Rivian reveals the $45,000 R2 electric SUV, and its siblings the R3 and R3X

Joystiq

Joystiq News
Rivian officially revealed the R2 electric SUV during a livestream held Thursday afternoon. We knew the
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
was coming, and we even
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
earlier this week, but now we’ve
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
The company also surprised view R3 and R3X, however, came as a complete surprise, harkening back to Steve Jobs and his famous "one more thing" conference enders.


As previously suspected, the R2 is a compact SUV that looks quite fetching. All versions of the five-seat electric vehicle get at least 300 miles per charge, thanks to newly-designed 4695 cell and a much larger battery pack that makes up a large portion of the bottom floor. Owners will also get plenty of refueling options. It comes with a NACS chargeport, so it'll work with Tesla Superchargers.


The R2 has plenty of get up and go, with three motor layouts to choose from. There's a standard single-motor rear-wheel drive model, a dual-motor all-wheel model with motors in both the front and back and the beastly tri-motor version, which features two motors in back and one in front. That last model can go from zero to 60 in three seconds, though the metric likely shrinks when considering the other two versions.

There’s a robust infotainment center up front, though the layout of these digital elements are subject to change as we get closer to launch. Also up front? The R2 sports two gloveboxes, whereas the R1 line lacked even one. There's also two scroll wheels on the steering wheel, complete with dynamic haptic feedback. The car's self-driving features have gotten a major boost here, thanks to 11 cameras throughout and five radars, including a long-range front-facing radar.

Prices start at $45,000 for the standard single-motor version, which is in line with what company CFO Claire McDonough has been promising. Though slightly smaller than the R1, the R2 is still pretty roomy. As previously stated, it fits five people and boasts an open-air design with quarter windows that pop out and a rear glass window that drops and opens. Seats on both rows fold flat, so owners should be able to transport longer-than-average gear like surfboards.

Now, the bad news. Despite today’s reveal, the Rivian R2 isn’t slated for release until 2026. Additionally, Rivan itself has been experiencing some issues. The company announced back in February that it would be laying off
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
and job cuts have already started. The EV maker
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
at its Normal, IL factory this week.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Console Bang News!
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top