We don’t know for certain that the price will stay the same for those who download it later, but that seems logical.
Beyond the Performance Pack, Bensaid confirmed that a downloadable range upgrade is coming for some owners.
This one requires a bit of explanation. Rivian initially planned to offer three battery sizes on both vehicles –Standard, Large, and Max. Standard and Max each gave owners access to their full capacity. But the owners who chose a large battery actually received a Max battery with software limiting its capacity. Letting those owners download a patch that unlocks the gated extra range should be a trivial programming issue.
We don’t know the pricing or timing of the battery upgrade. Rivian could sell either or both options for a one-time fee or ask owners to subscribe to them for a monthly payment. We’ve seen both approaches before.
Polestar has sold extra horsepower for a one-time fee several times. Meanwhile, Mercedes has monthly and lifetime payment options for power upgrades on its electric vehicles (EVs).
Cox Automotive, the parent company of Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader, is a minority investor in Rivian.