Mystery Rivian R1T appears with flashy camo in spy shots, sparking speculation over new revision to electric pickup truck

It has been known for a while now that Rivian is planning the release of its cheaper R2 platform, and the latest word is that there will be an announcement and unveiling for the new EV platform on March 7 in California. However, a recent sighting in Alaska hints to a possible revision of the original R1T on the horizon.

Posted by @RivianTrackr on X (formerly Twitter), the images show what appear to be two Rivian R1T electric pickup trucks dressed in bright camouflage being tested in snowy weather conditions. There don't appear to be any changes to the exterior design of the vehicles, however, resulting in more than a little confusion in the comments on the post.

It's possible that Rivian is testing cold-weather performance of the EVs after upgrading to the new in-house Enduro motors, but a more cynical observer might see this as simply an attempt to drum up conversation about the company ahead of the launch of the smaller R2 launch.It's also possible that Rivian is refining its cold-weather battery performance.

It's entirely possible that Rivian is working on a mid-cycle refresh of the R1T, though, since the company's first electric pickup truck has been on the market since 2021, putting it at three years old later this year.

If you enjoy reading about electric vehicles, pick up Walter Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk on Amazon.