More than 2,000 people went off-roading along the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago over the weekend, as EV automaker Rivian turned Pioneer Court into a pop-up wilderness course.

Tribune Tower, the Chicago River and Michigan Avenue provided the unlikely backdrop as expert drivers took passengers on a Rivian Electric Joyride over temporary dirt mounds and steep inclines. The course, which took nearly a week to construct, included an 18-foot mound of dirt at a steep 33-degree slope, with a 35-degree embankment along the side, testing the EVs as well as the passengers’ faith in their designated drivers.

“The Electric Joyride allowed us to showcase the capabilities of our all-electric R1S SUV and R1T truck by building an off-road course in the middle of Chicago,” said Rivian spokesperson

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