Rivian adds Snow Mode just in time for winter

Making up for gradual truck shipments, the Rivian software program workforce has been hectic doing the job on enhancements and new options to preserve current prospects happy. Although it is a little group, content customers make for excellent brand name ambassadors.

The greatest and most advertised characteristic of the new update is “Snow Mode,”  – rolled out these days for the R1T truck and the R1S SUV – which will help increase manage with an emphasis on consolation when you’re in icy, slushy, or snowy conditions. I have located Rivian automobiles to have an overly aggressive regenerative braking process (the only alternatives are Typical and Significant), and the new Snow Manner can help minimize the sensitivity of the braking system to allow for greater command on slippery surfaces. Imagine acquiring to deal with a sliding automobile just about every time the brakes come on because of to regen method – not enjoyment for any driver.

Rivian Snow Mode information screen.

You also have to wonder why there wasn’t a “Snow Mode” to commence with, looking at these are usually incredibly able off-highway trucks, but thankfully Rivian has been listening to its shoppers and performing rapidly to attraction to the masses.

Other significant updates incorporate the ability to warmth the front and second-row seats, heat the steering wheel, and transform on the defrost process all by the cell app (software update edition 1.9). Another significant update is the skill to share an handle from Google Maps or Apple Maps right to the truck’s navigation procedure – a good touch.

And for these with assortment anxiety, this software program update purportedly assists with battery efficiency – while the correct figures have not been released.

You could be wondering why these updates are coming immediately after the vehicles have already been shipped. Soon after all, a lot of automobiles occur with these characteristics from day 1. Whilst no formal Rivian spokesperson has commented, unofficially the response has been that they want to make absolutely sure the encounter is great for their clients and that implies in depth tests and cautious rollouts over time.

I occur to believe that they are dashing to get cars out the door to make traders and early pre-get buyers pleased. Well worth noting is the truth that some Rivian automobiles have wooden trim on the again of the initial-row headrests, and other individuals do not. Chalk it up to cost-chopping or assembly line advancements?

Here is a shortened list of other new attributes and bugs that the most up-to-date Rivian application update addresses:

  • Use the Tidal new music application if you have an account
  • Updates to Spotify together with the ability to pay attention to Audiobooks
  • Manage the quantity degrees of the navigation speech, Amazon’s Alexa, media and mobile phone calls – all independently (this has been a major concern if you are listening to audio and not equipped to hear the Rivian navigation process talking to you)
  • Improved experience quality in the different push modes
  • Established your present-day area as “home” or “work” without the need of it having to be a precise deal with

I was equipped to update my Rivian R1S past night time and will proceed to take a look at the new characteristics and updates to see how they work and if they improve the issues I have seasoned with my truck. Some bugs nonetheless continue being: I did see that I was not able to log out of one particular Spotify account to be equipped to swap about to a different account, but that’s little in comparison to becoming able to confidently drive on snow.

You can watch the complete listing of bug fixes and options at the Unofficial Rivian Software Tracker internet site.

Update: We settled the Spotify bug we encountered by resetting the shows and infotainment middle. To do this, hold the significantly remaining and significantly right buttons on the steering wheel for about 10 to 15 seconds.

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