Apocalypse Manufacturing and SoFlo Customs have taken the wraps off their latest creation, the Rivian Nirvana, marking their foray into the realm of custom electric off-roaders. This distinctive vehicle is based on the Rivian R1T platform, featuring a lifted suspension and a strikingly formidable exterior. While Apocalypse Manufacturing is no stranger to crafting extreme pickups and SUVs, the Rivian Nirvana represents a particularly complex project for the Florida-based outfit.
Joe Ghattas, the owner of Apocalypse Manufacturing, candidly shared his perspective on the Rivian R1T’s original design, stating, “I would have never given that car a second thought. It looks like a Kia on the outside. But jump in it, and it’s lightning fast, and the ride is really impressive. I was looking at this, and it has nearly 1,000 hp, does zero to 60 mph in like two seconds, but it’s ugly as sin on the outside, so that’s what we went to fix.”
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To transform the Rivian into a rugged and aesthetically pleasing machine, the team at Apocalypse re-bodied the vehicle and added a lift to accommodate hefty 38-inch tires. While the Rivian R1T possesses inherent off-road capabilities, Apocalypse reinforced the undercarriage with a skid plate, recognizing the need for additional protection.
Yet, the conversion of the Rivian into an Apocalypse-worthy creation proved to be a formidable challenge. Initially, the team expected to make modifications to the frame only. However, they soon discovered that extensive custom fabrication of suspension components was necessary.
Ghattas elaborated on the complexities faced during the project, stating, “We had to fabricate every single part from scratch. We thought we were going to be able just to slide that subframe down a bit. We [had] to make our own spindle from scratch, upper and lower control arms from scratch, and our own steering setup there to extend the rack back to where the driver reaches.”
The intricacies of the Rivian R1T’s original suspension system posed a significant hurdle. The truck features height-adjustable air suspension with an independent setup at the rear, making it one of the more sophisticated pickups on the market. It incorporates numerous sensors to control air springs and an adaptive damping system, all of which had to be meticulously replicated by Apocalypse engineers.
Ghattas emphasized the uniqueness of the Rivian’s engineering, stating, “We went through a full set of airbags [and] blew them all up because the slightest differentiation of angles on these things makes a big difference. This thing was engineered with very tight tolerances, and we had to recreate all of that.”
Moreover, the team had to adapt the sensors for the vehicle’s active safety features to work seamlessly with the new fiberglass panels. This included critical systems such as adaptive cruise control and automatic braking.
The Rivian Nirvana is based on the range-topping Quad-Motor variant, boasting an impressive 835 hp and a rapid 0 to 60 mph time of three seconds.
Ghattas expressed his satisfaction with the end result, remarking, “It took a lot more than I thought—we’re nine months into this project—but we’re really happy with what came out the other end. I drove this car yesterday … and it’s a mixture of a sports car and a big truck. You want the feel of a Ferrari and be able to drive over curbs, and that’s what I got out of this.”
Apocalypse Manufacturing intends to offer the Nirvana at a price point of approximately $150,000, which is $50,000 more than a fully-equipped R1T Quad-Motor. Ghattas envisions the possibility of collaborating with Rivian to become an official tuner for the brand, aiming to enhance both the vehicle’s aesthetics and performance.
