It’s hard not to get a little giddy when an electric vehicle breaks four digits—no, not the price, but horsepower. This week, Rivian lifted the curtain on the second‑generation R1 Quad‑Motor lineup, featuring both the R1T pickup and R1S SUV. Sure, you almost certainly don’t need 1,025 horses harnessed to each wheel, but there’s something undeniably magnetic about Rivian’s headline‑grabbing toolkit of power and torque.

Rivian has spent the past few years carving out a niche: premium electric vehicles built to tackle real‑world off‑road adventures. With the Gen 2 Quad, the company doubles down on bravado. Under the skin, four independently controlled motors—one at each wheel—combine for a staggering 1,025 hp and 1,198 lb‑ft of torque, propelling the R1 from 0 to 60mph in as little as 2.5 seconds and through the quarter‑mile in 10.5 seconds. But this isn’t just drag‑strip theater; Rivian envisions a rugged, go‑anywhere halo model that amplifies its off‑road credibility.

Rivian’s CEO, RJ Scaringe, was quick to frame the Quad as a brand‑building exercise. Speaking with Business Insider, he noted that while the Quad commands a premium sticker, Rivian’s volume aspirations hinge on the more affordable R2 due in 2026—projected to start around $45,000. For now, the Quad is about establishing an image of capability that trickles down to Rivian’s broader lineup.

If you’re already blinking at the prospect of six figures for an EV, brace yourself. The Gen 2 Quad R1T starts at $119,990, while the R1S SUV carries a base MSRP of $125,990—each price including the $1,895 destination charge. Deliveries of the Launch Edition are slated to kick off this month, with standard Quad models following shortly after.

Those pony costs include a few niceties beyond the motor count:

• Launch Edition package: Exclusive Launch Green finish, bespoke badging, a Bluetooth camp‑speaker, carabiner‑style key fob, and lifetime access to Rivian’s Connect+ services and Autonomy Platform+.
• Wheel choices: From 22-inch “Super Sport” alloys to rugged 20-inch all‑terrain tires.
• Interior upgrades: Quilted leather seats, contrast stitching, and deep‑bronze accents across the dash, doors, and speaker grilles for that “I definitely don’t need this” feel.

All that power normally comes at the expense of range, but Rivian says you’ll still manage up to 374 miles on a single charge—or up to 400 miles if you engage “Conserve” mode, which dialles back performance in favor of efficiency. Charging-wise, Rivian doubles down on Tesla compatibility: every Gen 2 Quad includes a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port for Supercharger access, plus a CCS DC adapter out of the box for broader network reach.

Onboard charging is capped at 11.5kW, so even in 19.2kW public AC stations, you’ll be drawing at most that 11.5kW—a modest figure compared to some rivals, but par for Rivian’s proven setup.

What’s an over‑the‑top performance model without a few party tricks? Rivian is rolling out two headline‑grabbing software features:

• Kick Turn: A homage to drift culture for dirt roads. By momentarily cutting power to one side of the vehicle, the R1 can pivot 180 degrees in place—no momentum needed. Perfect for tight trailheads and spirited off‑road selfies. This will arrive via OTA update in September.
• RAD Tuner: A suite of sliders and presets that fine‑tune throttle response, suspension stiffness, and torque vectoring. Presets include Desert Rally mode (inspired by 2023 Rebelle Rally wins) and Hill Climb mode (2024 Pikes Peak) for those who want their SUV to channel a rally car at the flick of a switch.

Rivian’s pivot to high‑margin halo vehicles comes with a balancing act. Early in July, Reuters reported a sharp 22% drop in Q2 deliveries, citing stiff competition and economic headwinds—tariffs, higher interest rates, and a crowded EV market all taking their toll. Premium variants like the Quad can boost profitability, but Rivian’s long‑term health depends on lower‑cost models like the R2 and a robust charging network.

Scaringe has doubled down on Rivian’s own charging infrastructure, the Rivian Adventure Network, touting over 99% uptime—a direct response to frustrations around public station reliability. As the Quad starts rolling out, the company is also simplifying manufacturing processes, retooling battery packs, and cutting assembly steps to push toward profitability.

Who (if anyone) needs a 1,000‑horsepower pickup?

Let’s be real: you almost certainly don’t need this much power on tap. But that’s the point. The Quad isn’t for the buyer who “needs” an EV to commute; it’s for the buyer who “wants” an EV to stand out. Think adventure influencers, weekend warriors, and those who treat their drive as a statement.

If you’re practical—say, you haul gear or ferry kids—you’re better off waiting for the R2 in early 2026, which aims for a $45,000 starting price and more modest (yet still impressive) specs. But if you’ve got six figures burning a hole in your PayPal account, the new Gen 2 Quad‑Motor R1 is here to make electric horsepower history, one software‑defined slide at a time.