Up close with the Rivian R2: Even better in-person [Gallery]

My present EV household consists of a Mustang Mach-E and a Mannequin Y. I positioned my R2 reservation final week, planning to switch the Mannequin Y with it come 2026-ish. What I noticed as we speak solely provides me extra confidence that’s the suitable name.

Rivian wasn’t letting anybody drive the R2 it had on show in Austin, nor had been we even allowed to the touch it. “These new haptic scroll wheels? They’re nice!,” a Rivian worker mentioned. “However you’ll be able to’t contact them.” As a Rivian worker drove the R2 into the car parking zone, it was surrounded by a number of different R1Ts and R1Ss.

One factor I observed straight away was that the colour of this R2 appears to be like totally different at nearly each angle, relying on how the sunshine was hitting it. Because the sky alternated between cloudy and sunny, generally this R2 seemed white, generally blue, and generally grey. This made it actually exhausting to take footage.

Another fast ideas:

• Very impressed with the interior. Regardless that I couldn’t contact it, it actually seemed extra luxurious and has extra character than my Mannequin Y. The supplies aren’t as good because the R1T/R1S, however that’s to be anticipated given the worth variations.
• The dimensions, to me, appears good. I usually assume the R1S is simply too huge, however this R2 kind issue is correct up my alley.
• I used to be so-so on the edges based mostly on footage and movies I’d seen on-line, however I truly thought they seemed fairly sick in particular person.
• Two glove containers, flashlight within the door, very good. There’s some good further storage within the middle console, the place the Camp Speaker is on the R1S/R1T.
• I forgot to get an image of it, however should you elevate the ground of the trunk, there’s lots of extra space for storing beneath.
• Once more, I couldn’t sit in it, however there seems to be lots of legroom within the backseat. In all probability greater than the Mannequin Y? We’ll see.

Electrek’s Take

The R2 is a completely beautiful automotive. Rivian’s presentation final week did a fairly good job of exhibiting it off, however seeing it in-person as we speak was even higher. If what Rivian truly finally ends up transport in 2026 is as good as what I noticed as we speak, I’m offered. Bye, bye, Mannequin Y.

Anyway, listed here are some footage of the R2 inside and out of doors. Take pleasure in!

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