I Drove A Rivian R2 Prototype. It's Going To Surprise People

"When you buy a Rivian R1S, you're getting an electric SUV that can do almost anything. The R1S offers superb range, a surprising amount of power and speed, solid off-road capability and software that makes the car better and better over time. The downside is that you also have to pay a lot. If you want a dual-motor R1S with decent range and equipment, you're looking at spending about $85,000 and up. A loaded version will put you over $100,000."

"That's what makes the upcoming Rivian R2 so important. In theory, it should offer most of the R1S' capabilities in a smaller package that's every bit as quick, actually more technologically advancedand maybe, just maybe, about half as expensive. Such a car wouldn't just be key to Rivian's survival. It would be a breath of fresh air for the challenged American electric-vehicle landscape in 2026. But after driving a nearly production-ready R2 prototype, I think it's possible Rivian can pull this off."

R1S delivers superb range, strong power and speed, solid off-road capability, and software that improves over time, but high prices limit mass-market growth. The R2 is intended to carry most R1S capabilities into a smaller, more technically advanced package at a much lower cost. Prototype figures indicate an estimated 87.4 kWh battery, more than 300 miles of range, 656 horsepower, 609 lb-ft of torque, dual-motor AWD, and a 0–60 mph time of about 3.6 seconds. Charging uses Tesla-style NACS with a 10–80% claim of roughly 30 minutes. Pricing targets remain TBD, with a manufacturer estimate near $45,000.

Read at insideevs.com