The tech behind Rivian’s 2026 Quad Motor truck and SUV — and that kick turn

As Rivian prepares to open orders for its highly anticipated 2026 Quad Motor pickup truck and SUV, enthusiasts and potential buyers alike are captivated by the sheer power and innovative maneuvers these re-engineered electric vehicles promise. With four motors delivering an astounding combined 1,025 horsepower and 1,198 pound-feet of torque, the ability to rocket from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 2.5 seconds is undeniably a showstopper. Coupled with an estimated 374-mile range, the performance metrics alone position these new Rivian models at the pinnacle of EV engineering.

However, beyond the raw power, the true innovation lies in the sophisticated software underpinning these vehicles. “The Quad is really the pinnacle of everything that Rivian has done so far,” stated Wassym Bensaid, Rivian’s head of software, in an interview with TechCrunch. He emphasized the profound advantage of having full in-house control over both motor hardware and the software stack, enabling unparalleled integration and new feature development.

This deep integration has paved the way for several groundbreaking features, set to roll out via software updates for the quad-motor models this September. While quad-motor trims are available for order now, with deliveries commencing as early as next week, the software enhancements are what truly set them apart.

Perhaps the most talked-about new feature is “kick turn.” Designed to generate viral content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, kick turn dynamically adjusts power to the inside wheels, allowing the vehicle to spin around its center even while in motion. TechCrunch’s own testing in June confirmed its efficacy: at speeds under 20 mph on dirt, the vehicle can execute a precise back-end swing to the right or left without steering input. This innovation offers off-roaders an intuitive way to make tight turns on challenging trails, bypassing tedious three-point maneuvers.

Rivian aficionados might recall the much-promoted, but ultimately unreleased, “tank turn” feature. Kick turn represents a refined, real-world application of this concept, focusing on precise power and tire grip control. Rivian clarified that tank turn was shelved due to concerns from founder and CEO RJ Scaringe about potential environmental damage to trails – a sensible decision for a brand deeply rooted in outdoor and environmental preservation. To prevent misuse, Rivian has implemented software guardrails, limiting kick turn operation to specific speeds and only on dirt surfaces.

Second-Generation Overhaul: A Comprehensive Reimagining

Rivian first unveiled its second-generation quad-motor configuration during a May 2024 press drive in Washington, showcasing a comprehensive overhaul of its flagship R1 line. This refresh extends to virtually every internal component, from the battery pack and suspension system to the electrical architecture, interior design, sensor stack, and user interface software.

This strategic move to bring more major component manufacturing in-house aims to significantly reduce production costs while simultaneously enhancing the performance and overall appeal of Rivian’s electric vehicles. While deliveries of the new dual-motor and performance dual-motor trims began swiftly, followed by the tri-motor configuration in August 2024, the quad-motor variant required an additional year of meticulous development to perfect its software features and embedded systems, ensuring seamless synergy with the motors, suspension, and thermal management.

The stakes are high for Rivian to get the quad-motor precisely right, especially with the more affordable R2 vehicles not expected to enter production until the first half of 2026. Priced between $115,990 and $125,990 depending on the trim, the new quad-motor is pivotal to boosting sales, and its advanced software is a critical differentiator.

If the four individually placed motors are the heart of the second-generation quad-motor, then its software is undeniably the brain orchestrating their every action. Bensaid highlighted the development of advanced torque vectoring and balancing algorithms as a core achievement in the second-generation quad-motor.

“Think about it as super complex mathematical processing behind the scenes to allow real-time usage and decisions based on information from the four wheels and then the four motors, while obviously keeping safety guards in place,” he explained. This means numerous sensors on the R1S SUV and R1T truck continuously feed data—such as yaw rate and steering angles—into sophisticated software models, which then precisely control the torque delivered to each wheel electronically. This in-house hardware and software integration ensures real-time, adaptive power distribution.

Software Meets Hardware: Unlocking New Possibilities

This seamless integration has enabled Rivian to introduce not only kick turn but also other innovative software-meets-hardware features for the quad-motor. Among these is “RAD Tuner,” allowing users to modify the vehicle’s driving dynamics directly via the central touchscreen. Developed by a dedicated team of engineers, software developers, and designers known as the “Rivian Adventure Department,” RAD Tuner has a fascinating origin story.

Bensaid recounted that early Rivian employees, including R2 chief engineer Max Koff and R1 chief engineer Luke Lynch, would access a hidden engineering screen to configure the cars during testing, often pushing the vehicles to their limits. This internal practice evolved into the idea of making such a tuner available to customers.

With RAD Tuner, drivers can either craft entirely custom driving modes from scratch or fine-tune existing presets like “Rally” or “Sport.” While this feature truly unleashes the unique personality of the car, Bensaid noted it’s primarily designed for expert drivers. He stressed the underlying technological complexity: “For example, this torque balance, the fact that we’re able to configure this with a very simple slider — this is years of engineering development to have a very sophisticated torque vectoring algorithm with really a high-precision control that allows us to change values while we’re driving. It’s technically extremely, extremely difficult to do this type of changes.”

Additionally, Rivian is rolling out a “launch cam” feature. This innovative function uses an exterior camera to automatically record “Launch Mode,” capturing the exhilarating moment the new R1T quad-motor accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in under 2.5 seconds. Users can replay these videos, complete with real-time stats like speed and distance overlays calculated by Rivian’s in-house controls software, and easily export them to a mobile device via a USB port for sharing.

NACS Charging and Enhanced Connectivity

The 2026 R1T and R1S vehicles, including the quad-motor, now come equipped with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, originally developed and popularized by Tesla. This crucial hardware upgrade grants owners seamless access to Tesla’s extensive network of Superchargers, significantly expanding charging convenience.

Rivian is also providing all quad-motor customers with a complimentary CCS DC adapter, ensuring compatibility with the long-standing CCS EV charging standard and access to other established charging networks. Complementing this hardware upgrade, the company has updated its EV charging trip planner software. Now, when a customer selects an NACS station within the trip planner, the system automatically reflects that no adapter is required, streamlining the charging experience.