Rivian Has A Way To Improve The Tank Turn

From dancing on the spot to moving sideways like a crab, modern cars are capable of doing amazing things besides plain old driving. In the world of off-roaders, there are even more possibilities, with automakers constantly pushing the limits of how they can make their vehicles crawl across rocks like a mountain goat.

Some brands have been exploring an interesting type of movement, which generally goes by the name “tank turn.” It allows a vehicle to rotate in place, similar to a tracked vehicle. This maneuver is now expanding into civilian models, with Rivian and Mercedes-Benz both launching their own versions of the feature.

Ford also briefly investigated the possibility of implementing a similar feature back in 2022. However, the tech has not yet made an appearance on a production model.

Rivian, however, has an ace up its sleeve that we think gives it an advantage over Mercedes. Let’s take a closer look at how the tank turn works, what these two brands have done so far, and what’s in store for the future.

What Is Tank Turn?

Tank turn, as suggested by the name, is a type of motion that mimics that of a tank or other tracked vehicle. Tanks can rotate on the spot by moving their left and right treads in opposite directions. This maneuver allows for precise pivoting in very tight spots, which can help a vehicle get out of a bind when navigating tricky terrain.

Of course, a civilian off-road vehicle is very different from a military-oriented tank, as it has wheels rather than tracks. As a result, accomplishing a tank turn, or something similar to it, is a challenging task for automakers to implement. Only a few brands have been able to tackle it in recent years. Rivian and Mercedes are two of them, with different approaches that have led to different results.

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Of course, there are some drawbacks and plenty of criticism regarding the feasibility of the tank turn feature in general. One frequently raised point is that performing one can damage the environment surrounding the vehicle. Folks who are into the outdoors tend to operate on the guiding principle of treading lightly, minimizing damage to the terrain to avoid disturbing local plants and wildlife, while also preserving the trail for other travelers. Depending on the terrain, a tank turn can cause damage to the ground, which many folks in the off-roading world would find unacceptable.

There’s also the question of whether tank turn is actually necessary, especially for electric off-roaders. Electric vehicles have large amounts of instantly accessible torque, which already helps them to get out of many sticky situations while off the beaten track. As a result, some outdoor enthusiasts criticize tank turns as being more of a show-off gimmick than an actual useful feature.

Rivian’s Tank Turn…

Rivian’s tank turn feature relies on the unique quad-motor setup found in the most powerful versions of the R1T and R1S. If you’re not familiar with the brand’s lineup, the R1T and R1S have different body styles, being a pickup and SUV, respectively. In the quad-motor models, each motor is able to operate independently and spin the wheels in different directions, causing the vehicle to rotate around a central point, much like a tank.

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The company first announced this feature in 2019. However, despite the enthusiastic marketing campaign that surrounded it, Rivian ultimately decided not to implement the feature just ahead of the R1S and R1T’s launch. Aside from concerns about the feature’s usefulness and potential environmental damage, which we have already mentioned, there were also questions regarding its battery usage.

Range anxiety remains a lingering concern in the world of electric vehicles today, and potential buyers had this fear even more six years ago. As a result, prospective customers were concerned that using the tank turn feature would drain the vehicle’s batteries at times when they were needed most, out in the wilderness during an off-roading trip.

…And Mercedes’ Take On It

A couple of years after Rivian first hinted at the possibility of introducing the tank turn feature, Mercedes decided to launch its very own version. The German company chose the G580 with EQ Technology electric SUV as the model to receive this tech. The model is essentially an all-electric version of the iconic G-Wagen. Like the Rivian R1S and R1T, the G580 also has four electric motors, producing a total of 579 hp and 859 lb-ft of torque.

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The model was first launched in concept form in 2021, under the name of EQG. Mercedes later changed it to the slightly clumsier moniker of G580 with EQ Technology. The vehicle’s tank turn system operates in a similar way to Rivian’s, with four independently operating electric motors initiating the spinning motion. The feature only works on loose terrain, and there is a maximum limit of two rotations at a time to protect the vehicle’s mechanical components. It does it at speed, however. It’s more of a show-off feature than anything else, and you can see the car move quite a lot while it’s turning. Not really ideal when off-roading in tight conditions.

The G580, however, has turned out to be a complete commercial flop. Sales have been extremely low, with only 1,450 examples sold as of April 2025. The scale of the model’s failure on the market has been so wide that it has prompted Mercedes-Benz to rethink its future strategy regarding EVs. The company’s plans may now be shifting back towards combustion, with a potential smaller version of the gas-powered G-Wagen on the horizon. Mercedes would not be the first automaker to take a step backwards with its electrification strategy; Porsche has made a similar move, rethinking its commitment to its original target of 80% EV sales by 2030.

A Change Of Name? What’s Coming Up Next For Rivian And The Tank Turn

Although Rivian initially held back on the tank turn feature ahead of the R1S and R1T’s launch, it is coming for the long-awaited second generation of the quad-motor models. However, the feature is not exactly the same as the implementation from 2019. In fact, it is far more elaborate, with the driver having more control over how much the vehicle rotates and how quickly. The new implementation is allegedly less damaging off-road.

It also has a new moniker: Kick Turn. The name change highlights the distinction between the two features, characterizing the new system as more refined and less harsh on the terrain.

Rivian may also be attempting to distance itself from the military connotations of the word tank turn. In a world increasingly marked by global conflict, the brand might have decided to go down a safer route from a marketing perspective. More neutral branding for the maneuver would fit better with the company’s eco-friendly image and would prevent potential customers from subconsciously associating Rivian vehicles with the idea of tanks and warfare.

Whatever is in store for Rivian, we are excited to see what the company’s engineering team has done with the Kick Turn and can’t wait to see it in action. The feature may be a gimmick for some folks, but we think Rivian is the brand that has done the best job of implementing it so far.

The R1S and R1T have captured the public’s attention in a way that the G580 hasn’t quite been able to; perhaps the eco-conscious brand image associated with Rivian simply gels better with EVs than that of the more aggressive G-Wagen. Whatever Rivian may have in store for the future, we know there are plenty of things to look out for in the brand’s near future, the Kick Turn being just one of them.

Sources: Rivian, Mercedes-Benz