Andy Nurman
March 14, 2024
Rivian pulled the wraps off its new R3 midsize crossover vehicle, part of the company’s expanded midsize R2 and R3 product lines underpinned by an all-new platform.
The R3 is a midsize crossover designed to offer big performance, off-road capability, passenger comfort and storage in a tidy package. A performance R3X variant will provide even greater dynamic abilities on and off the road. Rivian says the exterior and interior designs of the R3 are inviting and iconic, demonstrating the scalability of Rivian’s brand across different form factors while maintaining immediate brand recognition.
Like the R2 SUV sibling, the R3 will feature two battery pack options. The larger pack will enable over 300 miles of range and blistering 0-60 mph acceleration under 3 seconds for the quickest powertrain configuration. Three drivetrain layouts will be offered – single-motor RWD, dual-motor AWD, and a tri-motor setup with two motors in the rear and one in the front.
Rivian is aiming the R3 to make their vehicles more accessible, with pricing expected to start below the R2 SUV’s $45,000 base price point. However, customers will have to exercise some patience – while R2 deliveries are slated to begin in the first half of 2026, R3 and R3X deliveries will follow after to ensure a smooth R2 launch ramp-up. Rivian is targeting late 2026 at the earliest for initial R3 deliveries, with some models potentially not arriving until 2027.
“R2 and R3 are distinctly Rivian in terms of performance, capability, and usability, yet with pricing that makes them accessible to a lot of people,” said Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe. “I can’t wait to get these to customers.”
They ride on an all-new midsize vehicle platform engineered for amazing performance, range and cost efficiency through intelligent design solutions like high pressure die castings and a structural battery pack integrated into the vehicle floor.
Rivian plans to build them at its existing Normal, Illinois factory before eventually expanding to its under-construction Georgia plant, an approach it says will save over $2.25 billion versus launching the models first in Georgia. The capital and cash flow benefits will allow Rivian’s cash reserves to fund operations.
Carlist Thoughts
You know, I’ve been wondering if Rivian is going to have that kind of massive hit that the Tesla Model Y was for them. If they can get the pricing of that R3 model down to around $30,000, maybe that could be their Model Y moment, you know? But either way, I gotta say their vehicles are just gorgeous. They’ve really nailed that perfect balance of classic and modern styling – very nicely refined throughout.
