© RivianRivian has recently unveiled its new midsize platform, underpinning the medium sized R2 SUV and R3 crossover product lines. The R2 isn’t that significant, as it looks like 3/4 version of the R1S, which has been out for quite some time now and is a very logical addition to the line up.
But the R3 hits differently. It is no major invention – smaller (by today's standards) electric crossovers from up-scale brands do exist, such as the Genesis GV60, Volvo C40 Recharge and Hyundai Ioniq 5 (Yes Hyundai, I will gladly accept your money for calling you up-scale), but the R3 stands out form all of them.
In their newsroom article, Rivian said that the “R3 is a midsize crossover that is tidy on dimensions but delivers big in terms of performance, off-road capability, passenger comfort, and storage. The design of the exterior and interior of R3 are inviting and iconic. R3 demonstrates the scalability of Rivian’s brand across different form factors while continuing to be immediately recognizable.”
The vehicle features three motor variants – Single-Motor (RWD), Dual-Motor (AWD), and Tri-Motor (two rear motors, one front) configurations, the R3X will use Rivian's in-house drive unit platform and technology. R3 ir R3X will feature two battery sizes with the larger pack helping achieve a manufacturer claimed 300 miles of range on a single charge. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph should happen in under 3 seconds, meaning the R3X, as a family car, will be faster than it ever should be. The R3 and its tri-motor R3X twin are due sometime in 2027.
The R3 is certainly a step forward in the right direction, as the EV market of the present is full of large and heavy vehicles with a lot of them being quite pricey too. Rivian's debut models are possibly not the cheapest, but certainly on the lower, more accessible range of price, and just as important to an enthusiast – actually small. The Ioniq 5 played tricks on our minds when it was released, as we realized it was much bigger than the press photos suggested. The Rivian R3 seems to be just slightly larger than a Mk8 VW Golf.
It’s body is the real attention grabber, harking back to the best of Giugiaro – there’s a whiff of Lancia Delta, early Volkswagen Golfs, especially the all-wheel-drive Mk2 Golf Country, even echoes of the Dodge Omni and Chrysler Horizon from the late 70s and early 80s, or even the soviet-built piece of misery called the Lada Niva. The front end is large and in charge, taken from the R2, and is part of why enthusiasts are falling over this design. The short deck, long front, and strict contours of the body turn it into a clean and sharp vehicle that's instantly recognizable and also easily understandable to the eye. Unlike with every other modern crossover, there’s not much space for wondering what this design is. It’s elegant, filled with 80s retro material and simply pleasant to the eye with no kitsch and excessive lines.
“It's like a crossover meets an SUV, meets a hatch, meets a wagon, meets a bunch of things. We say it has the soul of a rally car,” says Rivian boss RJ Scaringe. “We got to have a little bit of fun with the R3X, it's tri-motor, it's insane performance, there’s torque vectoring. It allows us to take the performance element of the brand and apply it in a meaningful way.”
Priced between $35,000 to $40,000, it could be a decent path for Rivian's global expansion, moving forward into the European market and driving substantial sales growth. It’s got back seats for adults, a decent boot, large frunk and a handy split tailgate, loved by anyone who has ever experienced a car with such a thing. It is a captivating product, most of which thus far is thanks to its retro, Giugiaro-like design, but Rivian’s extra minimalist brand image goes a long way as well.
It’s attractive and very distinctive, but with these models, a question does come up – will this be enough to keep the lights in the factory, in order to sell a large amount of these cars and expand Rivian’s market? I certainly hope so. The R3 can be a great benchmark for car design going forward, along with quality examples from Hyundai and Polestar. If these brands and their outstanding designs prevail, the future of electric car design won’t be as grim as more mainstream manufacturers have been suggesting.
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