Rivian has unveiled three new vehicles.
And one of them is making people talk for all the right reasons.
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Rivian is one of Tesla’s most credible rivals as a US-based, EV-only automaker.
Just like Tesla, it started out as a ‘two-bit’ startup before becoming a fully-fledged automaker – and a public company, too.
Obviously, Tesla’s market value is larger, by a significant margin, and they sell more cars, too.
However, Rivian occupies a slightly different segment of the market – a bit more premium perhaps.
After the Rivian R1T and R1S, truck and SUV respectively, the company unveiled the R2.
As the name suggests, the R2 (pictured below) is a smaller and cheaper version of the R1.
However, it’s the other vehicle, the R3, that’s causing quite the stir.
The R3 is a super-compact SUV that looks like a combination between a crossover and a mid-size hatchback.
There’s also a ‘hot’ version, the R3X, which is the one people are talking about.
The R3X is going viral on X because people see similarities between that and various iconic vehicles, starting with the Lancia Delta Integrale.
Other users also think it looks like a VW Golf Cross Country and even the Lada Niva, a plucky, no-nonsense off-roader from the Soviet-era USSR.
I have never seen so many pictures of old
— Jaan of the EV Universe ⚡ (@TheEVuniverse) March 8, 2024
VW Golf (Rabbit in US),
Lada Niva,
Lancia Delta
float around X as they do today.
The @Rivian R3 sure ignited a familiar feeling in people. pic.twitter.com/miiTr7k7pG
Spec-wise, both the R2 and R3 will be available with a Single-, Dual- or Tri-Motor variant.
The Tri-Motor version does 0 to 60 mph (0-97 km/h) in under three seconds.
Thanks to DC fast-charging, both are capable of charging from 10 percent to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes, which is basically the same as the record-breaking Li Auto Mega.
And there’s also another reason why the R2 is a big deal.
Apparently, this’ll be the first Rivian to be available outside of North America and in Europe.
Hopefully the R3 will be available in the Old Continent, too.