It's been a long time coming, but the first customer examples of the Rivian R1T will soon be hitting the road, ushering in a new wave of electric pickup trucks. Following delays, deliveries for the electric pickup truck are currently on track for September, followed by the R1S SUV in the fall.

As for its competitors, the GMC Hummer EV won't arrive until later this year, while the Ford F-150 Lighting is due to land next spring and the Tesla Cybertruck is almost certainly delayed until next year. Nobody could have predicted that Rivian, a relative newcomer in the auto industry, would beat its more established competitors to the market.

Before deliveries begin, Rivian invited a group of excited preorder holders to experience the R1T for the first time in Normal, Illinois, and take it for an early test drive. It's safe to say they thoroughly enjoyed the R1T's performance, handling, and off-roading ability.

In a new video released by Rivian, we get to see reservation holders experience the R1T's instant torque, which took some people by surprise. To demonstrate its off-roading prowess, Rivian let the early adopters loose on a dirt track and climb up steep hills. Of course, the R1T made it look effortless. We also expect Rivian showed the reservation holders how to do tank turn s in the R1T.

"The scariest thing for me is going up the hill," one of the reservation holders said. "Because, having been in different vehicles in the military, I would never do any of that. Like, I would be freaked out."

At launch, the R1T will offer a range of over 300 miles. In January 2022, a 400+ mile variant will be available followed by a more affordable 250+ mile version. Thanks to its quad-motor setup, the Rivian R1T produces up to 750 horsepower and 829 pound-feet of torque, enabling the electric truck to accelerate from 0-60 mph in three seconds.