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Should you’re into EVs and on social media, this text in all probability gained’t share any arduous information, however I needed to share simply how impressed I’m with not solely Rivian’s new autos, however the consideration to element they put in and the nice showmanship.
Recap
For many who aren’t conscious that Rivian has some new vehicles, I’ll go forward and share the video and a brief recap for many who don’t need to or can’t watch the 40-minute video: (article continues after video)
First off, it’s lengthy been recognized that Rivian was going to make some smaller SUVs. The market calls for it! And we’ve recognized for a while that this is able to subsequent come within the type of a five-seat SUV to compete with autos just like the Ford Bronco and perhaps Bronco Sport. However Rivian didn’t cease at simply asserting a short-bus model of the R1S.
They undergo the corporate’s brief historical past first. It was apparent that Rivian began with its most adventurous autos, the R1 and R1S, and solely now could be shifting down the road to lower-cost autos. They needed this “handshake to the world” to be an amazing first impression that reveals what the corporate is all about. Different issues, like the corporate’s “areas,” budding charging community, and cellular service fleet are supposed to construct on that imaginative and prescient.
However, on the identical time, not everybody can lay $80,000+ on the barrelhead for a truck. So, Rivian opened up “the subsequent journey” with the R2. It’s quite a bit just like the R1S, with a well-known face, structure (together with the frunk), and roomy second row of seats. It has rear glass that opens and will be eliminated, together with a sunroof to present an open-air expertise when the climate is good.
The inside not solely has a glovebox (one thing the R1 didn’t have), but in addition a second glove field within the heart. It’s supposed to return with a haptic steering suggestions steering wheel, built-in flashlight holders, and seats that fold flat sufficient to camp within the car.
The R2 has 4695 format battery cells in a structural battery pack, RWD and AWD (together with a tri-motor) variants, and over 300 miles of vary. It additionally has a robust compute and sensor platform that ought to ultimately lead to self-driving potential, put in a car that was designed to be reasonably priced and manufacturable. Costs begin at $45,000.
However, what shocked the group was when Rivian’s CEO casually dropped the truth that they have been going to introduce a second car, in a transfer that was paying homage to Steve Jobs’ “another factor” routine. No person outdoors of Rivian knew that there was going to be a second car introduced, and it’s a fair smaller sibling to the R1 and R2.
R3 is our tackle what a crossover will be — constructed on the identical midsize platform as R2, however smaller and at a cheaper price level.#RivianR3 pic.twitter.com/V6nDXbF95F
— Rivian (@Rivian) March 7, 2024
Constructed on the identical platform, the R3 and R3X (efficiency variant) seems quite a bit like a retro hatchback. It’s extra of a rally automotive sort of expertise, shrunk to be a good crossover that competes with different compact autos which are turning into standard within the EV house. It has the identical battery pack, motor choices, and electronics. It additionally has glass that opens within the again with completely different heights.
We designed R3X for max efficiency, functionality — and enjoyable. Deliveries will start after R2. pic.twitter.com/L5eso84h6p
— Rivian (@Rivian) March 7, 2024
A Nicely Thought-Out Household Of Options
What was extra spectacular is that they didn’t simply plan out good autos and hope that the aftermarket may hack collectively some good tenting options. That has labored out up to now for truck and SUV manufacturers, however Rivian put extra thought into making issues simpler for corporations that come behind them and add to the expertise.
The Rivian Treehouse is our tackle the rooftop tent. The Rivian Journey Kitchen completes the right campsite.🏕️ pic.twitter.com/HCV8lzbAHg
— Rivian (@Rivian) March 8, 2024
Not solely did they make a rooftop tent with creature comforts like a heated mattress, however they left the infrastructure there for others to doubtlessly use for different fashions of rooftop tents.
The @Rivian R2/R3 tent is heated, lit, and has a heated mattress. Guessing on the final one. pic.twitter.com/gRL4BujHUL
— Chris Hilbert (@Hilbe) March 8, 2024
Right here’s how @Rivian powers the tent. R3X pic.twitter.com/JL70Fkm47o
— Chris Hilbert (@Hilbe) March 7, 2024
So, we’re an entire tenting and journey answer and never only a “let’s hope individuals determine it out” type of factor. That foresight ought to impress individuals and reveals that Rivian is severe about actual journey autos and never simply constructing nice EVs.
I can’t wait to see what else they launch and what the aftermarket comes up with past that!
Good Showmanship and Expertise Sale
Essentially the most spectacular factor within the reveal wasn’t the merchandise as a lot because the showmanship. As a substitute of obsessing over specs and bizarre cost-cutting issues, Rivian made it clear from the start to the top that they’re promoting a ticket to journey and never simply promoting you a automotive. Because the 100 and fifty third Rule of Acquisition states, “Promote the sizzle, not the steak.” That’s to not say that there isn’t loads of steak, however persons are after experiences and never simply objects nowadays.
Additionally they made it clear that they have been severe concerning the sizzle, too. Anyone can provide you with some footage of their car out wheeling in Moab and put some completely happy numerous faces on the display screen having fun with the experience, however not all people is baking the anticipated expertise into the product not solely within the oven, however within the mixing bowl and within the recipe itself.
Sadly, I don’t see anyone else within the EV trade doing that. Tesla has the Cybertruck, however the factor has been out (no less than in restricted numbers) for months earlier than we ever noticed video of it taking up Moab. We additionally haven’t seen anyone tenting with a customized rooftop tent with energy connections and an outdoor-focused charging community. The F-150 Lightning has been out for lots longer, and we don’t see this. And the Silverado EV? We hardly see it in any respect.
The opposite factor that was numerous enjoyable to see was the Jobsian “another factor” transfer. Dropping the sudden was mainly the anticipated for some time within the tech world, however that was one thing we haven’t seen in an automotive reveal for some time. The R3 is constructed on the identical platform and thus didn’t require making a complete different car, however placing in that effort to open up that subsequent market phase on the identical time made it not solely extra enjoyable, however spectacular.
We in all probability gained’t see any extra Rivian product reveals for fairly a while now that the R3 is totally out of the bag, but it surely was value it.
All pictures supplied by Rivian.
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