The Rivian R2 is here and it's shaping up to be a fierce competitor to the legacy German automakers. Priced at under $50,000, the R2 electric crossover will challenge the likes of the future BMW X3 and iX3, the Porsche Macan and the Mercedes-Benz GLC. The R2 is 185.6 inches long, 75 inches wide, and 66.9 inches high. It also has a ground clearance of 9.8 inches, with a 25-degree approach angle and 27-degree departure angle that will help in light off-road activities.
Almost identical in size to the current BMW X3
We don't have the dimensions of the upcoming BMW iX3 – although we will see a demo version of it in exactly two weeks – but we do know that the current G01 Of course, there's a new non-electric X3 coming soon, codenamed G45, which is rumored to be a bit larger.
Three electric motors are available
The Rivian R2 will be available with one, two or three electric motors: the single motor driving the rear wheels; A dual-motor all-wheel drive setup with one motor at each end; It has a three-motor all-wheel drive system, with two motors driving the rear wheels and one driving the front wheels. The higher-performance R2 will go from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds.
Rivian will also offer two different battery packs for the R2. The largest of these packs will provide a range of over 300 miles. The R2 has Rivian's new 4,695 cylindrical battery cells, which are 15mm longer than Tesla's 4,680 cells. It will be equipped with a North American Standard Charging Port or NACS. It will be able to charge from 10 to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes. BMW will also switch to the NACS standard in 2025.
Simple and practical design
Just like the R1T and R1S, the new R2 features a smart and functional design. For example, it has a trunk, a pop-up rear window behind the second row, and a folding rear window. Inside, the design is simple, but very clean and not overwhelmed by technology. You have a large central screen operated by scroll wheels on the handlebar, and plenty of storage compartments.
Rivian is also beefing up its driving assistant features with 11 cameras and 5 radars, and will likely be capable of Level 3 features that allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel and keep their eyes off the highway. It will be built at Rivian's factory in Normal, Illinois and will go into production in the first half of 2026.
We don't have any specifications for the upcoming BMW iX3 but what we can tell you is that it will be a revolutionary product in many ways. It features a bold new design, with a completely new design approach to the interior. Of course, the iX3 is also a purpose-built electric crossover, so we expect plenty of improvements in efficiency, range and charging. But more on that later this year!
[Photos: Rivian]
