Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has teased the upcoming R2, whereas additionally detailing a variety of updates the corporate is engaged on for its current R1S and R1T.
The teased Rivian R2 clay mannequin was proven briefly behind by Mr Scaringe and Rivian head of design Jeff Hammoud in a collection of Q&A movies posted on Instagram.
Though the clay mannequin was draped in a black material concealing nearly all of the design particulars, it’s clearly an SUV mannequin that seems to be smaller than the prevailing R1S. There can even be a pick-up model.
At this stage it’s understood the Rivian R2 vary can be launched in 2026 and be produced at firm’s future plant in Georgia.
Throughout one of many Instagram tales Mr Scaringe stated the merchandise just like the R2 and past are being designed to “be certain they go in a short time into a complete host of various markets”.
At this stage Rivian hasn’t expanded past North America, although the corporate has beforehand stated it intends to start increasing its presence into right-hand drive markets after US and Canadian deliveries start.
A Rivian spokesperson advised CarExpert earlier within the yr there’s presently no information on an Australian launch of the model.
Along with the teased R2 clay mannequin, Mr Scaringe confirmed it has scrapped plans to introduce its anticipated Tank Flip function that enables the automobile to spin on the spot.
Mr Scaringe stated the function “was one thing tremendous early in this system we deliberate to do”. The corporate additionally revealed a video in 2019 of the function at work.
“During the last, I assume, yr and a half we arrived on the view that it’s a function that, whereas we are able to do it, it’s so simply abused and so laborious to ensure that we don’t tear up trails and actually do issues which are in distinction to what we stand for,” stated Mr Scaringe.
Whereas Rivian is scuttling plans to introduce this function, its CEO has confirmed it’s engaged on some total enhancements to its mapping system with EV route planning, surround-view digital camera enhancements with a panning skill, in addition to a redo of the rear console display.
There was additionally a short have a look at the corporate’s yet-to-be-released high-performance drive unit. There was no extra info offered about this.
Motor Development reported in August final yr there could possibly be a rally-inspired Rivian electrical SUV that’s designed to be as succesful as a Jeep Wrangler or Land Rover Defender off-road, and as fast as a Porsche Cayenne on it.
Reportedly dubbed the R1X, this efficiency SUV may produce 895kW of energy and 1627Nm of torque. It’ll additionally reportedly have solely two rows of seating as a substitute of the R1S’ three.