Rivian took a page from Steve Jobs and had “one more thing” to show during its R2 reveal event today in California. And it was wonderful.
The Rivian R3 is a slightly shorter and sportier-looking electric SUV than the R2, and will come in a high-performance variant called R3X. Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said the R3 “takes the package of the R2 platform (and) scales it down.”
The R3 is “designed with even narrower dimensions and at a lower price than the R2,” the company said, although it did not immediately reveal the R3's price. Reservations for the R3 will begin at a later date.
The R3 and R3X have sloping rear ends compared to the more boxy R2. And like the R2, it will come in two battery sizes, both with more than 300 miles of range and zero-to-60 mph acceleration in three seconds. The R3X will have “more dynamic capabilities, both on and off road,” the company said.
The R3 and R3X will launch “shortly after” the R2 “to ensure a smooth launch and rapid acceleration of the R2,” the company said. This is based on “learnings” from the company's simultaneous launch of the R1T, R1S and EDV delivery vans. The vehicles will also be available in international markets after their launch in North America, with no timeline shared yet.
Like the R2, the R3 and R3X will feature Rivian's new 4695 cylindrical battery cells, which are 15mm taller than Tesla's 4680 cells. And it will have a native version of Tesla's NACS charging port integrated directly into the vehicle. DC fast charging will take the R3 from 10 percent to 80 percent in about 30 minutes, Rivian said.
The company also promises a more powerful computer, complemented by a sensor suite that includes 11 cameras and five radars. The R3 will have “dramatically improved autonomous capabilities,” although the company did not specify what level of automation it was looking for.
One of the features highlighted by Scaringe during the event was a window in the rear door that lifts up to allow for additional storage, especially for long items. (She called it “flipping glass,” but it was unclear if that was a nickname or something more official.) And like the R2, the rear seats fold down for more cargo space, which he says “creates an opportunity for in-car use.” camping.”
There is still a lot that is unknown about the R3, but if the R2 is meant to compete with the big boys like the Tesla Model Y and the Ford Mustang Mach-E, then the R3 looks more like a rival to Korean electric vehicles, like the hyundai. Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.
“This is the vehicle when we walk through the studio every season and you think oh, I want this so much,” Scaringe said.
