by Gabrielle DeSantis

Tesla’s biggest competitor just made a major production move. Rivian was founded in 2009, six years after Tesla began working on electric vehicles and clean energy. In the last decade, Rivian has generated an enormous amount of attention, it even got onto Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ radar. Now, Rivian is building a $5 billion plant to get more of its electric vehicles on the road.

Rivian’s $5 billion plant

The electric vehicle industry is uncharted territory in many ways. Despite Tesla’s many models and historic moments, it is still in its infancy as an automaker. This makes Rivian an even younger automaker in comparison, and both companies have a lot to prove.

As more automakers begin to electrify lineups, Rivian and Tesla are bound to lose out on a percentage of the EV market share. Tesla is currently competing with automakers like Ford and GMC but Rivian could prove to be its fiercest opponent.

According to Reuters, the automaker plans to begin construction on a $5 billion plant this year. The company expects to begin producing vehicles at the plant as soon as 2023. This will be Rivian’s second U.S. assembly plant.

Is Rivian Tesla’s biggest competition?

Tesla is one of the few automakers on the market that only makes EVs. Rivian is a direct competitor to Tesla despite its current lack of impact on the market. The company may not be Tesla’s biggest worry yet but it has big plans.

Rivian received $700 million to produce a fleet of electric vehicles for Amazon. Ford has also announced a future partnership with Rivian. It’s clear that the brand possesses technology advanced enough to put some of America’s biggest companies on alert.

Rivian’s most affordable R1T electric truck starts at $67,500. Its $73,000 Launch Edition can no longer be reserved because of demand. Deliveries begin in January 2022.

The Rivian R1S SUV starts at $70,000. Its $75,000 Launch Edition is no longer taking reservations either. The company is selling out of models six months ahead of delivery time despite its high prices.

Has Rivian already won the battle against Tesla?

Tesla may have started its journey producing high-end luxury performance models but it is clearly transitioning toward making more affordable EVs. Its two best-selling models are the affordable Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles. It also is developing a hatchback with a starting price of $25,000.

After EV tax credits the Tesla hatchback could be well under $20k, making it the most affordable Tesla in history and one of the most affordable EVs. It seems Rivian has a different target audience in mind as it rolls out its first vehicles. Tesla has done a great job catering to the masses when it comes to producing more affordable models and including features that customers suggest.

Tesla started as a luxury performance automaker, but in its attempt to be ubiquitous does it risk being outclassed by automakers like Rivian? Furthermore, Rivian’s deal with Amazon shows it is capable of producing fleets of EVs for huge companies. Tesla may have a huge headstart and a bigger fan base but Rivian could prove to be its biggest competition in the years to come.

RELATED: Rivian’s Electric Trucks Plan to Do 1 Thing Better Than Every Other EV

The post Tesla Competitor Rivian Is Building $5 Billion Plant appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re looking for maximum thrills on a minimal budget, the Dodge Viper would like a word with you. That especially applies to the first-gen Viper RT/10, which didn’t even have ABS at first. This week on Bring a Trailer, though, there’s a chance to buy something even more exciting than a first-gen Viper: a modified first-gen Viper. More specifically, a 1993 Dodge Hennessey Venom 600 RT/10 Aero.

The Hennessey Venom 600 is a first-gen Dodge Viper RT/10 with a 600-plus-horsepower bite

What the original Dodge Viper RT/10 lacks in safety features it makes up for in raw performance. Conceived as a modern follow-up to the Shelby Cobra, the 1992 Viper RT/10 has an 8.0-liter V10 rated 400 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. That power goes to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual and a limited-slip differential. And because the Dodge Viper RT/10 only weighs about 3500 lbs, it goes 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds, Car and Driver says.

However, one Viper RT/10 owner wanted to take their car racing and wanted a speed boost. So, they went to Texas tuner Hennessey Performance, then called Hennessey Motorsports. And after the tuned Viper won multiple events, orders came in from other potential customers. Hennessey responded with a series of increasingly extreme modification packages. And in 1996, the most extreme was the Hennessey Venom 600 RT/10.

The biggest differences between a Hennessey Venom 600 RT/10 and a standard Dodge Viper RT/10 are in the engine bay. Hennessey enlarged the V10 to 8.5 liters and installed a performance intake and exhaust as well as multiple strengthened components, Bonhams reports. As a result, the Venom 600 has 602 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque.

Besides the power upgrades, the Hennessey Venom 600 RT/10 also has a competition clutch and a lightweight aluminum flywheel, Bring a Trailer says. Combined with a Positronic rear axle, that’s enough for a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. And with a 194-mph top speed, that made it the fastest production car MotorTrend had ever tested. The later GTS version went even faster, topping out at 203 mph, MT says. Luckily, Hennessey gave the car five-point safety harnesses to keep the occupants firmly in place.

The very first RT/10 Aero is up for sale on Bring a Trailer

As of this writing, there’s a 1993 Dodge Viper RT/10 with the Venom 600 package listed on Bring a Trailer. But it’s not just ‘any’ Venom 600 RT/10: it’s an RT/10 Aero. And it’s Serial Number 001—the very first Hennessey Venom 600 RT/10 Aero.

The ‘Aero’ part of that name refers to the front and rear bumper covers, custom hardtop with side glass, and the side-exit exhaust covers. Oh, and the large rear wing. This Venom 600 RT/10 also has slotted and drilled Baer front brakes, a short-throw shifter, and 18” Kinesis wheels. Plus, the interior features leather upholstery, a carbon-fiber shift knob, and a cassette stereo.

Despite its age, this modified 1993 Dodge Viper RT/10 only has 1900 miles on the clock. And it’s in fairly good condition, with only a few scattered blemishes and scrapes. Plus, some paint cracking around the hood pins. However, it has a zero-accident history; also, the seller changed the oil and coolant in preparation for the sale.

This 1993 Dodge Hennessey Venom 600 Viper RT/10 makes an excellent maxi-minimalist sports car bargain

As of this writing, this 1993 Dodge Hennessey Venom 600 RT/10 Aero is listed on BaT for $30,000 with three days left in the auction. That’s a low price even for a modified first-gen Viper. A good-to-excellent condition 1993 Viper RT/10 usually costs $35K-$55K, Hagerty says.

Admittedly, this Venom 600’s low mileage might result in some necessary gasket replacement. As such, a pre-purchase inspection is strongly recommended. However, Hennessey’s modifications likely took care of the few mechanical gremlins that some early Viper RT/10s suffer. And those 18” wheels make it easier to find replacement tires.

It won’t be surprising, then, if some bidder lets this Venom sink its fangs into them.

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RELATED: Watch a 1300-hp Dodge Viper Obliterate Its Tires With Twin-Turbo Power

The post Bring a Trailer Bargain of the Week: 1993 Dodge Hennessey Venom 600 RT/10 Aero appeared first on MotorBiscuit.