I am not a fan of software-defined vehicles. For good reasons. If you use any software-based tech products like computers and phones, you will know bugs and, God forbid, occasional freezing are kind of inevitable. I rest my case. So, “fun”, to me, was never a consideration as a plus for SDVs.
But Rivian has shown us the fun side of SDVs. You see, every October, the EV maker rolls out a Halloween feature to Rivian vehicles via a software update. We have never talked about it, since it is a vehicle software update. However, we cannot ignore this year’s Halloween features. Why? One word: Ghostbusters.
This year, Rivian partnered with Sony Pictures to bring the Ghostbusters universe to your Rivian ride through lights, sounds, and ermmm, “special guests”. So, yeah. Software updates not only allow the EV maker to improve vehicle performance but also keep it fun. We are not talking about playing games on that huge-ass center screen—which this update also has—it is more than that. More on this in a bit.
Available for the R1S, R1T, and R2, this year’s Halloween update promises an immersive Ghostbusters experience. It uses a “biphased turbo encabulator to deploy the same software” (read: software update) on the said compatible models. Once updated, just swipe up on the center display and select the Ghostbusters icon to bring up the Ecto Control Panel and let the fun begin.
You cannot actually hunt paranormal entities with it, nor will flipping the large main breaker on the screen turn your Rivian into the Ecto R1 featured in the marketing materials and the video. It will, however, transform your vehicle’s visual ecosystem with gimmicks like a multitude of lighting configurations and a selection of acoustic waveforms engineered to “deter, ‘zap’, distract, and disorient any spirits within your proximity” (which, apparently, Tesla cars can already do that!).
Switching the lighting configurations activates light and sound shows, while activating the “acoustic waveforms” fires up sound effects from the movie and the soundtrack.
That’s not all. You can engage “Gear Guard” to scan your surroundings for supernatural apparitions, like Slimer lurking around. There’s also a game of ’Mallow Mash, which you can play on the screen, and a Trick or Treat switch (in the car, on your phone, or on your Apple Watch), which triggers a multisensory experience inside and outside the vehicle. The latter can detect and greet costumed guests with Ghostbusters sound effects and lights.
The update also brings a Slimer settings theme, which you can turn on or off, plus you can solve a series of hints to find where surprise characters and features are lurking in your vehicle.
And yes, we are still talking about an automobile. I know. We might get confused along the way. It is hard to imagine a car being able to do all this today.
Unfortunately, the Rivian Ecto R1 shown on the marketing page and in the video is not a thing you can buy, but nobody’s stopping you from copying the look if you can find a workshop that can do the job.
Images: Rivian.
