Rivian R1T (2020)

Rivian gears up for a busy year with the new R2

During the latest investor call, Rivian shared its plans for the next two years. The automaker had a busy 2025, which it called a "foundational year," and 2026 is seen as a major turning point. The big news is the launch of the Rivian R2, a smaller and more affordable SUV that the company hopes will win over many new drivers.

Rivian is planning to deliver between 62,000 and 67,000 electric cars in 2026 in total. This is a huge jump - about 50% more than what they sold in 2025. The company still expects to lose between €1.54 billion and €1.79 billion next year, and it is spending around €2 billion on new equipment and technology to make the business stronger.

The R2 is the star of the show for Rivian. This midsize SUV is designed to be simpler and cheaper to build than the current models. Rivian says the R2 will start at about €38,400. For comparison, their larger R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck usually cost more than €60,000. The R2 is also smaller - it measures about 4,715 mm long, which is about 385 mm shorter than the big R1S.

The company plans to start building the R2 at its factory in Normal, Illinois, during the second quarter of 2026. At first, only one work shift will run to make the cars, but the hope is to add a second shift by the end of the year. Rivian's boss, RJ Scaringe, believes the R2 will become their best-selling model by the end of 2027.

www.arenaev.com

Rivian gears up for a busy year with the new R2

Rivian is betting its future on the new {{$45,000}} R2 SUV, aiming to nearly double its deliveries by 2026 while navigating heavy financial losses.
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The department's mantra? Ask "Should we push this further?" and the answer is always "Yes!"

Some of the coolest stuff from BMW M and Mercedes AMG over the years came as skunkswork projects. Remember the M Clown Shoe? Now Rivian’s skunkworks performance division just got the green light and became official as the high-performance division for the electric automaker.

On Thursday, in Big Sky, Montana, Rivian formally announced the formation of the Rivian Adventure Department, or RAD for short. Rivian’s giving hints this is the start of something larger as we move from one-off passion projects and software development to full-blown product and experiences.

Until now the RAD team has been a skunkworks operation with employees banding together as a passion project to make cool stuff happen. Their exploits and developments have been the stuff of enthusiasts’ dreams.
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Rivian formalized RAD on the eve of the 2026 FAT Ice Race and will run a R1S Quad in the race complete with RAD livery. The automaker also brought the smaller R2, which is now in pre-production status with units rolling off the assembly line in Normal, Illinois ahead of a summer launch, wrapped in RAD livery.

“RAD is where we maximize the capability of our vehicles. Subjecting them to extreme conditions–from the 14,000-foot ascent of Pikes Peak to the barren deserts of the Rebelle Rally. For us, the competition is only one element. Vigorously validating every system, component, and algorithm is the other,” Luke Lynch, Chief Engineer of the R1, said.

A Rivian spokesperson told The Drive that the 2026 FAT Ice Race is RAD, which is why Rivian is participating, giving the indication that the RAD team at Rivian will be both about developing hardware and software products but also engaging at experiential events.

How far the RAD team gets to take things now that it’s formalized with a green light from the automaker is unclear, but the Quads are pretty RAD. And Rivian did commit to a tri-motor R2.
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www.thedrive.com

BMW Has M, Mercedes Has AMG, and Now Rivian Has RAD

The department's mantra? Ask "Should we push this further?" and the answer is always "Yes!"
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Watch out, Tesla Model Y: the Rivian R2 is here, and it'll start from $57,990

And next year, there'll be an even cheaper one that'll start from under $49k

Rivian is ramping up. Rapidly. Last month, we drove the new all-electric R2 in pre-production form, and now we know how much it’s going to cost. In America, at least – and it makes for compelling reading.

The R2 Performance arrives in Launch Package form at $57,990 (£43,170 at the current exchange rate, but you can round it up), touting a dual motor, all-wheel drive set-up that’s good for 656bhp, 609lb ft, and a 0-62mph time of about 3.7 seconds.

Rivian estimates a range of 330 miles (EPA), and our experience in the car suggests that’s doable. Launch spec includes semi-active suspension, a lovely green exterior paint finish, premium interior with birchwood accents, and a fabulous audio system.

“The R1 did a really wonderful job serving as the brand’s handshake with the world. It demonstrated what we mean by enabling adventure,” Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe tells TopGear.com. "But we wanted to make something at a more affordable price point, that still felt intentional, aspirational and thoughtful, on and off road."

 
Rivian confirms R2 electric SUV pricing, availability

Rivian, known for its rugged trucks, revealed the final and arguably most important details about its R2. The new model is a smaller and more affordable sibling to Rivian's original vehicles. Unfortunately, if you want to be the first to own one, you will have to pay for the top-of-the-line version first, putting the "affordability" into a bit of perspective. The very first R2 models hitting the road will cost €49,500 in the US, and come packed with more power than most people will ever need for a shopping trip.

This first version out of the factory gates is called the R2 Performance. It comes with two motors and all-wheel drive that delivers a massive 656 hp (489 kW) and 825 Nm of torque. Courtesy of that much power, this SUV can go from 0 to 97 km/h in 3.6 seconds - faster than many sports cars. To keep it going, Rivian tucked an 87.9 kWh battery pack under the floor, giving the new family member a range of about 531 km on a full charge. If the battery gets low, a fast charger can take it from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes.

But Rivian designed the R2 to handle more than paved streets - it sits 244 mm off the ground, which helps it clear rocks or deep snow. The vehicle also has eight different driving modes. These modes help the car adjust to sand, snow, or even a "Rally" setting for dirt roads. It rolls on 32-inch tires and 19-inch wheels. The R2 looks tough, but it is actually quite light for its size - it weighs nearly 907 kg less than the company's larger R1S model.

The launch model comes in a color called Esker Silver, and it features bright yellow accents on the brake parts and the badges. One of the coolest features is the rear window, which can roll all the way down into the liftgate, making it easy to carry long items like surfboards. On the inside, the R2 has plenty of room. Passengers in the back get over 1 m of legroom, and of course, there is a lot of storage space. The rear trunk holds 813 l, but if you fold the seats down, that grows to 2,248 l. There is even a small 147 l trunk in the front where an engine would normally be.

www.arenaev.com

Rivian confirms R2 electric SUV pricing, availability

The new Rivian R2 SUV offers high-speed performance and clever storage solutions, with more affordable models set to join the lineup over the next two years.
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rivian.com

Rivian Introduces R2 Lineup, Sharing Full Trims and Pricing

The soul of a Rivian, sized for every adventure
rivian.com rivian.com
 
Rivian R2 configurator goes live with detailed pricing and option delivery timelines

Rivian has officially launched the online configurator for its much awaited Rivian R2. The American manufacturer has more than 200,000 reservations for this specific model. The online tool allows future owners to choose their preferred features, packages, and colors, while also shedding light on when specific configurations will actually reach driveways.

The entry point for the lineup is the Standard trim, which starts at €41,390. In its base configuration, this rear-wheel-drive version offers an estimated driving range of 555 km. Buyers who want better traction can select the all-wheel-drive upgrade for an additional €3,000. Choosing all-wheel drive drops the estimated driving range to 531 km, and this drivetrain upgrade also unlocks the ability to add a tow package for an extra €811.

Moving up the ladder, the Premium trim has a starting price of €46,090 and comes with all-wheel drive as standard. For early reservation holders who want the vehicle immediately at launch, the company offers the Performance trim with the Launch Package for €49,500. This special package bundles several options, including the Autonomy+ software, the tow package, a unique physical key fob, and exclusive access to the Launch Green exterior paint. A completely maximized Performance trim with all available options reaches a final price of €53,559.

www.arenaev.com

Rivian R2 configurator goes live with detailed pricing and option delivery timelines

The newly launched Rivian R2 online configurator details pricing, options, and metric specifications for the highly anticipated electric SUV, though buyers must wait until 2027 for certain premium color options.
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rivian.com

Rivian R2 Performance - Esker Silver - 21" Liquid Tungsten All-Season

Design and customize your Rivian R2 electric SUV. Explore paint colors, interiors, wheels and more. Starting at $48,490. Reserve your R2 today.
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