Rivian officially unveiled its electric SUV called the R2 during an event streamed live and online on Thursday afternoon.
Although some features had been leaked earlier in the week and there was expectation that a successor to the R1 (a vehicle that has received generally good reviews) was coming, the automaker surprised attendees by introducing two more electric SUV models, the R3 and R3X. The R2 is a compact, five-seat SUV that looks quite attractive with all versions boasting at least 300 miles per charge, thanks to a redesigned 4695 cell (15k taller than Tesla’s 4680 cells) and a considerably larger capacity battery that occupies a significant part of the floor.
Owners also have more charging options, with the NACS charging port included among the options so they can charge their vehicle on Tesla’s fast-charging network of Superchargers. Rivian is also building its own charging network called the Rivian Adventure Network with plans for 600 locations within the next few years. When it comes to versions of the R2 in terms of drivetrains it is offered in several electric motor layouts to choose from. The standard version has an electric motor and rear axle drive. The “medium” version has two electric motors with the drive being transmitted to all wheels while the most powerful version includes three motors, with two motors on the rear axle and one in the front. This latest version can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in three seconds.
Inside there is a fairly powerful infotainment center on the dashboard but the company pointed out that by the time it goes into mass production, some things may have changed. The R2 also has two fairly spacious gloveboxes under the dash where the R1 didn’t. Although slightly smaller in dimensions than the R1, the R2 is still quite roomy. The vehicle can “host” up to five people comfortably with the seats in both rows being able to fold straight to facilitate the transport of large or bulky equipment such as surfboards etc. As in the case of the R1, the front of the new SUV, where in classic cars it “hosts” the internal combustion engine, is empty offering plenty of additional storage space. On the steering wheel there are also two scroll wheels with dynamic haptic feedback support. The vehicle’s self-driving capabilities have also been greatly enhanced, both in hardware and software, as there are now eleven peripheral cameras and five radars including a long-range radar up front.
Prices for the R2 in the United States start at $45,000 for the standard version with the single electric motor, a price that is in line with the company’s chief financial officer Claire McDonough. The R2 is already available for pre-orders and deliveries will begin in 2026.
The R3 is a more compact version of the R2, with the “tight” design accompanied by a shorter wheelbase. And this will be available in three versions, with one, two or three electric motors and rear or all-wheel drive. The R3X looks like an off-road version of the R3 and is equipped with three motors to deliver the highest possible performance. Rivian didn’t make any announcements about pricing or availability for the R3 and R3X, only announcing some of its fleet-wide accessories, including a roof-mounted awning, special racks for the bike transport and some additional rear storage options.
It should be mentioned that despite the announcements, Rivian seems to be facing some problems. In February, it announced plans to lay off 10% of its employees and that the job cuts had already begun. The company also announced that it was laying off about 100 employees at its plant in Normal, Illinois just last week.
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