Rivian founder Robert Scaringe is clearly not averse to borrowing the best techniques not only from Tesla, but also from Apple, since during yesterday's presentation of the Rivian R2 crossover he briefly mentioned another future electric car of the brand, which will offer decent dynamics and cross-country ability in a compact body , with its outlines reminiscent of the most “long-lasting” model of AvtoVAZ.
For connoisseurs of the history of the Western automobile industry, however, the profile of the Rivian R3 will be reminiscent of all-wheel drive versions of the Volkswagen Golf, which remained experimental in the late eighties, were produced in small quantities for two years and did not gain much popularity. According to Rivian management, the R3 model will allow the power units of the larger R2 to be transferred into a compact body and give the relatively small car impressive dynamics. At least for now, Rivian plans to offer a modification of the R3X with three electric motors. If the larger R2 with this powertrain can accelerate to 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds, then we can expect even more impressive performance from the lighter R3X.
It is characteristic that the dynamic characteristics in this case were not sacrificed for cross-country ability, because the car retained a high ground clearance and received very short overhangs, which is important for geometric cross-country ability. The base Rivian R3 should be cheaper than the R2, which will be offered at a price of $45,000, but the price of the more dynamic R3X has not been specified. The buyer will be able to choose between two traction battery capacities; in an ideal case, the range will be close to 500 km.
The release of the R3 will begin shortly after the launch of the R2 crossover, and it will take place in the first half of 2026. In addition to North America, Rivian plans to offer the R3 and R3X in foreign markets. Equipped with size 4695 battery cells and a NACS port, the compact R3 crossover will allow you to increase the charge of the traction battery from 10 to 80% in approximately thirty minutes. The manufacturer will not forget about electronic driver assistants; there will be 11 cameras and 5 radars on board, as is the case with the Rivian R2.
The rear row seats can be folded into a flat floor, and the glass of the trunk door will be raised separately, allowing long items to be transported in the cabin. Of course, before launching two new crossovers (or even three, if you count the R3X), Rivian must cope with pressing financial problems, but once upon a time Tesla was close to the turning point before the release of the Model 3, which allowed it to enter to breakeven. Rivian hopes to follow the same path to success, although market conditions have since changed significantly in terms of increased competition.
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