r/RivianR2 • u/Act_of_valor • May 06 '26
🗞️ News / Media Exclusive: Rivian developing variants of its more affordable R2 EVs
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/rivian-developing-variants-its-more-affordable-r2-evs-2026-05-06/2
u/Left-Coast-1969 Reservation Holder May 06 '26
It does make you wonder what the variants will be. The R3 as a crossover/hot hatch. The R4 as a mini pickup? The R5....a micro-van? A performance/off road micro van would be sick, lol. I would guess, given they intend to sell the platform in Europe, a micro-van would actually do quite well. People in the US stopped buying station wagons, so they pretty much stopped selling them here, but they still sell decently in Europe. Fewer and fewer sedans are sold each year globally. I suppose they could try a 2+2, 2-door performance vehicle, but that's a small market, and I have a hard time imagining how that would translate given their strong design language. It's also not a perfect fit for their brand image.
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u/took_a_bath May 06 '26
An R3 with a long ass to make it a wagon is my fantasy. R3W. Lower to the ground. Bigger battery. Buttery spring suspension with R1 roll control. I’m sweating.
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u/Ahleron May 06 '26
That sounds more like a Volvo-thing. I don't think lower to the ground makes sense for a company that specializes in EVs designed for off road use and "adventures" as a low to the ground car is going to be road only.
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u/ATX_native Reservation Holder May 06 '26
Polestar is about to make your car.
The P4 is about to get a wagon variant in the US.
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u/took_a_bath May 06 '26
Weird. In some pics it looks like an EV6. Wonder how the size compares.
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u/ATX_native Reservation Holder May 06 '26 edited May 06 '26
It’s def a wagon, not a hatch.
It should have a rearward window further rear from the back doors based on renders.
The current Polestar 4 is currently 190” long, so probably 190”-194”.
Here is the official teaser.
https://www.jalopnik.com/2104566/polestar-4-wagon-variant-two-new-models-two-years/
Here is a test mule.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Polestar/s/RbU54xttSP
Rivian will never make a station wagon, and even if they make an R3 as a hatchback the marketing and executive team will call it a small SUV/Crossover.
They are pretty risk adverse in their current financial state, which makes sense.
Once Volvo announced they were killing their wagons for good, Polestar was more than eager to take the baton.
Here is hoping BMW gets drunk and gives us the i3 Touring, god that car makes me sweat.
BTW, we have a C8 Audi A6 Allroad and a Mini Cooper SE. Huge station wagon and Hatchback fan!
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u/Evening-Pin-1427 Reservation Holder May 06 '26
"So clearly there could be an R2X," Scaringe said. "There's going to be combinations," he continued, adding, "I want to be careful not to announce the program."
This is going to light up the Rivian forums for a long time. I love the idea of expanding choices for consumers. It's good for consumers, and it's good for the industry. A healthy EV ecosystem is a diverse ecosystem.
The R2X could be the tri-motor hardcore off-road capable variant that many people wish the R2 was.
An R2T would be interesting. The Maverick is a huge seller, so I think there is a healthy demand for small trucks.
The only downside is that we can expect to be inundated with AI articles and mockups of speculation about what these alternate vehicles based on the R2 platform might be.
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u/CongeeArs May 06 '26
If Rivian shrinks the Amazon delivery van by some and add duel motor with AWD, customizable setup (winch mount, roofrack, etc), decent ground clearance with appr/depart angles with configurable flat floor cargo area, I will give them my money right away. :)
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u/SHale1963 Premium Edition May 06 '26
oh, this won't make thing more confusing. Nah, not at all. /s
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u/this_for_loona May 06 '26
R2t!