Rivian Reveals Limited “California Dune Edition” R1 With Off-Road Focus And Exclusive Features

Rivian has introduced its first-ever limited edition variant of the R1 electric vehicle (EV) lineup, drawing inspiration from the sun-drenched landscapes of Southern California’s desert. The “California Dune Edition,” announced today, represents a strategic shift in how the EV automaker approaches off-road capability and luxury in its flagship models.

Inspired by California’s Desert

While maintaining the same base price as the standard Tri-Motor variants—$99,900 for the R1T pickup and $105,900 for the R1S SUV—the California Dune Edition actually offers more features than its regular counterparts. This unique pricing strategy effectively makes the limited edition more economical than a fully equipped standard model, as it includes the $3,950 All-Terrain Package at no additional cost.

Both the California Dune Edition vehicles contain Rivian’s powerful Tri-Motor powertrain, which delivers 850 horsepower and 1,103 pound-feet of torque. This configuration enables a brisk 2.9-second acceleration from 0 to 60 mph, while maintaining an EPA-estimated range of 329 miles on a full charge when equipped with the Adventure Package.

Jeff Hammoud, Rivian’s Chief Design Officer, explains the philosophy behind the special edition stating, “The design team was inspired by the color and warmth of the beautiful, sun-drenched dunes of Southern California. We embraced the balance between the vast, quiet terrain of the California dunes and the desire to create something that is both elevated and refined.”

Off-Road Focus Over Luxury

In an interesting departure from typical limited editions that add luxury features, Rivian has chosen to focus on enhancing the vehicles’ off-road capabilities. The California Dune Edition foregoes the premium “Ascend” interior—standard on other Tri-Motor R1s—in favor of the more rugged “Adventure” interior. While this means losing some luxury amenities like passenger lumbar adjustment and an electrochromic roof, the trade-off brings a host of practical off-road focused equipment.

The standard package includes several noteworthy features: the All-Terrain Package with smaller wheels for improved off-road performance, a reinforced underbody shield, and a spare tire. Buyers can choose between two wheel designs—either dark-finished or matched to the new California Dune exterior color. The package also includes MAXTRAX recovery boards mounted on dark cargo crossbars, essential equipment for escaping deep sand situations.

For the interior, the vehicle features a new “Sandstone” colored base with “Black Mountain” accents, creating an interior aesthetic that mirrors the external environment it was designed to traverse. Practical considerations weren’t overlooked—the materials are specifically chosen to be easy to clean while maintaining their aesthetic appeal, even after challenging off-road sessions.

Debuting at SXSW

For those interested in seeing the California Dune Edition in person, Rivian will showcase the vehicles at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, from March 7-15 at their Electric Roadhouse display. The company also plans to exhibit the special edition at select Rivian spaces across the country.

By offering this capability-focused package at the same price point as the standard Tri-Motor variant, Rivian has created an compelling option for outdoor enthusiasts looking to combine sustainable transportation with genuine off-road capability.

Read More: Rivian’s Upcoming 2025.06 Update Redefines Wheel Configuration For EV Owners

The limited edition is available for order now, though the company hasn’t specified exactly how “limited” the production run will be. Given the included features and strategic pricing, this special edition might prove to be an attractive option for buyers already considering Rivian’s high-performance Tri-Motor variants.

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