Welcome to the Rivian Adventure Department

Exploring what our vehicles can do, and how much fun you can have

By Rivian

February 27^th, 2026

A white Rivian truck drives on a dirt road winding through brown, arid mountains. The road cuts through the landscape, with other paths visible on the slopes. The sky is overcast.

Six years ago, we brought two of our first R1T prototypes to the southernmost tip of South America to film Long Way Up. We were there to drive, to learn, and to put our vehicles through some of their earliest challenges. And somewhere between the bottom of South America and Los Angeles, something very fundamental became clear: the further we push our vehicles, the more fun we can have.

White Rivian truck drives down a steep sandy hill, kicking up sand. The rear of the truck is visible, with a red light bar and

That realization started a chain reaction of saying “yes” to extreme adventures. Today, we are giving that spirit and that team a name.

Welcome to the Rivian Adventure Department. Or what we like to call, RAD.

Four smiling people stand near a Rivian truck on a rocky shore with icebergs in the background. They wear winter jackets and hats. Overcast sky.

Skunkworks, Publicly

RAD is a team of Rivian designers, engineers, and adventure enthusiasts who spend their days and nights exploring the limits of what a Rivian can do.

They have one mission: finding the next level of what’s possible with our vehicles, bridging between where we find the extremes and the features that end up in your driveway.

Rivian SUV sits atop a sand dune in black and white. The vehicle faces the viewer, headlights on, against a bright sky.

"RAD represents the living, breathing expression of the passion that defines Rivian. That impulse to explore, to push limits, and to embrace the adventure is not confined to one team—it is the very DNA of our entire company, from the designers and engineers to our community of owners,” said Jeff Hammoud, Chief Design Officer. “The Rivian Adventure Department simply gives an official name and a powerful focus to the transparent, open spirit that drives every vehicle we design and every mile we seek out. It’s a promise to never stop pushing the boundaries of adventure.”

The question RAD asks is “Should we push this further?” The answer is always “Yes.”

Rivian truck ascends a sand dune, kicking up sand. The truck has a topographical map design and roof rack with spare tires. Desert landscape, clear sky.

Winning the Rebelle Rally (and becoming the first EV to win the longest off-road rally in the USA) was just the start in 2023.

“We've learned there's no substitute for real-world experience. Three years ago at Rebelle, when deep sand conditions made for slow going at certain points in the course, our team's experience was directly informed by our earlier development of Soft Sand mode,” said Lilly Macaruso, Rivian Engineer and Rebelle Rally Winner. “We use the real-world as our proving ground, creating and refining features that end up in your Rivian.”

Rivian drives along a mountain road at sunset. The road is lined with snow and the sky is a warm orange.

Race car driver sits in vehicle wearing orange helmet with visor, harness, and white racing suit. Trees are visible through the car window.

Next came Pikes Peak where we set the production electric truck record in 2023—and then beat our own record again in 2024.

"Pikes Peak has no margin for error, and at 14,115 feet, the air gets thin, every bump and switchback was a test of our vehicle’s capability—and the truck stayed planted through every second of it,” said Gardner Nichols, Sr. Performance Test Engineer and Pikes Peak record-setter. “Breaking the 11-minute barrier in an EV truck isn’t just a record; it’s a statement about the future of performance and breaking the barriers of what’s possible in a Rivian.”

Two Rivian trucks drive down a steep, sandy hill, kicking up dust. A tall, gray rock formation rises in the center against a clear blue sky. Orange cliffs are in the background.

Innovation, Validated by the Wild

What started as a way for our engineers to fine-tune driving dynamics at Rebelle or Pikes has evolved into a tool for you, what we call RAD Tuner. It allows Gen 2 Quad owners to create their own drive modes in real-time, adjusting power output, torque bias, stability control, and brake regeneration to match the trail or road ahead.

These software updates are built on lessons learned from the edge, delivered directly to you. The presets you find in RAD Tuner, like Desert Rally and Hill Climb, are built and tested in the real-world, our hardest proving ground.

Desert Rally: When we won the 2023 Rebelle Rally (making history as the first EV to do so) it wasn't just about the trophy. That victory gave birth to the Desert Rally drive mode, a preset honed directly from the race data needed to conquer that terrain.
Hill Climb: When we took the R1T to Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, we weren't just chasing a record. Our goal was to understand how to make an all-electric truck feel like a rally car at 14,000 feet. We built a tool that allowed us to adjust stability control, regeneration, and torque bias in real-time. That tool was too fun to keep to ourselves, so we refined it into RAD Tuner, giving you the power to dial in your own driving dynamics.

"RAD is where we maximize the capability of our vehicles. Subjecting them to extreme conditions—from the 14,000-foot ascent of Pikes Peak to the barren deserts of the Rebelle Rally. For us, the competition is only one element. Vigorously validating every system, component and algorithm is the other,” said Luke Lynch, Chief Engineer, R1. “The greatest outcome of developing the vehicles in these extreme environments is a beautifully well rounded vehicle. The cherry on top is translating those hard-won lessons into features, like the new RAD Tuner, that deliver next-level fun to our owners."

What’s Next?

In the spirit of finding these new extremes, we are heading to the snow, where RAD makes its official debut at the 2026 FAT Ice Race in Big Sky, Montana. Not only are we showing off this team and our livery, we’ll be competing in the race itself with the new Quad R1S.

The FAT Ice Race is a one-of-a-kind winter motorsport festival that takes place in both Zell am See, Austria and for the first time in 2026, in Big Sky, Montana. This unique event blends historic and modern car culture, design, music, and community with racing on snow and ice, featuring vintage racers, modern performance cars, and even skijoring (skiing towed by a car) for a vibrant, lifestyle-focused automotive spectacle.

Amidst these vintage racers, specialized cars and automotive legends, we are showcasing what the future of extreme adventure looks like—proven on the ice, ready for the world.

RAD is a promise that we will never stop pushing the limits and finding new ways to put a smile on your face.

Four Rivian Adventure Department team members huddle together, arms around each other, smiling in a desert landscape with white tents. A Rivian vehicle with a red flag is parked nearby.

RAD is an invitation to explore what our vehicles can do and how much fun you can have. You don’t have to be an expert or experienced adventurer. If you have the heart to try and will to keep going, we invite you to come along.