ads

Rivian R1T Quad Motor Smashes Records to Become Quickest Pickup

The 2026 Rivian R1T Quad Motor has officially claimed the title of the quickest pickup truck ever subjected to testing. Rivian’s updated model is not only ridiculously rapid for a utility vehicle but possesses enough straight-line velocity to outpace established sports cars, including the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, through the quarter-mile sprint.

Welcome to the new era of truck performance, where electric power has fundamentally altered the definition of “quick.” It was only recently that we were astonished by the sub-four-second 0-60 mph times delivered by high-performance gasoline models like the 700-plus-horsepower Ram 1500 TRX and Ford F-150 Raptor R. While those times remain impressive given the trucks’ inherent off-road capability, they now seem almost antique compared to the speed of the top electric rigs from Rivian and Tesla.

The tested 2026 Rivian R1T Quad Motor Max Pack, which weighs in at 6987 pounds, harnesses a combined output of 1025 horsepower and 1198 pound-feet of torque from its four individual motors, all fed by a 140-kWh battery. Enabling launch control, this powerhouse blitzed the 60 mph mark in a mere 2.6 seconds. The quarter-mile was dispatched in an insane 10.6 seconds at 128 mph.

Record-Shattering Performance

Performance Metric2026 Rivian R1T Quad Motor Max Pack
Quickest Tested TitleYes, fastest pickup ever tested
0–60 mph Time2.6 seconds
Quarter-Mile Time10.6 seconds @ 128 mph
Combined Output1025 horsepower / 1198 lb-ft torque
Weight6987 pounds
Performance Gap (vs. Cybertruck)Nearly 1 second faster to 100 mph
Performance Gap (vs. Raptor R)1 full second faster to 60 mph

The Tesla Takedown

While the 834-hp Tesla Cybertruck Beast ties the Rivian’s 0-60 mph time (also 2.6 seconds), the Rivian rapidly pulls ahead as speeds climb. At 100 mph, the R1T leads by nearly a full second (6.0 seconds compared to the slightly lighter Cybertruck’s 6.9 seconds). Ultimately, the Cybertruck Beast only manages an 11.0-second quarter-mile run at 119 mph, placing it 1.1 seconds and 17 mph behind the Rivian’s previous-generation quad-motor time.

Significantly, the R1T Quad Motor’s insane straight-line potential—with an as-tested price of $126,290—means it leaves the fastest gas-powered pickup we’ve tested, the 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R, behind by a full second just up to 60 mph. Furthermore, the truck’s quarter-mile time is sufficient to win a drag race against serious sports cars, including the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, the Mercedes-AMG GT63, and the Corvette E-Ray.

The experience of achieving this speed inside the R1T is surprisingly uneventful, typical of most EVs. The driver engages launch control and the sportiest drive mode via the center touchscreen, holds down both pedals while the truck lowers itself on its air springs, and then simply releases the brake. Amidst the whirring motors and the rapid rush of scenery, the only reminder that one is seated in a crew-cab pickup with an 11,000-pound towing capacity is the slightly elevated seating position. The Quad Motor R1T has firmly planted the flag for electric performance in the truck segment.


Conclusion

The 2026 Rivian R1T Quad Motor is more than just a quick truck; it is a performance anomaly that resets the industry standard. Achieving a 10.6-second quarter-mile time and a 2.6-second 0-60 mph sprint, the R1T definitively proves that electric architecture can deliver supercar-level acceleration in a rugged utility package, soundly besting its key electric rival and leaving gas competitors far behind.

Leave a Comment