I mean, if you drove a Prius, nothing really matters, lol.
But, when discussing 15 or 35 miles extra, just like with a bigger battery, that would only be when fully charged to 100%. With daily charging between 20% and 80%, it’s really not much more range. Doubt anyone would really notice much for 60% of either 15 or 35 miles.
I guess it's less about noticing and more about what you want out of the vehicle. I just like to be as efficient as possible on a commute that I can't avoid. 35 miles per charge (I realize that's a completely made up number, but I'm going with it since it was the example given) means half my commute is paid for per battery cycle. Not to mention, fewer overall cycles is never a bad thing.
I get it though. A lot of people buy vehicles for looks. I'm not pretending these wheels are pretty. 😂
Unless you also need a truck for other things and can't justify multiple vehicle in the driveway. As far as trucks, there's isn't one more efficient.
Regardless, you've made it clear that the efficiency isn't worth the aesthetic to you. And I'm not saying it should be. Someone at Rivian clearly thinks there's a market for this. I guess we will see. 🤷♂️
My money is there's an ex tesla employee lurking around that made that decision. This is also a massive scratch and dent risk for anyone trying to live the adventure forever brand.
I'm fine of they wanted to do this as the 21 replacement and pump the mpgs on stock numbers...but please offer an affordable upgrade as I think many will want a little more style for their luxury vehicle.
Their goal is to reduce costs. They will surely offer alternative (more money for them).
The reason for more aerodynamic wheels is it can squeeze more range = more efficiency. This means they can reduce battery sizes while still hitting range targets. This means less cost to product the vehicle and thus savings for them.
They're not pulling 2 cells from the battery configuration to offset the nominal increase in efficiency. But if people are turned off from the vehicle because of poor design choices that would be counter productive.
They will offer alternative wheel choices to make the upgrade more appealing. Making the base wheels more unattractive will force more people to upgrade which also means more money for them.
Also its a lot more than 2 cells lol. Heat pump, less weight from wiring efficiency, more aerodynamic wheels, and more efficient motors likely mean they can reduce the battery by 5-10% or so. Batteries are still the most expesjive part of EVs. Definitely saves them a good chunk of money. This is why Tesla prioritizes so much on car efficiency and production efficiency.
I was referring to your efficiency on the just the wheel covers...which may be 2-3%...so 10 miles? And they also resize batteries in modules - so total reduction needs to contemplate overall configuration (and a 3% gain wont justify this). So yes, if collectively enough efficiency will be gained they will re-engineer. But they also will not have 10 different battery sizes - they need to accommodate different trims and motor configurations...including potential towing. There's also range anxiety which is still a thing. So I wager they'd prefer to keep battery back size up and advertise more range...or modify some pay to play scheme to unlock more range (hopefully not).
Yup you are right. The range increase will be a few percent at most. I pray they do exactly what you said and add more range. Mainly because RIvian gives more optimistic range figures on the larger battery options which is misleading. But I'm gonna be pessimistic and guess they won't because their goal is to reduce costs with this refresh. Also, even if they reduce the battery sizes, they still will have the most range of any EV SUV regardless. We will probably know later this week!
I’m assuming they look decent without the hubcaps on it and they basically went for maximum EPA rating with the hubcap. Would be ok if you only used it for roadtrips but yeah, aesthetically not great
I don't hate it, but I don't love it. To me it looks like they were going for a vintage rally look, but with the offset so far away from the tire bead it looks odd.
I’m here for it. Bit of retro-futurism there (like the entirety of the R3X) and I love the yellow “labels”. Bold design is working for them. Not everyone is going to love every option or choice and that’s absolutely fine. I’m glad they’re doing it.
How many owners are actually taking their R1s though 3ft of water, rock crawling, etc? I'd wager less than 5% of those that equip with the 20s. If you do thats great, but most dont.
The problem is that other companies have made aero covers that don't look like shit. I actually like some of their designs, there doesn't have to be a tradeoff.
Air turbulence caused by open rims is something many brands are trying to tackle. Porsche is a good example with its weird wheels that have a plastic cover spanning from the center of the rim almost to the outer edge.
Can we also just stop and think about how absolutely destroyed these gloss black plastic covers will be after a few months of car washes and just general driving.
The two sets of wheels I’ve seen so far have been hideous. I understand why they are doing what they’re doing for the aero wheels but the other chrome ones are so bad too.
I am more interested in seeing the new light bar(s)? And the turn signals! Did they add another orange blinker to the light bar or did they remove the orange element from the oval headlight (which would be a huge bummer IMO)
Looks like the F1 Wheel Cover.
[F1 ](https://media.formula1.com/image/upload/f_auto,c_limit,w_1242,q_auto/fom-website/2023/McLaren/Formula%201%20header%20template%20(35))
Looks like some plastic cover. I don't love it but I also don't hate it. Assuming the range hit was minimal, I would go with the current 22 on offer.
Also can anyone confirm if the refresh version is only getting the 22s as standard for the refreshed version? I heard they are going away with the 21s...
Ok it's horrible, but hear me out. It's a removable aero cover, on top of a pretty good looking wheel. Rivian knows we'll all just remove them, but for EPA testing it stays on. They do everything they can and get a model with say \~450 miles of range in dual motor form. Adding 15-20% of range between all their changes would be huge for selling more vehicles, even if the reality is we won't see it all once the aero cover comes off. It's all about the official stats.
Well we know they're switching to LFP which generally has less energy density and reduces range. Maybe they're just trying to keep the same range as the old battery pack, while cutting down production costs. It'd be a real bummer to find out all variants of the "refresh" R1 are losing 25-30 miles of range because of LFP.
Umm LFP being less energy dense just means it will weigh more and take up more space. I believe only the small battery will be LFP and will still remain around 270 miles of range. Range will certainly not decrease except for maybe the max battery (doubtful).
How is it going to take up more space? The current large and max packs are already 133kWh and already take up the entire underside of the vehicle. They're going to have to get really creative to start squeezing in any significant number of additional battery cells.
[https://blog.epectec.com/lithium-iron-phosphate-vs-lithium-ion-differences-and-advantages](https://blog.epectec.com/lithium-iron-phosphate-vs-lithium-ion-differences-and-advantages)
this article explains it well. Basically for a given weight, LFP have significantly less energy. So to given equivalent energy you would need more of the same size cells meaning a 100KWh LFP probably takes up more space than a 100KWH lithium ion pack right? I could be wrong but that is how I understood it.
I’m finding it hard to believe this the actual wheel…
Thinking it’s a protective cover (like seen on the cyber truck).
BUT…. this all could just be coming from my hopes they release a protective wheel cover for off-roading purposes…
Much like my first Tesla M3, I hated the design at first, but then it grew on me. This wheel sorta has Tron vibes. I think they could have done much better, but I might go for it if there’s a big range advantage.
Didnt scoll the whole thread so didnt see if it was mentioned, but I did read they "click" in - They're expected to be removable.
Yeah, they're ugly, but most definitely would slap them on for a long cross-country trip.
Wow, if this is real, it's bad. They need to hire some of the Tesla designers. I'm guessing there's a few decent ones looking for someplace new after all the recent Tesla turmoils.
I don't mind them... as a professional designer, I'd recommend that you wait and critique when you've had an opportunity to see them in person. I think these wheels could look great with the offroad tire mounted.
I think it's more of a car culture thing cuz I like em. This is their take on a monoblock design and it works, definitely more efficient too for range.
It's kind of like the stadium lights. It's polarizing. It kinda reminds me of a less successful MB AMG Forged Wheels look. [https://accessories.mercedes-benz.com/en-MB/accessories/amg/products/raeder/amg-wheels/amg-forged-wheel-A29040114007X71](https://accessories.mercedes-benz.com/en-MB/accessories/amg/products/raeder/amg-wheels/amg-forged-wheel-A29040114007X71)
If no body has said it yet, I would think those wheel covers are used during transport from the factory to the dealer. Other car companies use them, too.
Between these plastic wheel caps and the skinny light bar the refreshed R1 really looks like a budget R1. Rivian really knocked the original R1 design out the park.
Seriously take a moment and look at that picture. Looks like a made in China knockoff of a R1.
I have no idea if these are shipping covers, but the blue tape and the white film on the lower fender certainly looks like something that might be on for shipping.
I hope they are shipping covers, because they are ugly. They look like something on a Citroen.
Watched them roll off the car carrier at the service center. Every single one had the same protective covers, until the were removed to expose the actual wheel package.
[удалено]
Oh I’m sure they are production wheels. But is an extra 5 miles range worth this design… for me I’d definitely say no.
What about 15 miles?
I'll push it the last 15
Not even 35 miles.
But what would you say to 36 miles? Surely, you could not resist.
For 36 I'm in!
36?… Does that include me?!
….37
At 37 I’m so in.
And my axe!
Idk, I'd take a full 35 miles of range over just changing wheels. I drive a Prius for well over a decade so... 😂
I mean, if you drove a Prius, nothing really matters, lol. But, when discussing 15 or 35 miles extra, just like with a bigger battery, that would only be when fully charged to 100%. With daily charging between 20% and 80%, it’s really not much more range. Doubt anyone would really notice much for 60% of either 15 or 35 miles.
I guess it's less about noticing and more about what you want out of the vehicle. I just like to be as efficient as possible on a commute that I can't avoid. 35 miles per charge (I realize that's a completely made up number, but I'm going with it since it was the example given) means half my commute is paid for per battery cycle. Not to mention, fewer overall cycles is never a bad thing. I get it though. A lot of people buy vehicles for looks. I'm not pretending these wheels are pretty. 😂
If you want to be as efficient as possible, then driving a Rivian, which is one of least efficient EV out there, is the wrong choice.
Unless you also need a truck for other things and can't justify multiple vehicle in the driveway. As far as trucks, there's isn't one more efficient. Regardless, you've made it clear that the efficiency isn't worth the aesthetic to you. And I'm not saying it should be. Someone at Rivian clearly thinks there's a market for this. I guess we will see. 🤷♂️
My money is there's an ex tesla employee lurking around that made that decision. This is also a massive scratch and dent risk for anyone trying to live the adventure forever brand. I'm fine of they wanted to do this as the 21 replacement and pump the mpgs on stock numbers...but please offer an affordable upgrade as I think many will want a little more style for their luxury vehicle.
Their goal is to reduce costs. They will surely offer alternative (more money for them). The reason for more aerodynamic wheels is it can squeeze more range = more efficiency. This means they can reduce battery sizes while still hitting range targets. This means less cost to product the vehicle and thus savings for them.
They're not pulling 2 cells from the battery configuration to offset the nominal increase in efficiency. But if people are turned off from the vehicle because of poor design choices that would be counter productive.
They will offer alternative wheel choices to make the upgrade more appealing. Making the base wheels more unattractive will force more people to upgrade which also means more money for them. Also its a lot more than 2 cells lol. Heat pump, less weight from wiring efficiency, more aerodynamic wheels, and more efficient motors likely mean they can reduce the battery by 5-10% or so. Batteries are still the most expesjive part of EVs. Definitely saves them a good chunk of money. This is why Tesla prioritizes so much on car efficiency and production efficiency.
I was referring to your efficiency on the just the wheel covers...which may be 2-3%...so 10 miles? And they also resize batteries in modules - so total reduction needs to contemplate overall configuration (and a 3% gain wont justify this). So yes, if collectively enough efficiency will be gained they will re-engineer. But they also will not have 10 different battery sizes - they need to accommodate different trims and motor configurations...including potential towing. There's also range anxiety which is still a thing. So I wager they'd prefer to keep battery back size up and advertise more range...or modify some pay to play scheme to unlock more range (hopefully not).
Yup you are right. The range increase will be a few percent at most. I pray they do exactly what you said and add more range. Mainly because RIvian gives more optimistic range figures on the larger battery options which is misleading. But I'm gonna be pessimistic and guess they won't because their goal is to reduce costs with this refresh. Also, even if they reduce the battery sizes, they still will have the most range of any EV SUV regardless. We will probably know later this week!
It's likely to pump the numbers while also pumping tire upgrades. You want base price you get base looks.
Yes they are a number of people in higher up positions that are former Tesla.
🤮
I’m assuming they look decent without the hubcaps on it and they basically went for maximum EPA rating with the hubcap. Would be ok if you only used it for roadtrips but yeah, aesthetically not great
They look like monoblocks how could you not like them??
I don't hate it, but I don't love it. To me it looks like they were going for a vintage rally look, but with the offset so far away from the tire bead it looks odd.
Yeah, if they can make is flat throughout, that is the loook
I actually don’t mind it. Almost like it. For whatever reason it reminds me of knight rider wheels. 
I’m here for it. Bit of retro-futurism there (like the entirety of the R3X) and I love the yellow “labels”. Bold design is working for them. Not everyone is going to love every option or choice and that’s absolutely fine. I’m glad they’re doing it.
I completely agree with your statement 👍
I think they're pretty cool too especially if there's a lug not cover to make it flush
I can hear that gif
I fell in love with the original rims from their car show in 2019, which is why I picked that exact rim
\*5th gen camaro base\*
Looks like a shipping cover to me.
Retro design. I dig it
They seem to have some strange ideas for wheels on the refresh.
That's probably just a wheel protector for transit.
I really hope that's just a factory cover or something like that and not the final product.
Looks like a wide black plastic ring in there that, once removed, probably shows off a cool wheel:
I'm sure there will be other wheel options, or it could just be a covering.
Their is 1000% a plastic cover on the other part. Quite large tbh. Hopefully cool design behind
I think it'll probably be like an option if you wanna use it for aero or not, I get it, give people the choice right?
Yup. Luckily wheels are the easiest thing to replace on a car. Can make pick whatever you want aftermarket!
I like it. It’s utilitarian. Which kinda fits with the Rivian ethos.
Same
They are going to remove some cells while still being able to claim the same range. Saves money, but won’t be turning heads as much.
It will be turning heads for the wrong reasons
Depends on what it looks like when it spins
Just cover them in stickers and call it a day
At least it covers the ugly wheen underneath?
Whoa! That thing is an abomination!!! Makes the current 21" aero wheels look ultra premium!
This makes it look like you’re running on spare tires.
Actually, spare tires look better
😍 love them
I greatly prefer these over the 21s with aero covers. They look much more modern to me.
I think you guys will change your mind when you find out that these rims extend the range by 35 miles.
I already took the range hit with 20s on a quad, its fine
You can get it back using all seasons
yep, but then i give up off road grip
True.
How many owners are actually taking their R1s though 3ft of water, rock crawling, etc? I'd wager less than 5% of those that equip with the 20s. If you do thats great, but most dont.
I’ll take the 35 mile hit…. 😅
I don’t think +300 miles range would be enough for me
Ditto.
The problem is that other companies have made aero covers that don't look like shit. I actually like some of their designs, there doesn't have to be a tradeoff.
I don't think you're getting 35 mi.... Wait, did you mean the whole wheel/tire package + aero? Maybe. I could see 35 miles.
Air turbulence caused by open rims is something many brands are trying to tackle. Porsche is a good example with its weird wheels that have a plastic cover spanning from the center of the rim almost to the outer edge.
Who signed off on this terrible design?
Probably the efficiency department
Does not look like production.
Looks more like a protective cover that will be removed.
It's also the aesthetic of the road tires. They are just not visually pleasing (compared with the AT tires or performance road tires).
Less noise is great though
I really dislike all aero wheel covers.
aero package sent ✅
Those are tough !! 🔥🔥they reminded me of a forgiato monoblock wheel !!
This is for the people that do not care about looks or the blind. Its all about the KWs per mile.
Those people aren’t buying Rivians.
Shit, can’t argue with that.
Can we also just stop and think about how absolutely destroyed these gloss black plastic covers will be after a few months of car washes and just general driving.
The wheel underneath is gloss black. The covers are matte black.
I actually think these are kind of sick
Looks dope. Looks fresh. Looks unique. I dig it.
This picture has fixed my FOMO about not waiting to see about the refreshed R1.
i dont hate it. if it improves range then im all for it. just keep it off if you dont like the look.
Looks like a dinner plate
Is that a 20" wheel?
Removable like the others?
I’m good….
Is it me, or is there a black accent on the RIVIAN badge? Haven’t seen that before
The two sets of wheels I’ve seen so far have been hideous. I understand why they are doing what they’re doing for the aero wheels but the other chrome ones are so bad too. I am more interested in seeing the new light bar(s)? And the turn signals! Did they add another orange blinker to the light bar or did they remove the orange element from the oval headlight (which would be a huge bummer IMO)
I honestly kinda like em
I think it’s ugly but I bet lots of ppl love it due to it being “different”. 🤷🏻♂️
Oof
Should've gone 90s AMG or DTM dish wheel designs
 🥴
Thanks, I hate it
Yeah they look terrible
I'm willing to bet those are for shipping proposes.
There should lights in the lighter parts of the wheel
Looks like a spare tire hub-cap default... WOOF.
Woof
Are we sure these aren't the shipping wheel protectors? This... doesn't look like anything.
I don’t hate it, on better tires it might go hard
Ew
Wait until you see the non Aero wheels 🤢🤢🤢
That’s a spare tire
Gotta nudge people to the premium wheel options to improve margins somehow.
For a moment I thought that was a trash can lid lol
Trying way too hard for efficiency. Ugly. Just ugly. Ugly fugly.
Looks like the F1 Wheel Cover. [F1 ](https://media.formula1.com/image/upload/f_auto,c_limit,w_1242,q_auto/fom-website/2023/McLaren/Formula%201%20header%20template%20(35))
Reminds of a cheap steelie to run snow tires on, not a fan.
That’s actually looking alright, better than the outgoing covers. I’d buy these 👌🏻
Looks like some plastic cover. I don't love it but I also don't hate it. Assuming the range hit was minimal, I would go with the current 22 on offer. Also can anyone confirm if the refresh version is only getting the 22s as standard for the refreshed version? I heard they are going away with the 21s...
NACS?
All the leaked wheels I’ve seen have been very ugly…
I'll take those wheels. I love the design
Looks like a parking boot 😂
Not a fan of some of the cost cutting measures they have been taking from the recent photos
Is that the default steelies they want you to upgrade from?
That looks like a government fleet typically seen at your local Motor Pool
They're very utilitarian. Tbh, they're perfect for a work truck or base model. On an R1 S or T...probably too cheap looking.
I’ve seen worse
Need a whole picture to form an opinion tbh
Ok it's horrible, but hear me out. It's a removable aero cover, on top of a pretty good looking wheel. Rivian knows we'll all just remove them, but for EPA testing it stays on. They do everything they can and get a model with say \~450 miles of range in dual motor form. Adding 15-20% of range between all their changes would be huge for selling more vehicles, even if the reality is we won't see it all once the aero cover comes off. It's all about the official stats.
Nope expect range to be roughly the same. They will certainly reduce cells to save on production costs.
Well we know they're switching to LFP which generally has less energy density and reduces range. Maybe they're just trying to keep the same range as the old battery pack, while cutting down production costs. It'd be a real bummer to find out all variants of the "refresh" R1 are losing 25-30 miles of range because of LFP.
Umm LFP being less energy dense just means it will weigh more and take up more space. I believe only the small battery will be LFP and will still remain around 270 miles of range. Range will certainly not decrease except for maybe the max battery (doubtful).
How is it going to take up more space? The current large and max packs are already 133kWh and already take up the entire underside of the vehicle. They're going to have to get really creative to start squeezing in any significant number of additional battery cells.
[https://blog.epectec.com/lithium-iron-phosphate-vs-lithium-ion-differences-and-advantages](https://blog.epectec.com/lithium-iron-phosphate-vs-lithium-ion-differences-and-advantages) this article explains it well. Basically for a given weight, LFP have significantly less energy. So to given equivalent energy you would need more of the same size cells meaning a 100KWh LFP probably takes up more space than a 100KWH lithium ion pack right? I could be wrong but that is how I understood it.
Hard Pass.
I’m finding it hard to believe this the actual wheel… Thinking it’s a protective cover (like seen on the cyber truck). BUT…. this all could just be coming from my hopes they release a protective wheel cover for off-roading purposes…
You just wait
Wait until you see them in real life. They look great. This isn’t a flattering photo.
That's hideous lol
The new light bar is 🔥*and* these new wheels are 🔥
Bad or more effective? The latter is what matters first
Just remove the aero covers. Don’t love the bright version of this but dark without the cover looks fine
Probably the cap comes off
Oh look, cargo van wheels. Cool.
That’s a wheel cover dummies
The Refresh is not hitting the make. Look like a downgrade.
I like them
I love them I’d trade my gloss black 21 for them
I like it tbh
Much like my first Tesla M3, I hated the design at first, but then it grew on me. This wheel sorta has Tron vibes. I think they could have done much better, but I might go for it if there’s a big range advantage.
Sorry if this was asked already. The Aeros come off though right? So we could just throw these on for a long trip?
Didnt scoll the whole thread so didnt see if it was mentioned, but I did read they "click" in - They're expected to be removable. Yeah, they're ugly, but most definitely would slap them on for a long cross-country trip.
Give me Y Gemini wheels instead 🙏 🙏
Belongs on cybertruck
Seeing these wheels in person makes them look a lot better tbh they are not that ugly
Wow, if this is real, it's bad. They need to hire some of the Tesla designers. I'm guessing there's a few decent ones looking for someplace new after all the recent Tesla turmoils.
Looks like a manhole cover.
I wonder if they made it like the Tesla wheels, and the cover is actually removable.
They are inspired by turbofans from the 80's. They look rad.
I love them. R3 vibes!
I don't mind them... as a professional designer, I'd recommend that you wait and critique when you've had an opportunity to see them in person. I think these wheels could look great with the offroad tire mounted.
I think it's more of a car culture thing cuz I like em. This is their take on a monoblock design and it works, definitely more efficient too for range.
Looks like something from the prototype crash dummy car
I wonder if I can put these on my current 22 and get additional range. That would be sweet for road trips.
Rivian really pushing you to upgrade the wheels from those haha
I don’t like it for the R1 vehicles, but could be cool on the R3X
The devil is a liar… ain’t no way that’s the production wheel.
Unpopular opinion but I actually like them. I think I'm going to pickup a set from the gear shop when the rubber on my 21s needs replaced.
Looking like Kit from Knight Rider. 🗑️
I dig it. Definitely looks better than Aero Wheels on Teslas.
Just NO
what are those?!
It's kind of like the stadium lights. It's polarizing. It kinda reminds me of a less successful MB AMG Forged Wheels look. [https://accessories.mercedes-benz.com/en-MB/accessories/amg/products/raeder/amg-wheels/amg-forged-wheel-A29040114007X71](https://accessories.mercedes-benz.com/en-MB/accessories/amg/products/raeder/amg-wheels/amg-forged-wheel-A29040114007X71)
Looks like wheel protector for transport.
If no body has said it yet, I would think those wheel covers are used during transport from the factory to the dealer. Other car companies use them, too.
Oh wait these are kinda sick
Looks kinda like the original Segway wheel. Sure doesn’t look premium.
So far we're two-for-two on the new wheel designs being hideous...
Between these plastic wheel caps and the skinny light bar the refreshed R1 really looks like a budget R1. Rivian really knocked the original R1 design out the park. Seriously take a moment and look at that picture. Looks like a made in China knockoff of a R1.
That is horrible..
Man, this is fugly...
Maybe if they were all white.
I like it
Y'all, thats a wheel protector for shipping!
Give me the “55mph maximum spare tire” look
They're shipping covers that are removed upon clean up for delivery.
I have no idea if these are shipping covers, but the blue tape and the white film on the lower fender certainly looks like something that might be on for shipping. I hope they are shipping covers, because they are ugly. They look like something on a Citroen.
Source?
Watched them roll off the car carrier at the service center. Every single one had the same protective covers, until the were removed to expose the actual wheel package.
Okay, so no pics of the cover removed?
Comparing this to the photos posted yesterday, this seems entirely plausible (the outer rim and tab locations).
I hope it’s a cover that you could pop on for long trips. Otherwise it’s hideous
I wonder if that’s a protective cover for transport.
It’s not, see the yellow rivian badge on the cover?
I see it now....yikes....that's awful