What About That R2 Sunroof?

[Sportstick]

Starting to learn more about Rivian...what's with the sunroof with no shade? WIll R2 also have no shade? Is there an accessory or aftermarket solution to installing a shade, even permanently? I'd take a steel roof if available due to the amount of heat and light we get in the southwest desert summers. Anyone aware of the darkest tint film possible that is essentially solid?

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[madhat]

Tons of threads discussing tinting and sun shields... have a look around

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

It’s a dark tinted UV blocking glass roof with less than 25% light transmission. Just like Teslas and many others with panoramic glass roof. Nothing new. Any heat you’d feel is from IR and the glass itself. If you’re sensitive to that you can install ceramic tint with even higher IR rejection or aftermarket mesh shade or a tiny amount of insulation quality.

 

[Sportstick]

I am finding some posts now on a 9-page R1 thread. Perhaps some aftermarket solutions, but apparently of varying quality. It's a known problem they plan to repeat on R2? I'm not seeing any mention of Rivian accessories to install a OEM-quality permanent shade cover. Tinting apparently risks heat buildup and glass fracture and none seem able to get heat and light intrusion back to zero. How can there not be an option or accessory for a shade or steel roof?

 

[Sportstick]

It’s a dark tinted UV blocking glass roof with less than 25% light transmission. Just like Teslas and many others with panoramic glass roof. Nothing new. Any heat you’d feel is from IR and the glass itself. If you’re sensitive to that you can install ceramic tint with even higher IR rejection or aftermarket mesh shade or a tiny amount of insulation quality.

Perhaps not new, but nothing I ever had on any BMW, MB, Porsche, etc. Wouldn't touch any Tesla. All have shades that have been closed since day of delivery, or the option to build with a steel roof that we always take when available. With up to 120F in the summer, the goal is zero from above but without risking glass fracture. I put a reservation deposit, but didn't realize this design flaw until more recently. Hmmmm....

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I am finding some posts now on a 9-page R1 thread. Perhaps some aftermarket solutions, but apparently of varying quality. It's a known problem they plan to repeat on R2? I'm not seeing any mention of Rivian accessories to install a OEM-quality permanent shade cover. Tinting apparently risks heat buildup and glass fracture and none seem able to get heat and light intrusion back to zero. How can there not be an option or accessory for a shade or steel roof?

It’s a perceived problem. Not a design or manufacturing flaw. It will have glass roof, and no option of traditional sunroof, period.

You are finding varying opinions because the “issue” is subjective. Some people have no issues with their AC or the glass roof, while others (at the other extreme) are hyper focused on it. What is fact is every single car’s cabin gets hot. And some people are extremely bothered because now, having an app that provides realtime info, they know just how hot. Take what you read with grain of salt. More will be known when the R2 is available for you to find out first hand.

 

[Sportstick]

Yes, perceived by consumers. Design flaw in the sense that it conflicts with consumer requirements as noted by 9 pages of dissatisfaction in just one thread on the R1 forum! I find it hard to understand that they will repeat the same mistake without a better solution for R2. No desire at all for a "traditional sunroof"....either none at all (steel roof) or a decent quality accessory part to install at delivery to shade/block for the life of the vehicle. Plenty of time to learn more and for them to offer a solution before being asked to convert a reservation to an order. Thanks for the replies to help me realize this is a very open and unsolved situation for now.

 

[iforbes]

Cool bro. Thanks for sharing.

 

[SoCal Rob]

I assume that the R2 will have a dynamic glass option like the Gen2 R1 vehicles.

Before going from a Gen1 to a Gen2, I thought this was a gimmick with no practical value. After getting our Gen2 I realize that this is a legitimate feature which makes a HUGE difference for us and we spend a lot of time in the desert.

We haven’t used the aftermarket sunshades from our Gen1 and my husband, who is very intolerant of heat, has been extremely happy with the dynamic glass even in 115° plus temps in Palm Springs sun.

edit: typo

 

[Sportstick]

I agree with your original "no practical value" assessment for all sunroofs. We'd take a solid steel roof every time. I tried a similar tinted/electrochromic roof on a BMW iX test drive and it was very unsatisfactory with the overhead sun visible, heat felt, and sending in too much light into the cabin for comfort. One of two primary reasons we rejected the vehicle and they void warranty for tinting. Any reason to think the Rivian solution would be superior to the BMW attempt?

 

[Zoidz]

Yes, perceived by consumers. Design flaw in the sense that it conflicts with consumer requirements as noted by 9 pages of dissatisfaction in just one thread on the R1 forum! I find it hard to understand that they will repeat the same mistake without a better solution for R2. No desire at all for a "traditional sunroof"....either none at all (steel roof) or a decent quality accessory part to install at delivery to shade/block for the life of the vehicle. Plenty of time to learn more and for them to offer a solution before being asked to convert a reservation to an order. Thanks for the replies to help me realize this is a very open and unsolved situation for now.

No. Something that differs from a customer preference or purchase requirement is not a design flaw. It's a design choice by the manufacturer. Virtually every product on the market would be a design flaw if the criteria for "design flaw" was meeting a customer preference.

 

[Riviot]

$67 solution*

*Doug not included

 

[Sportstick]

$67 solution*

*Doug not included

Nicely done! Source, please? We also have a Goldendoodle!

 

[Sportstick]

No. Something that differs from a customer preference or purchase requirement is not a design flaw. It's a design choice by the manufacturer. Virtually every product on the market would be a design flaw if the criteria for "design flaw" was meeting a customer preference.

Not a flaw in the engineering sense. A design flaw in planning. My decades-long career at another OEM was primarily in Product Planning for passenger cars and at least one stint on a pickup truck program. If I designed a plan with this outcome, I would consider my own plan flawed. I would at least have been reaching out to my own Service and Parts team to design an accessory if the business case for an alternative steel roof was not positive. Lower variable cost can be negatively offset by investment or plant complexity facility costs. Engineering just makes what's in the plan. They may technically design and manufacture the parts to specifications, but my comments are more holistic about the basis of the plan, which I still viewed as fundamentally flawed for the roof treatment.

 

[Proxy]

Glass roofs are very efficient for manufacturers. Making only a glass roof on a model of a vehicle allows a less tall vehicle for the same headroom = less weight (probably), better aerodynamics, lower Cg (probably) plus less painted surface for finish flaws. Maybe someday an engineering YouTuber will post a breakdown on cost comparison… (I couldn’t find an M&A video when I searched)

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