Rivian has been one of the more celebrated electric car startups. While many such startups have struggled to manufacture and deliver on their ambitious plans, Rivian has made a little more progress. Hailing from Irvine, California, the company launched the R1T and R1S over the last couple of years looking to appeal to those wanting a large pickup or SUV.
The models haven’t made it out of the US, but announcing a more compact platform, Rivian have now laid out plans for the Rivian R2 and Rivian R3 – including the R3X variant. The Rivian R2 has a boxy back like the Rivian R1S, but it’s the Rivian R3X (below) that everyone is talking about. Why? Because it looks like a relic from the Cold War.
IMAGE CREDIT: RIVIAN
The moment I saw the Rivian R3 the Lada Niva popped into my head. The proportionality, the angle of the rear window, something about the way it sits on its wheels – even the colour of the R3X made me think about Lada. Those in the US are unlikely to have ever seen a Lada, but as a child growing up in Germany in the 1980s, it was a common sight for me.
I’m not alone in thinking this: Rivian’s chief design officer Jeff Hammond told The Drive that was inspired by Group B rally cars.
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If you look at some of the old cars like the Lancia Delta Integrale or Audi Quattro, those were the types of things we looked at and how could we do something that’s in the Rivian brand and feels like us, but evokes that feeling.
Jeff Hammond, Chief Design Officer, Rivian
Lada was widely ridiculed in the school playground, of course, but Lada went on to be acquired by Renault, before returning to Russian state ownership in 2022. However heritage Ladas are now viewed with some nostalgic fondness. The Lada Niva was the first unibody utility vehicle, viewed as the forerunner of many modern crossovers, and that’s no bad association for the Rivian R3X.
What are the core specs of the new Rivian R2 and R3?
The Rivian R3 is pitched as a crossover while the Rivian R2 (pictured below) is designed as a mid-range SUV. There will be a choice of two battery sizes, the larger offering over 300 miles of range. Rivian wants to turn heads like Tesla does, and is promising a 0-60mph time of under 3 seconds for the top powertrain – that’s something a Lada Niva would never manage.
The new Rivian models will support NACS – North American Charging Standard – more commonly known as the Tesla charger. Rivian has ambitions to sell this model in the UK – arriving in 2027 according to Auto Express – where it’s more likely to offer CCS.
IMAGE CREDIT: RIVIAN
There will be three powertrain options, with single (RWD), double (AWD) and triple motor options (two rear, one front). Rivian says that the top casing of the battery also acts as the floor of the car, while self-driving capabilities will be enabled through radar and cameras.
The Rivian R2 is said to start from $45,000 with deliveries in 2026, with the R3 coming in cheaper. The R3X will be the more enhanced performance version – and that includes some touches hinting at more enhanced offroad performance.
