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The Rivian subreddit has always been a playground for experimentation. Owners post about overlanding setups, new software quirks, or simply which all-terrain tire looks best under the R1T’s squared arches. But sometimes, a project comes along that feels more like it belongs in a Tom Clancy novel than an EV forum.
That was the case when Reddit user AEAMMO1 unveiled his armored Rivian R1S, a tri-motor electric SUV that now shrugs off rifle fire while still managing road trips to Chicago.
“Final Update 8/13/25
She’s done! Overall I’m impressed with the work done. It took about 5.5 months in total but about 2 weeks of that was waiting on Rivian to get the vehicle in to replace a rear lift gate latch as it either was broken in the process or it just happened to stop working.
What was done?
All the glass was replaced with ballistic glass that can stop up to 308 caliber ammunition.
The only glass that wasn’t replaced was the rear liftgate glass. The opted for installing a ballistic door in the back as the heavy glass would make the liftgate non-operable with the automatic lift.
Steel “overlaps” were installed in the door frames to help “catch” a bullet in the unlikely event one was fired directly in the crease of the door. These are wrapped in a leather-like material so they don’t look terrible and won’t cut/scratch any passengers.
All the door panels have a mixture of ballistic steel and composite/light weight armor installed behind the door panels.
All the pillars had ballistic steel or composite armor installed with overlapping technology.
Run flat discs were installed on the rotors which enable the vehicle to drive up to 60 miles in the even of a blown out tire.
How does the vehicle look vs original?
The vehicle looks almost identical. You can tell it’s not original where the thicker glass was installed (the weather sealant) as it doesn’t look quite as clean as the original glass/weatherstripping.
The glass is very thick and the driver’s door glass will only lower about 4-5 inches. All the rest of the glass is stationary.
The window “overlaps” do make the door entry a little tighter as they are about 1.5 inches all around the window.
The doors are very heavy and have extra support on them. The glass is the heaviest part. These doors would put a huge smile on anyone’s face who is complaining about gen 2 doors feeling super light/cheap.
Overall I’m very impressed.
How does the vehicle drive?
All the ballistic glass and armor add some weight, just over 1000 lbs so the vehicle definitely feels a bit bloated at high speeds. I took the vehicle on a trip to Chicago which is about 180 miles / 3 hours and at 75-80 mph it definitely feels like the center of gravity has shifted up a bit. I did not feel unsafe except for when a Semi truck just randomly veered into my lane and I had to jerk the steering wheel abruptly which led to a little bit of a fishtail effect but I was able to maintain control of the vehicle. I would say this type of vehicle with this weight is more suited for city driving, not necessarily the most stable at speeds exceeding 70 mph.
Acceleration and braking do not seem to be compromised despite the added weight. I did not have any issues braking, even at unexpected/abrupt halts.
I was surprised with the efficiency despite the added weight. This R1S is a Tri Max with AT tires so it’s already one of the lowest efficiency setups you can buy, but I was getting 2.25 – 2.5 mi/kwh on the trip to Chicago going anywhere from 60 – 80 mph with the AC on the whole time. I left at 100% and arrived in Chicago at around 35%.
Driver assist and advanced driver assist still function despite the very thick tinted glass.
We will see how the vehicle holds up over time, but so far it’s doing very well.
If I were to do this again on another vehicle I would probably step down a level or two on the protection to reduce the added weight. I was told B4 (handgun) would add about 4-500 lbs, B5 (556/762×39) would add 900-1100 lbs, & B6 would add 1000-1300 lbs.”
That was no offhand brag. It was a builder’s log, detailing every layer of steel, composite, and glass that turned a family EV into a discreet fortress. The doors now swing like vault lids, the windows roll down just four inches, and the fit of the seals hints at their thickness. From the curb, though, it still looks like a Rivian. The stealth of the build was half the point, and judging by the photos, it succeeded.
Rivian R1S Legroom
- Drivers and front passengers enjoy an ample 41.4 inches of legroom, ensuring stretch-out comfort even on long drives.
- The rear passengers have 36.6 inches of legroom with seats fully rearward, less than some large SUVs, but typical for three-row EVs.
- The R1S offers about 3 more inches of rear legroom compared to the R1T, thanks to its sliding and more spacious second-row design.
- Offers 32.6 cu ft behind the third row and expands to 105.8 cu ft with seats folded, ideal for hauling bulky gear.
The comments poured in with equal parts disbelief and admiration. One R1T owner wrote, “The service center is going to love working on this,” a nod to the inevitable head-scratching any technician will face when confronted with a door reinforced with ballistic overlaps. Another user admitted he thought the post was a joke at first, before conceding, “That’s awesome. RIP range.” Yet even that critique fell flat when the owner revealed efficiency numbers on par with many stock Rivians running all-terrain tires.
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Naturally, the specter of warranty coverage loomed large. “Pretty sure this thing voids the warranty,” one commenter said, to which another deadpanned, “I’m pretty sure this thing voided MY warranty.” The humor underscored an unspoken truth: this was not a project for those worried about fine print. But the high-quality craftsmanship, the leather-wrapped overlaps, the nearly invisible reinforcements, made the thread feel less like DIY fantasy and more like something you’d expect to see in a professional armorer’s catalog.
Rivian R1S With Armor Performance
Performance was the other surprise. Adding over 1,000 pounds to a vehicle that already tips the scales past 7,000 would normally spell disaster for handling. Yet aside from one fishtail after swerving away from a semi, the R1S remained composed. Braking and acceleration were unaffected, torque still immediate, and the driver assist features continued to function through the heavily tinted ballistic glass. If anything, the vehicle’s character shifted from backwoods trail runner to urban protection detail.
The efficiency numbers became the quiet star of the thread. Covering 180 miles at highway speeds with the AC blasting and arriving in Chicago at 35 percent battery was a testament not only to Rivian’s powertrain but also to the physics of EVs.
Rivian R1S Length & Width
- Measures about 200.8 inches in length, 79.3 inches wide (mirrors folded), and rides on a 121.1-inch wheelbase, balancing maneuverability with cabin space.
- Ground clearance sits at 8.7 inches, with a class-leading towing capacity up to 7,700 lb, making it adventure-ready.
- Dual‑motor AWD, outputting around 533 hp and 610 lb‑ft torque, achieves a brisk 0–60 mph in about 4.5 seconds.
- The 2025 Rivian R1S starts at approximately $78,450, with upscale trims reaching close to $107,700, placing it firmly in luxury EV territory.
As one user pointed out, it isn’t weight that kills range so much as aerodynamics. The owner’s 2.25–2.5 miles per kWh reinforced that lesson, disproving the assumption that armor would cut efficiency in half.
Nobody debated the necessity, nobody mocked the idea. Instead, they applauded the engineering and the execution. It was a reminder that automotive culture is alive in the EV age, not diminished. People still build things because they can, and because the challenge itself is worth pursuing.
This project stretched that definition into territory Rivian itself would never sanction, but that doesn’t make it frivolous. In fact, it makes it quintessentially automotive. Whether powered by gasoline, cars have always been canvases for ambition. This armored R1S proves that spirit is alive and well, even when wrapped in ballistic steel.
Would you like something like this done to your Rivian? Let us know in the comments below.
Image Sources: Rivian Media Center
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.
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Source: torquenews.com
