Rivian is heading back to Austin this month, and they aren't just showing up as a guest. The electric automaker has returned as the headline sponsor for SXSW 2026, the massive annual festival that blends film, interactive media, and music.
The timing is perfect, as the event falls right on the heels of the official R2 unveiling set for March 12. From March 13 to 18, Rivian will transform its flagship Austin space at 208 S. Congress Ave into the "Electric Roadhouse". This central hub will host panels, live music, and exclusive events, but the real star of the show will be the R2 midsize SUV, which will be on display for the public to explore in person and even ride for the first time.
What to Expect From the Rivian R2
The R2 is easily Rivian’s most important vehicle to date, built on an entirely new platform that is much lighter than the R1S. Rivian is targeting a starting price of roughly $45,000 for the single-motor base model, making it a direct competitor to the Tesla Model Y.
If you're looking for performance, the dual-motor, all-wheel drive Launch Edition is expected to be the first to roll off the line. It features an 87.4 kWh battery pack, putting out 656 horsepower and hitting 0-60 mph in a blistering 3.5 seconds. The R2 also includes clever utility features like front seats that fold totally flat for car camping and a rear window that rolls completely down into the tailgate. It even features a native NACS charging port, ensuring it can use Tesla’s Supercharger network right out of the box.
The R2 Electric Joyride Event
For those who want to do more than just look at a stationary car, Rivian is bringing back its popular "Electric Joyride" event at the 800 Block of Congress. This custom off-road course is built right in the middle of downtown Austin, allowing attendees to experience the SUV's capabilities from the passenger seat.
Rivian Wave
An expert driver will navigate the R2 through steep hills, sharp turns, and uneven ground. The Joyride event runs daily from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, though hours vary slightly on March 14 and March 18. You can book a spot in advance or simply hop in line while exploring the festival. Just keep in mind that riders must be at least 9 years old and are required to sign a liability waiver.
More Than Just a Car Show
The Electric Roadhouse isn't just about hardware; it's a full cultural experience. Attendees can enjoy live music from local bands curated by KUTX from March 13-15 or relax in the hospitality lounge with coffee served off the tailgate of an R1T.
Tech fans should also look out for the "Are You Faster than a Robot?" challenge. This autonomous robot event will be conducted jointly by Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe and YouTuber Mark Rober, officially kicking off the new partnership between Rivian and Rober’s CrunchLabs.
With volume R2 production slated for mid-2026, this SXSW showcase is the perfect way for the public to get a feel for the vehicle that will define Rivian’s next chapter. If you’re in Austin this month, the Electric Roadhouse is a stop you won't want to miss.
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Rivian is officially making its extreme performance ambitions known with the launch of the Rivian Adventure Department, or RAD, for short. What began as a quiet, internal skunkworks team of dedicated designers and engineers has now been formalized into a specialized division tasked with pushing Rivian’s vehicles to their absolute limits.
RAD becomes essentially an AMG, ///M, or GT equivalent inside of @Rivian.
Sounds like we can expect future models to carry the RAD name as a trim level. Think “R1T RAD” perhaps.
By validating the hardware and software in some of the most unforgiving environments on Earth, RAD aims to translate some of the lessons learned from high-performance motorsports directly into exciting consumer features.
From the Desert to Pikes Peak
The roots of the RAD initiative trace back to Rivian’s earliest days, including the grueling 13,000-mile prototype journey from Patagonia to Los Angeles during the filming of the Long Way Up documentary. Since then, the internal passion project has evolved through rigorous real-world motorsport testing.
When a Rivian R1T became the first EV to win the gruelling Rebelle Rally in 2023, the data gathered from conquering the deep sand directly led to the development of Rivian’s Desert Rally drive mode, as well as the Deep Sand mode.
Our team is further developing the deep sand performance of the Tri-Motor R1! It’s incredible :) pic.twitter.com/DNzlGaSVAH
Similarly, when Rivian’s engineers set out to shatter the production electric truck record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, they built a custom internal software tool to adjust torque bias, stability control, and regenerative braking on the fly. They realized one thing along the way: that tool was simply too fun to keep locked away for engineers, and Rivian decided to refine it for customers, too.
The RAD Tuner
That Pikes Peak engineering tool has officially arrived in consumer vehicles as the RAD Tuner. Exclusively available for Gen 2 Quad-Motor owners, the RAD Tuner acts as a high-performance equalizer for the powertrain.
You have access to real-time control over ten different vehicle parameters, including power output, front-to-rear torque split, brake assistance, wheel slip, damping, and roll stiffness. Instead of relying on factory presets, off-road enthusiasts can now dial in their own custom driving dynamics to suit their style and the trails they’re adventuring on.
That’s a level of customizability that’s never really been available in a production vehicle before.
Taking on the FAT Ice Course
To celebrate the formalization of the new division, RAD is making its official public debut this week at the 2026 FAT Ice Race in Big Sky, Montana. They’re also showcasing the new bold orange, red, and white RAD livery - and competing with a brand-new Quad-Motor R1S on the frozen course.
Rivian R1S Quad on studded tires sets a lap around the FAT Ice Race course!
The studded tires help a ton but so does the new RAD Tuner that allows Luke Lynch to dial in all of the suspension and powertrain attributes to his liking
Equipped with studded tires, the first R1S Quad RAD is leveraging RAD Tuner to perfectly control its suspension and powertrain for the low-traction environment - all with 1,025 horsepower on tap. Perfect torque delivery is what keeps a vehicle stable at those speeds and in those conditions, and Rivian is proving that its new performance division isn’t just a marketing exercise - it is a massive commitment to build highly performing electric adventure vehicles.
Skiers at Big Sky Resort in Montana are getting a high-tech lift to the slopes this season that does not involve a gondola. X user Kyle Conner (@itskyleconner) recently shared footage of a fleet of at least six Rivian R1T trucks being used as a specialized shuttle service at the resort.
"6 Rivian R1Ts pulling trailers to move people around Big Sky ski area. So cool!" Conner noted while capturing the electric trucks in action. The implementation is a clever way to solve a common mountain problem: getting people from free parking zones to the ski lifts without forcing them to hike up in heavy gear.
The setup involves the R1T trucks pulling large trailers or carts, each capable of seating more than a dozen people. According to Conner, the shuttle service runs daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., effortlessly moving crowds across the ski zone.
It appears that Rivian may have provided both the trucks and the custom trailers to the resort for this specific pilot program. When the sun goes down and the slopes close, the fleet is parked at on-site Level 2 AC chargers to juice up for the next day. Seeing these silent, emission-free pickups replace noisy diesel shuttles is a major win for sustainable mobility in fragile mountain ecosystems.
6 Rivian R1Ts pulling trailers to move people around Big Sky ski area. So cool! pic.twitter.com/l3xIDNuiQa
The R1T is practically overqualified for this job. The Gen 2 (2025–2026) model is a high-performance beast, with the Quad-Motor variant pushing a staggering 1,025 hp and 1,198 lb-ft of torque. It can hit 0–60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, and the Dual Max version offers a massive EPA-estimated range of 420 miles.
More importantly for a ski resort, the R1T features 14.9 inches of ground clearance and advanced off-road capabilities that make navigating icy, snowy roads a breeze. With a max towing capacity of 11,000 lbs, pulling a cart filled with skiers is light work for this truck. Safety is also a major factor, as the R1T is the only EV ever to achieve an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating in the pickup category.
The Future of the Brand
This mountain implementation comes at an exciting time for Rivian. While the R1T and R1S continue to prove their worth in extreme conditions, the company is finally nearing the launch of its long-awaited R2 midsize SUV.
The Big Sky implementation is pretty impressive. By putting their hardware into real-world, high-utility roles like this, Rivian is showing that electric trucks are not just for the suburbs — they are rugged enough to keep a world-class ski resort running smoothly and sustainably.
