Photo: @Hilbe, @RivianUpdates via X
Rivian is touring the R2 and R3 prototypes at various locations across the country while the company's executives offer welcome insights into the upcoming Rivian models. We saw some of the crossovers' secrets, including its updated infotainment interface.
Last month, Rivian unveiled the R2, R3, and R3X to an ecstatic crowd in Laguna Beach. The R2 was the highlight of this launch, but people seem to have fallen in love with the "one-more-thing" R3 and R3X compact crossovers. It's understandable, considering that the R2 is a shrunk R1S, thus eroding its appeal. However, the R3 and R3X follow the same recipe as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which seems to have inspired them. The no-nonsense approach to designing a new electric crossover paid off, and people like the R3 duo more than the R2.
Rivian announced that the R2 will start production in 2026, with the R3 and R3X following at a later time. Of course, things can change significantly in the next couple of years, given the R3's popularity. If you're wondering how Rivian might have showcased what looked like a production vehicle two years before it entered production, it's more of a smokescreen. The R2 and R3/R3X prototypes show new body designs, but the innards are still R1. Rivian has a lot of work to do on the R2 platform before going into production with the new models.
Nevertheless, the EV startup is busy showing the new designs to as many people as possible. The new compact EVs have a busy schedule touring the country. It might be the first time a car company allows people to come close and sit in its upcoming models two years before production. Normally, at this stage, we would've seen a design sketch and maybe a heavily camouflaged prototype caught testing. However, Rivian uses this opportunity to gauge interest in the upcoming models.
As more people sit inside the R2/R3, we learn interesting things about the upcoming models. One of the most interesting bits concerns the new infotainment interface Rivian is working on. We've already seen it in the first press pictures from the unveiling event. However, now, people get to play with it and share photos and videos. This is exciting because the same user interface will land on existing R1 vehicles with an upcoming software update.
It's no secret that Rivian based its infotainment interface on a heavily skinned variant of Android Automotive. This is even more obvious at this stage of development, as the R2/R3 interface contains many screens that still retain the Google UX. This will likely change closer to production, but it's obvious that Rivian is transitioning to a more colorful interface that people seem to love.
The new interface features a "floating island" showing the weather, time, and LTE/Wi-Fi status. It also has bigger elements, with some of them being rearranged for better ergonomics. For instance, the reimagined Music screen has the controls on the left side, closer to the driver. The Drive Modes screen has new toggle buttons for Ride, Regen, and Stability. The Charging screen has also been optimized and now features a charge graph similar to the one introduced with the latest Rivian mobile app.
We've also got the first look at the updated second-row display controls, which will roll out soon to existing R1 vehicles with the 2024.11.0x software update. This allows rear passengers to lock and unlock the car and control the music, Bluetooth, hotspot, and more. Rivian confirmed that a future update will bring even more changes to the rear screen interface later this year.
Rivian announced that the R2 will start production in 2026, with the R3 and R3X following at a later time. Of course, things can change significantly in the next couple of years, given the R3's popularity. If you're wondering how Rivian might have showcased what looked like a production vehicle two years before it entered production, it's more of a smokescreen. The R2 and R3/R3X prototypes show new body designs, but the innards are still R1. Rivian has a lot of work to do on the R2 platform before going into production with the new models.
Nevertheless, the EV startup is busy showing the new designs to as many people as possible. The new compact EVs have a busy schedule touring the country. It might be the first time a car company allows people to come close and sit in its upcoming models two years before production. Normally, at this stage, we would've seen a design sketch and maybe a heavily camouflaged prototype caught testing. However, Rivian uses this opportunity to gauge interest in the upcoming models.
As more people sit inside the R2/R3, we learn interesting things about the upcoming models. One of the most interesting bits concerns the new infotainment interface Rivian is working on. We've already seen it in the first press pictures from the unveiling event. However, now, people get to play with it and share photos and videos. This is exciting because the same user interface will land on existing R1 vehicles with an upcoming software update.
It's no secret that Rivian based its infotainment interface on a heavily skinned variant of Android Automotive. This is even more obvious at this stage of development, as the R2/R3 interface contains many screens that still retain the Google UX. This will likely change closer to production, but it's obvious that Rivian is transitioning to a more colorful interface that people seem to love.
The new interface features a "floating island" showing the weather, time, and LTE/Wi-Fi status. It also has bigger elements, with some of them being rearranged for better ergonomics. For instance, the reimagined Music screen has the controls on the left side, closer to the driver. The Drive Modes screen has new toggle buttons for Ride, Regen, and Stability. The Charging screen has also been optimized and now features a charge graph similar to the one introduced with the latest Rivian mobile app.
We've also got the first look at the updated second-row display controls, which will roll out soon to existing R1 vehicles with the 2024.11.0x software update. This allows rear passengers to lock and unlock the car and control the music, Bluetooth, hotspot, and more. Rivian confirmed that a future update will bring even more changes to the rear screen interface later this year.
Here are some cool screen grabs from @InsideEVs' R2 impressions video showing the R2 UI.
— Rivian Updates (@RivianUpdates) April 7, 2024
The A/C control screen, Camp controls, Charging tab, and Drive Mode tab.
And it's all coming to the R1T and R1S later this year. pic.twitter.com/svdcBXbLiT
Google News