With its Tonka toy looks, hi-tech lights and large and contemporary cabin the RT1 has plenty of appeal. It also appears tailormade for a leisure lifestyle, with not only that big rear load bed (think kayaks and trial bikes) but also a “gear tunnel” (golf clubs) and front boot for suitcases. And it will tow five tonnes, although with a payload of only 800kg it won’t qualify for a commercial vehicle’s tax breaks in this country.
In the US the base version starts at US$61,500 (about £48,000), with deliveries from 2020. With the help of Rivian fan, songstress Rihanna, the firm also unveiled in LA a seven-seat SUV version called the RS1, which comes across a bit like an electric Range Rover.
In huge contrast is the Jeep Gladiator which marks the return of both an old Jeep nameplate and of the pick-up layout, last offered by Jeep (in the US at least) in the Comanche of 1986-92. It’s 780mm (31 inches) longer than the Wrangler on which it is based but, in the US, still qualified as a mid-size truck.
There can be no mistaking what this machine is all about. The epitome of angular ruggedness, the Gladiator boasts all those things people love Jeeps for: heritage design, awesome go-anywhere ability, traditional body-on-chassis construction and dozens of different variations with removable doors and roof, plus a fold-down windscreen.