EV manufacturer Rivian recently announced a new engineering platform that will host a series of upcoming models. The first, a midsize-class SUV called R2, is expected to reach buyers in calendar 2026.
While Rivian was founded in 2009, the company didn’t deliver its first vehicles until 2021. In addition to a retail pickup truck and SUV, dubbed R1T and R1S, respectively, the company also signed an agreement with Amazon to provide the online giant with a fleet of electric delivery vans. That exclusivity deal expired in late 2023 so orders are now open for any business who wants to add the EDV (Electric Delivery Van) to their fleets.
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The the brand now on solid footing, it’s ready to enter its next phase of products for consumers, which is where the R2, R3, and R3X come into play. Details are scarce at this point, but that’s to be expected since deliveries are still at least another two years away.
We know the R2 will be a two-row, five-passenger compact SUV that is taking direct aim at the Tesla Model Y. The company says both seating rows will fold completely flat, with sustainably sourced materials designed for easy cleaning. Power will come from a choice of two battery packs, with the larger one expected to deliver a range of 300-plus miles and provide 0-60-mph acceleration of 3.0 seconds. The target starting price is expected to be $45,000.
Should the R2’s launch go smoothly, Rivian will follow it with the R3. It will use the same basic platform as the R2 but be even smaller. The R2 has more “conventional” SUV styling, but the R3 looks more like a retro-1980s hatchback. The R3X will be a performance-minded model–think of what the Volkswagen GTI is to the more pedestrian Golf. Rivian didn’t announce pricing, it should be less than that of the R2. Count on the R3 to have similar battery tech as the R2, but the smaller size should translate into longer range and even quicker acceleration, especially for the R3X. All versions will be compatible with the Tesla supercharging network.
Consumers can place a $100 deposit on the R2 right now.
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CG Says:
The R2 looks like it will be a decent enough EV, but most of the buzz from Rivian’s announcement is for the R3/R3X–and for good reason. These small EVs look sharp and with the potential for high horsepower, we could potentially see the dawning of a new age of “hot hatchbacks” that hasn’t been seen since the 1980s. Too bad we won’t see them on the road for at least another two years.
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