Kick Turn (Tank Turn) on-board demo

[Katsudon]

By @Rivian updates

Tank Turn! To control it, you use the steering wheel buttons (both left for a left turn, both right for a right turn) and the throttle controls the torque. It only works on soft surfaces though. If the Quad senses too much traction it won’t activate, so it won't let you do it on a hard surface like pavement.

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[bael]

Nice, that was at the Rivian event at the Georgia site yesterday based on the scenery

 

[lefkonj]

really amazing what you can do with 4 motors.

 

[COdogman]

This is good news for “tank turn” guy

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/latest-update-has-no-tank-mode-for-2026-quads.49951/

 

[BrayBay]

That's amazing it has the sensors to figure out what terrain you're on.

Off-topic, but that Slate Sky interior is looking great.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

That's amazing it has the sensors to figure out what terrain you're on.

Off-topic, but that Slate Sky interior is looking great.

Remarkable, but not new. And it's not sensors watching and reading the ground. It's monitoring amount of wheel slip, at all four, to determine what kind of surface you are on. An extension of something common traction and stability control systems already do.

 

[PaythePiper]

This is a stupid gimmick that just cooks your tires.

 

[ebellinder2]

This is a stupid gimmick that just cooks your tires.

guess I wonder how many people will use this feature

 

[PaythePiper]

guess I wonder how many people will use this feature

Probably just to show it off. Useful in a pinch, but that pinch not a common occurrence

 

[Stainer85]

I don't see anything wrong with this feature. It is undoubtedly useful, if only on less frequent occasions. Rivian R1T and R1S are competent all-around vehicles; this particular feature is just one of many that translate to the vehicle's overall functionality. It's not like one is spending $100k for a tank/kick turn parlor trick. In addition to the EV purpose, we are buying them for their exceptional overall capabilities compared to all other available vehicles, and the kick turn is just a tiny piece of the package.

I can't get the feature since my R1T is a Gen 1 Quad, but I wouldn't mind having it. I'll take any enhancements Rivian wants to provide.

I get where you are coming from, though. I assume from your position that you would prefer they fix/enhance more of the everyday-use functionality, and I agree. However, many of us buy these vehicles with the intention of off-roading/exploring, and a kick-turn feature might come in handy more often than you might think in those situations.

Also, how would it burn through your tires if the truck won’t allow it to perform the function on hard surfaces/pavement? If only doing a kick turn in gravel, sand, dirt, etc., and on limited occasions, I don’t think it would increase tire wear much for the typical user, but maybe I’m not considering some of the variables.

 

[CharonPDX]

Probably just to show it off. Useful in a pinch, but that pinch not a common occurrence

Heck, I've only used "full pedal to the floor in sport mode" maybe 3-4 times in the >3 years I've owned my truck. If they were to add "Launch Mode" to Gen 1 Quads, I'd probably use it once just to see how it works, then never use it again.

Many of the "halo, special high performance" features of vehicles are there solely for the marketing, regular drivers will almost never use them. (Or they're things that shouldn't be regularly used.)

 

[Erik+]

If you turn each thumb dial opposite one another the quad does a barrel roll.

 

[Rivian Owner]

Tank turn on pavement = really tight donuts and lots of tire smoke. What's not to like?

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Tank turn on pavement = really tight donuts and lots of tire smoke. What's not to like?

What's not to like? Let's see, overly expensive half shafts, hubs, etc. It's not supposed to be use on high traction surfaces.

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