Rivian will take a significant step toward the mainstream when it unveils the R2, an electric off-roader positioned below the existing R1T and R1S models. Priced closer to the normal range of the market, the new model line in the Rivian range will likely make its debut next month in March 2024.
After posting on its official Instagram account, the Irvine, CA based brand has said that the R2 will be uncovered on March 7. A couple items of note have already been released via company CEO R.J. Scaringe: the R2 EVs will not be available with a quad-motor powertrain, and their list of available features will be shorter than the R1’s.
The word “range” is used loosely as the R2 likely won’t be just one model. We’re expecting at least two, including a crossover called R2S that will be roughly the size of a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a pickup named R2T that could be positioned as an alternative to mid-size trucks such as the Ford Ranger and the Toyota Tacoma.
In regard to design, it would seem reasonable to expect several styling cues will link the R2 to the larger R1. Based on a few random shots that have been posted we’ve seen the R2S parked under a cover in Rivian’s design studio and it appears to be largely shaped like the R1S. It’s relatively boxy with a tall front end, a flat roof, and short overhangs.
More details about the Rivian R2 range will come in the coming weeks. Production is scheduled to start in 2025 for the 2026 model year, and the R2 models should quickly outpace the R1 range thanks in part to a lower price point. This launch looks to be a major point on the company’s timeline. I can already tell I’ll be fighting the urge to call it.
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