R2 styling: what would you keep/discard from the R1?

[strykerwsu]

Wagons only sell in Europe. Americans don’t buy them, that’s why Audi, Volvo, BMW and Mercedes stopped selling them in the US.

Yep, I almost bought the Jag wagon new for $37k (40%) off sticker but wife wouldn’t let me lol. They looked awesome to me.

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[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I would like to see them add in 4 wheel steering.

R2 is smaller than the R1, BMW X3 or Fisker Ocean sized. Makes absolutely no sense to have 4-wheel steering; a sure way to miss price target by a long shot.

 

[cjbot3000]

Glass.
Roof.

Just why. For the love this glass roof on every ev thing needs to stop.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Wagons only sell in Europe. Americans don’t buy them, that’s why Audi, Volvo, BMW and Mercedes stopped selling them in the US.

Spot on. Some people just can’t handle facts and mistake their personal preferences for reality. Car manufacturers are in the business to make money. They don’t discontinue stuff that are popular or profitable (duh?) As much as I like and miss wagons myself their time has come and gone. SUVs are easier to get in and out of and the higher sightlines give people a sense of [somewhat superficial] security.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

What’s the difference between a modern wagon and a modern cuv?

Higher ride height, seating, sight lines and rooflines. Easier to get in and out of. Taller/larger physical presence gives false impression of substance and safety. All the reasons they outsell everything else.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I think it depends on what the actual size, shape of the R2 ends up being, but I would keep the headlights, light bar design. It's unique to Rivian.

About this size:

 

[SSteveEV]

The lack of buttons.

(but also the dumb glass roof)

 

[SoCal Rob]

All I will say is they’d be dumb not to make a wagon of some sorts.

I like wagons, and the improved aerodynamics compared to a CUV or an SUV would help with efficiency and range. However, with the ever-increasing ride heights of vehicles I don’t know what it would take to make wagons acceptable to the average consumer again.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

They should give the R2 the vegan leather and put decent seating surfaces in the R1. That's my only real interior complaint. The design is elegant and tasteful, it's executed well and the wood trim is extremely well done. The pleather seating surfaces take what would be one of the best interiors on the market and put a big black mark on them.

This is why Tesla will lose market share on the top end too, they just cannot do luxury the way the Germans or even the Japanese can and even legacy auto can put a decent surface together although their designs are tasteless. Rivian has the hard part down, that's the design. Just to sully that is probably my biggest overall gripe with the vehicle.

 

[Sgt Beavis]

Wagons only sell in Europe. Americans don’t buy them, that’s why Audi, Volvo, BMW and Mercedes stopped selling them in the US.

Ahem…
https://www.audiusa.com/us/web/en/models/a6/a6-allroad/2024/overview.html
https://www.mbusa.com/en/vehicles/class/e-class/wagon
https://www.volvocars.com/us/cars/v60-hybrid/
https://www.volvocars.com/us/cars/v90-cross-country/

Now BMW did stop selling wagons in the US, but you know who started selling them? Porsche. Heck, they sell TWO wagons.
https://www.porsche.com/usa/models/panamera/panamera-models/panamera-4-sport-turismo/
https://www.porsche.com/usa/models/taycan/taycan-models/taycan-4-cross-turismo/

I’m just pickin’ a little bit. There are some amazing wagons out there and you can go buy one right now. You can even buy one with a god awful CVT transmission in the Subie Outback.

 

[COdogman]

About this size:

Yeah, I had that pic in mind when I said it. Still hard to tell, but it’s obviously smaller than an S. I agree with you though - those headlights, etc aren’t going anywhere. Anyone who sees them know they are looking at a Rivian.

 

[Dark-Fx]

I would delete the long hood for more of a minivan look up front.

The long hood looks really good and I love using the frunk, but especially in a scaled down R2 if I could trade 12" of hood for an extra 12" in the cabin I would do it in a heartbeat.

Problem with moving everything forward is now you shrunk the foot box for driver and passenger. Minivans generally have much smaller wheels and tires.

 

[WorldComposting]

Better seats, I know some people really like them but they seem to fit you or don't and they aren't adjustable enough to make them work for everyone. It will be the reason why I might not keep this car as long as I hoped since my wife really dislikes the seats and my shoulder line up with the grove which isn't great but I can deal with it.

I hope they keep the dual hatch design in the back. I really like that I can sit on it and place items in the back without them rolling out if parked on a hill.

 

[Zoidz]

As others have said, the front end is Rivian's signature look. It's unlikely it will go away. My wife was following me a few weeks ago at night and said the rear light bar is visible from "miles away" and very distinctive. It's unlikely that will go away, it's also a signature appearance.

Keep:
- the driver display. Don't cheap out like Tesla.
- Software update frequency
- The Start/Stop button ?
- The waistline and fender bulge design aesthetics

Drop:
- Air suspension
- Greenhouse Glass
- Camp Speaker
- Air inflator (make it an option)
- Flashlight
- Water Fording gaskets (make it an option)
- AC compressor (replace with heat pump, which is probably already happening)
- CarPlay ?

 

[djjr50]

Not specific to the R2, but could be applicable. (not in any order)

• Sunroof (instead of just glass roof...yes, I am one of the few who uses it)
• inverted rear wiper (a la Range Rover)
• non-electro mechanized door handles and charging port
• Touch to open door handles (don't care for proximity stuff)
• non-electro mechanized HVAC vents
• power lower clamshell tailgate
• 1 or 2 more ride comfort settings (suspension...add to the soft and stiff settings)
• wider doors (I am in the top percent size wise but the doors are small compare to many others)
• rear seat ventilation
• more interior storage (why not add a glovebox or upper dash storage ?)
• deployable running boards
• Android Auto
• Remote Park in and Out (Similar to Hyundai's system)
• Parallel and perpendicular park assist
• dual charge ports (one of the rear, keep the one on the front)

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