The Model S changed the world of sports sedans forever. About 10 years ago, things like the Audi RS7 or the S63 AMG suddenly became less exciting as that new new hit the market. Electricity is going to do the same to pickups, and the first demonstrator is not a Hummer or Ford, but the Rivian R1T.
Normally, we don’t care about which automaker made the first EV of one particular type. After all, the Mercedes EQS and Jaguar I-Pace… aren’t that great. But the Rivian R1T hit the market earlier than its competitors and made this drag race video possible.
Is it that important? Yes. A year ago, TFL was the first to take delivery of a Ram TRX. It’s an amazing pickup that combines the 1500 chassis with the Hellcat motor and all the off-road components you’d expect of a Raptor rival. It’s also way faster than any other pickup on the market… until now.
As you’re probably aware, the TRX is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 making 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque. TFL says they’ve timed their example in the past at 0 to 60 mph in 4.43 seconds. Keep in mind, that’s at a high elevation, where the air is thinner.
But the specs of the R1T are even more impressive. This Rivian pickup model features four motors instead of the traditional AWD. Combined, they make 835 horsepower and 908 lb-ft (1,231 Nm) of torque. It doesn’t care if the air is thinner, being all-electric, and so will sprint to 60 in 3 seconds flat.
To make things appear closer, TFL suggests the weight gap is huge at about a thousand pounds. In reality, the TRX has a curb weight of 6,396 lbs while the R1T is rated at roughly 6,800 lbs. That’s 3,100 kg in European numbers.
But as you’d expect, the electric model demolishes the TRX. To make things interesting, they also line up a Tesla against the Rivian, which will give you an impression of its potential.
Now, keep in mind that this is not a true drag race. Over a quarter-mile in say Florida with better tires, the Ram could be faster. And just imagine what it will be like once the Hummer EV and Tesla Cybertrunk arrive. Will people still care about having Hellcats in trucks? Probably… I do. Still, that’s one amazing new contender.
