Rivian has a new high-performance EV that you almost certainly don't need. On Tuesday, the automaker unveiled a quad-motor variant of the second-generation R1. The EV can do remarkable things, but it's positioned as more of an off-road brand magnet than a sensible purchase.

That process is helped by Rivian's new system architecture introduced in the Gen 2 R1 platform last year. This not only greatly simplified the architecture of the vehicles, cutting cost and weight, but it enabled far more finite control over those motors.

The Quad-Motor R1S and R1T then take all the Gen 2 enhancements and max out the potential for on-road performance and off-road capability. New motors and additional cooling allow for ratings of 1,025 horsepower and 1,