Rivian’s R1TX is a Fan’s Bold Take on the Electric Pickup’s Wild Side

Photo credit: Nicolás Herrera
Nicolas Herrera has had a bit of a thing for Rivians trucks for as long as anyone can remember. As a transport designer, he gets to spend his days doodling on vehicles that juggle the ordinary with a spoonful of wow factor. His latest project, the R1TX, started as a what if question: what if the R1T, Rivian’s main electric pickup, decided to push the limits just a bit further?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nicolás Herrera (@nicolash.design)

For him, the vision basically keeps the same outline as the R1T but stretches it out to something that feels more rugged. He widened the stance, dropped the height and before you know it the whole thing is hugging the ground. You get this deep black accent running along the body which just sucks up the light and gives the whole thing a real low-key sense of power. Even with just those two changes, the truck goes from being some reliable daily driver to a trusted sidekick you’d want with you on a rough trail.

Up front is where the main action is happening – vertical LED headlights stand tall as ever, right next to a long LED bar that runs right across the front grill. He’s added some pixel LED lights in a pattern that’s meant to match a grille – gives the face some real depth without making it all cluttered up. Down below that you’ve got a bumper made for getting the job done: a winch tucked in there, tow hooks ready to yank on something, and a shiny silver skid plate looking like it’s promising to keep the whole thing safe.


From the side, the R1TX shows its no-nonsense approach. Gone are the second row windows – and I mean, you end up with a sleeker, more rugged shell instead. Doors and seating stay the same as the R1T, so the cabin still feels just as familiar for anyone who’s ever been inside one. That black cladding is all over the place here, down the lower edges and really underscoring the trucks readiness for whatever the weather decides to throw at it.

Massive black rims team up with extra-high all-terrain tyres that look like they were chiseled to grip in the deepest drifts. These ain’t some flash new wheels, they’re the kind of setup that really bites in on the loose stuff – fresh powder, loose gravel, whatever – and just holds on for dear life. He chose them to really bring out the truck’s off-road personality, to make every turn feel planted and every bit of acceleration feel like you’re really pushing forward with purpose. Paired with the ride being so much lower, they create a balance that’s a bit extreme but works just as well – perfect for carving through the worst of winter.


Out back, you’re right back in familiar territory with a few well-thought-out upgrades. The tailgate and bed still have their utilitarian shape, but Herrera’s got a whole host of accessories in there to make winter adventuring easier. There are roof racks just bursting with room for skis or snowshoes, side mounted carriers that suggest you could stash chains or recovery straps in there, and then there’s the rear bumper – with integrated steps that make getting into the bed a whole lot easier even when you’re trudging in with boots loaded with ice. These upgrades aren’t over-the-top – they’re all pretty intuitive and they blend in seamlessly, turning the rear end into a launch pad for whatever the day happens to throw at you.


Herrera had a definite vision when he was working on this: “I just wanted to come up with a concept that didn’t just fit in with what Rivian’s all about, but also pushed things forward a bit – made it more robust, more emotive, and more ready for whatever comes after.” That overall attitude shines through in every single one of these renders.