Rivian Launches Desert-Themed R1S and R1T California Dune Editions
Rivian’s first foray into themed limited editions pays homage to California’s deserts.
Ever wonder why established auto brands like Chevrolet, Jeep, or Toyota continue to crank out badge-and-trim special editions with names like Midnight, Nighthawk, and Nightshade? Well, it’s because consumers love them. Rivian may’ve just started selling vehicles this decade, but it’s learning quickly from older automakers. Today it unveiled its first themed special edition vehicles, the 2025 Rivian R1S and R1T California Dune Edition, with the aim to entice new customers with some tasteful desert-inspired design upgrades.
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Based on the R1S and R1T Tri-Motor models, the California Dune Edition is a mix of existing Rivian accessories and trim-exclusive jewelry. All R1S and R1T California Dune editions come standard in Rivian’s new California Dune paint—a distinctive neutral-grayish take on the ever-popular desert tan—with black exterior accents, and a set of Maxtrax with mounting bars. Wheel choices include a stylish new rally-inspired wheel that is exclusive to the California Dune Edition, in black or matching tan, with a large surface area that will naturally discourage sand from getting packed into the wheel spokes. The R1T California Dune Edition also gets a power tonneau cover that’s been redesigned to simplify factory installation, ease of maintenance, and quieter operation as standard, too.
Inside, Rivian’s new R1 special edition features a two-tone black and tan—dubbed “black mountain and sandstone”—interior, matching sandstone Chilewich floor mats, and a new floor material that’s designed to be easy to clean sand off of.
Like other R1 Tri-Motors, the R1T and R1S California Dune Editions ought to be plenty capable when out in the sand. A tri-motor set up utilizing a single front and dual rear motors combine to give the rigs 850 hp, 1,103 lb-ft of torque and all-wheel drive, while the included All-Terrain package adds full length skidplates, all-terrain tires, a spare, and an on-board air compressor. There are no drivetrain tweaks to California Dune Edition Rivians, with the company’s All-Terrain, Rock Crawl, Rally, Drift, and Soft Sand modes likely sufficient enough to help R1 owners stay out of trouble.
Rivian says the California Dune Edition will be a “limited edition,” but won’t tell us what that actually means. Based on what the rest of the industry is doing, expect to see the sun to set on the California Dune Edition after a year or two, with a new limited run model taking its place. Both R1S and R1T models are available starting today, with the electric SUV starting at $107,700 and electric pickup at $101,700.
I generally like writing—especially when it’s about cars—but I hate writing about myself. So instead of blathering on about where I was born (New York City, in case you were wondering) or what type of cars I like (all of ’em, as long as it has a certain sense of soul or purpose), I’ll answer the one question I probably get most, right after what’s your favorite car (see above): How’d you get that job? Luck. Well, mostly. Hard work, too. Lots of it. I sort of fell into my major of journalism/mass communication at St. Bonaventure University and generally liked it a lot. In order to complete my degree senior year, we had to spend our last two semesters on some sort of project. Seeing as I loved cars and already spent a good portion of my time reading about cars on sites such as Motor Trend, I opted to create a car blog. I started a Tumblr, came up with a car-related name (The Stig’s American Cousin), signed up for media access on a bunch of manufacturer’s websites, and started writing. I did everything from cover new trim levels to reviewing my friends’ cars. I even wrote a really bad April Fool’s Day post about the next Subaru Impreza WRX being Toyota-Corolla-based. It was fun, and because it was fun, it never felt like work. Sometime after my blog had gotten off the ground, I noticed that Motor Trend was hiring for what’s now our Daily News Team. I sent in my résumé and a link to my blog. I got the job, and two weeks after graduation I made the move from New York to California. I’ve been happily plugging away at a keyboard—and driving some seriously awesome hardware—ever since.
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