Rivian R2 and R3

[ProjectWHaT]

Rivian to reveal the R2 on March 7th

It has been allegedly spotted ahead of the reveal event

Is this Rivian's more affordable R2 electric SUV spotted in the wild?

As we get closer to the official debut of Rivian’s more affordable R2, we are finally getting a better idea...

electrek.co

 

[Omnis]

I want the D2 trim

 

[ProjectWHaT]

 

[ProjectWHaT]

 

[Omnis]

Scaringe just Billy Mays'd everybody.

Loving the R2 and R3.

 

[FT-1]

Rivian didn't really capture my interest until the R3 and R3X were revealed.

New Rivian R3 And R3X Promise To Combine Affordability With 300+ Mile Range | Carscoops

Rivian took us by surprise today as they unveiled not only the R2, but the R3 and R3X as well

www.carscoops.com

Much like the Ioniq 5, I love how its got the squared-off styling inspired by the Lancia Delta. the R3X even has retro rally-inspired cues inside and out!

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Rivian has probably the tidiest designs of any car manufacturer out there. This is one is pretty sweet.

 

[Keef]

I’m in love with the R3. I want it.

 

[05XR8]

Those are dope. Wonder what the R4 and R5 will look like.
That badge on the steering wheel reminds me of...

 

[Omnis]

I was disappointed in the R3X only because I thought they were going to roll out a kei truck R4

 

[Joey D]

Does the R2 have a rolldown rear window? Because it looks like it does. If so, I will look at one when it comes time to buy another vehicle.

 

[TrdScionxB2]

Does the R2 have a rolldown rear window?

In the Out of Spec video around the seven minute mark they mention that the rear window rolls down.

 

[ProjectWHaT]

While speaking with Rivian’s chief design officer Jeff Hammond, however, The Drive found out that it was partially inspired by these Group B legends.

“Our initial sort of ethos or inspiration for R3 was how can we take something that builds off the Rivian brand, is still capable offroad, but is really about the joy of driving,” Hammond told The Drive. “All that inspiration [was focused on] the soul of rally cars. If you look at some of the old cars like the Lancia Delta Integrale or Audi Quattro, those were the types of things we looked at and how could we do something that's in the Rivian brand and feels like us, but evokes that feeling.”

The Rivian R3's Retro Hatch Was Inspired by Group B Rally Legends

Without that cool, sloped hatch, the new R3 would've ended up looking like a Kia Soul instead.

www.thedrive.com

 

[GranTurNismo]

 

[ProjectWHaT]

R3 on the road

 

[05XR8]

I’m all for that Eighties square bizz. It’s a car I’d be happy to keep(until I see the bill for replacement battery!).

 

[Joey D]

In the Out of Spec video around the seven minute mark they mention that the rear window rolls down.

Rolldown rear window and venting side windows. That dude is spot on saying that 4Runner fans are going to love it because I do love that.

 

[Centroid]

I really like the R3 (not so keen o the R3X) but personally I would prefer each of them to have their own face but still be recognisably a Rivian.

 

[ProjectWHaT]

Cammisa's first impressions of the R3X

 

[05XR8]

Awesome.

 

[Keef]

Honestly I might end up putting a deposit down on an R3 depending whatever else comes onto market. By then I should be in a position for an EV daily. Plus I don't think my crappy old Rav4 will survive that long lmao.

 

[Omnis]

The only thing that freaks me out about these new Rivians is that the wheels are HUGE. Like HYOOOOGE. Tires gonna cost a small fortune lol.

 

[05XR8]

You ain’t kiddin’.

Uh, can I get the 15” wheel & small brake disc package please?

 

[Omnis]

Those look a lot larger than 19s lol. You also need the high load rating because the cars are so heavy

 

[ProjectWHaT]

Rivian and VW announced a joint venture on June 25th in an unexpected investor call.

During the event, they announced that VW will make an initial investment of $1 billion with another $4 billion over time. In return, VW will receive Rivian's new zonal architecture and software. They will develop new cars together in the later half of the decade. Scout Motors will likely use technologies from Rivian. Rivian also teases 5 new cars in a new roadmap.

View attachment 1367994

VW will invest up to $5 billion in Rivian as part of new EV joint venture

A big cash infusion for the EV startup.

www.theverge.com

Given how Rivian had massive layoffs earlier this year and much money they're losing per car, this is a massive lifeline to keep the company alive

VW and Rivian officially kick off $5.8 billion joint venture, announce leadership

Subcompact cars will also be part of the deal.

www.theverge.com

Volkswagen and Rivian have crossed all their T's and dotted all their I's in their new $5.8 billion joint venture, which officially kicks off its work on November 13th, the companies announced today.

The new joint venture, dryly named "Rivian and VW Group Technology, LLC," will be led by Rivian software chief Wassym Bensaid and VW Group chief technology engineer Carsten Helbing. Teams will be based in Palo Alto, California, initially, and three other sites are in development in North America and Europe. Developers and engineers from both companies will fill out the ranks of the new venture.

Rivian also showed off a prototype vehicle to a small group of reporters at its Palo Alto office. According to Bloomberg, the vehicle was a VW test vehicle with Rivian software that was created by the joint venture's engineering team over a 12-week period.

With the deal now closed, Rivian will receive an initial $1 billion loan from VW, followed by $1.3 billion in shares in Rivian, and an additional $3.5 billion over the next few years, VW Group CEO Oliver Blume said in a call with reporters Tuesday.

The technology that emerges from the joint venture will underpin vehicles from both companies, from Rivian's more affordable R2
vehicle, which is set to go into production in 2026, to a variety of models from the VW Group, including Audi, Porsche, Scout, and VW.

The Rivian-VW joint venture is done. And it's bigger.

The Rivian-Volkswagen joint venture has been finalized — and it's bigger than previously announced.

techcrunch.com

 

[Keef]

Good for them. Pretty sure this is going to lead to Rivian being entirely under the VW corporate umbrella eventually.

Ain't it a bummer than none of the American companies went this far? Oh well. Maybe one of them will invest in Lucid like this because Lucid is also making better products than any of the traditional companies.

 

[ProjectWHaT]

Rivian gets a 6.6 billion dollar loan from the government

Rivian snags $6.6B conditional federal loan to build Georgia factory | TechCrunch

Rivian said late Monday it has secured conditional commitment for a $6.6 billion loan from the Department of Energy, funds that will help the EV maker

techcrunch.com

Rivian said late Monday it has secured conditional commitment for a $6.6 billion loan from the Department of Energy, funds that will help the EV maker restart construction of a massive factory in Georgia.

The funds will come from DOE’s Loan Programs Office Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program. Rivian said it expects to begin operations at the Georgia factory in 2028 — four years later than originally planned. The factory will employ 7,500 people by the end of 2030, a figure that is tied to an incentives package approved several years ago by Georgia’s Department of Economic Development.

 

[Meythia]

Pretty sure this is going to lead to Rivian being entirely under the VW corporate umbrella eventually.

Of course it will end like that.
This way VW can say "but he have EVs, even some of them that are bought by people and not just collecting dust or being printed as a drive-train option".

 

[EngieDiesel]

I was honestly expecting they'd get rolled up by Ford, given how much they had invested in Rivian initally. But then again Ford also seems to have figured out EV development on its own just fine, so I guess they don't need to scoop up a small company for its R&D work anymore.