R2 TRI-MOTOR

[kurtlikevonnegut]

That is a good question, might depend on supply chains. I’m sure the margins for the tri are much higher which is good for a company and why most people release top tier trims first. The flip side is you want to get as many out the door while the interest is high so if motors are constrained at all might be better to delay those.

I honestly thought with the R1 that they would do top tier first, though it would be the max battery but that did not come out until 2 years later.

My wife does not need the tri but if that is out first we will go with it.

Rivian is currently demand constrained with the basic cost to entry at $67k effectively. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me that they would solve this problem by introducing a new model with a price point starting in the mid to high 60s.

They need volume to get cogs down. They aren't going to get the volume they need selling $65k compact SUVs.

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[SANZC02]

Rivian is currently demand constrained with the basic cost to entry at $67k effectively. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me that they would solve this problem by introducing a new model with a price point starting in the mid to high 60s.

They need volume to get cogs down. They aren't going to get the volume they need selling $65k compact SUVs.

No argument with that. I would just counter that there are a lot of people that would pony up for a tri-motor with the performance in mid 60s instead of the R1 Tri at 105. There are a lot of performance vehicles at that price point that sell annually. Selling 5-10k on an initial release should not be an issue before introducing the dual.

I want the dual but if the tri comes out first I’ll get that. I was going to get a dual R1S for my wife but she thinks mine is too big and wants something smaller.

 

[bronco7777]

Yeah one of the reasons I would consider moving from an R1S to an R2 is the size. I just don't have the need for a 7 seater and it is a bit difficult on the wife to park in our garage. Or for her to get in and out of it. I was about to get running boards to help with this but since I might consider moving to the R2 I'm holding off.

 

[Just Passing By]

I'd be looking at a Tri for better off-road traction versus a Dual. Not interested in the higher HP, torque or 0-60, just traction, so if Rivian delivered a more capable off-road traction in the Dual than seems to be the case in the Dual vs Tri/Quad R1S/T, then that might be enough for me. Note that I'm basing this take on my limited viewing/reading making such comparisons.

Ranges from 200-300 seem to be the expectation but for my interest in more of an overlanding use, i.e. longer distances on and off road in underserved charging locations rather than rock crawling, I'd like to see that top end get to 350 with a Tri, albeit using Conserve mode if necessary.

Cost wise I'd expect it to overlap with the bottom end of the R1S so also going to go with $75k-$85k.

 

[A_E]

The pricing for the tri will start at the price of the Dual standard R1S. Also expect performance to be slower than the R1S Tri. Probably 3.1-3.2 0-60. I expect range will also be lower. 290ish. They need to maintain a reason on the top trims to buy an R1S. This is the same way many car companies operate. The cars that will be very competitive will be the single motor and dual.

They already said at reveal that it will be 0-60 in <3 seconds so that's 2.9 seconds or faster so it will be the same as the tri, 2.9 or less.

 

[A_E]

I think they will roll out 1 model first with all the bells and whistles sort of like they did for the Gen1's of the R1T and R1S.

I wouldn't be so sure. Look at the R1 gen 2. They started with dual motor because the tri and quad both used a different rear motor. If they want to scale production quickly they will probably start with dual motor or single motor RWD depending on which part is supply constrained the most. I wouldn't be surprised if they start shipping the Dual, then the RWD, then the Tri last. I hope they start with the Tri first but I don't see it happening since the rear setup will be a different motor housing than the front.

 

[defcon888]

I wouldn't be so sure. Look at the R1 gen 2. They started with dual motor because the tri and quad both used a different rear motor. If they want to scale production quickly they will probably start with dual motor or single motor RWD depending on which part is supply constrained the most. I wouldn't be surprised if they start shipping the Dual, then the RWD, then the Tri last. I hope they start with the Tri first but I don't see it happening since the rear setup will be a different motor housing than the front.

what are your thoughts on a AWD single motor?. That will satisfy the weekend warriors that mainly do city driving but need it for the mountain trips.

I can see a Dual motor being the first offering. I have the Gen1 R1T with quad motor and I couldn't see myself going to anything lower than quad unless the dual or tri enduro motors can give me the same experience.

Thoughts?

 

[A_E]

1. What will a tri-motor R2 cost?
   1. $60k-$69k is my best guess
2. How much range do you feel we can realistically expect from a tri-motor R2?
   1. 300 - 350 miles of range
3. When will it be available?
   1. Hard to say. My intuition tells me it will be the last of the R2s produced due to the different rear motor setup compared to the Dual and RWD only but I hope I'm wrong and it's first so I can snag two of them...
4. Colors?....will it mimic the current tri-motor R1S lineup?
   1. Do not care as long as I can get it in Black w/ Blackout package.

 

[A_E]

what are your thoughts on a AWD single motor?. That will satisfy the weekend warriors that mainly do city driving but need it for the mountain trips.

I can see a Dual motor being the first offering. I have the Gen1 R1T with quad motor and I couldn't see myself going to anything lower than quad unless the dual or tri enduro motors can give me the same experience.

Thoughts?

I think the dual motor will be more than capable compared to anything else in it's market segment...What else are we comparing it to? Rav 4 awd? Subaru whatever? I have no doubts it will be more than capable. I have a DM R1T with 21" road tires and it had no issues in heavy snow.

You realize that very few vehicles in production have 4 independent motors? I think just the Rivian and the Mercedes G-Wagon Electric...What have people been driving for the past 50 years in the same conditions? The DM & Tri motor vehicles have no less capability on road than the quad does. Unless you're talking about doing some serious rock climbing off road but I don't think many R2 customers will be doing that. Generally that type of off-road adventure results in damage to the vehicle eventually regardless of how rugged it is.

Enduro motors are only in the DM R1. Ascent is the rear motor in R1 Tri & Quad. R2 motors are "Maximus" though I'm not sure if they are all called that or just the single independent motor.

 

[elektrode]

Should the R2 Tri be re-branded as R2X?

 

[Tamburello_Rouge]

What are your thoughts on a AWD single motor?. That will satisfy the weekend warriors that mainly do city driving but need it for the mountain trips.

From a mechanical layout perspective, this configuration makes no sense. It requires a transfer case and drive shaft somewhere between the two axles. That space is used by the battery modules. I can see an entry level model having single motor with RWD. If you want AWD, it will (at least) be dual motor.

 

[AirplaneDr]

Looking at the price differences between R1 powertrain/battery configs once normalized for other features each step up in battery or motor config is right around $5000. Based on this my pricing estimate is:
RWD std: $45000
RWD large: $50000
Dual AWD std: $50000
Dual AWD large: $55000
Tri AWD large: $60000

All that said I am also expecting the $45k R2 to have a lower spec feature set than the base R1 (base R1 has a glass roof, 4 place heated seats, cooled 1st row seats, power frunk, etc). I could also see all of these things added back in on the Tri AWD as part of the included package which would certainly add cost. My best guess is that the R2 Tri goes a C-note under $65,000*.

* the biggest unknown here is that Rivian is able the keep the $45,000 price tag on the R2 base model. As a huge Rivian fan I would love for RJ to pull a Steve Jobs "one more thing" and announce R2 starts at $39,900. My concern for the company is that the price of R2 in the volume config (dual AWD) will still be too expensive. All the competitors (Model Y, Mach E, Ionic 5, EV6**) start below $40k.

** I know there are BMW, MB and Audi luxury EV models that are more inline with the upscale ideal of Rivian but if this company has any hope of selling the number of R2s it needs to then the mid tier EV market is where R2 needs to be competitive.

 

[A_E]

* the biggest unknown here is that Rivian is able the keep the $45,000 price tag on the R2 base model. As a huge Rivian fan I would love for RJ to pull a Steve Jobs "one more thing" and announce R2 starts at $39,900. My concern for the company is that the price of R2 in the volume config (dual AWD) will still be too expensive. All the competitors (Model Y, Mach E, Ionic 5, EV6**) start below $40k.

** I know there are BMW, MB and Audi luxury EV models that are more inline with the upscale ideal of Rivian but if this company has any hope of selling the number of R2s it needs to then the mid tier EV market is where R2 needs to be competitive.

To Address *

I think even at 45k starting price you're getting a lot more than what others are offering. Probably more performance, two screens (unlike model y), No Elon Musk as a CEO. The AWD model, if 50k would still likely be a better buy than the model Y for the following: Two Screens, Better Performance, Better shape / better looking, higher ground clearance, better software than Ford, Hyundai, Kia. Better quality than Ford, Hyundai, Kia. It's basically an almost premium vehicle.

To Address **

Anything comparable to the R2 will be priced significantly higher than the R2 with worse software. I'm looking at Audi, BMW, Porsche, & Mercedes. I kid you not, when I was looking to replace the performance model Y I was looking at those 3 brands for similar performance as the Model Y and anything closes started at around $100,000....The Macan will be slower than the performance R2 for double the price....You need to really start looking at what the competition is offering on the same performance, range, & interior and you'll soon realize that there is nothing close besides Tesla.

 

[AlphaSnowbordergirl]

If I recall correctly, there have been a couple (2 or 3) YouTubers who went to car shows and asked about the R2 and was told it would be maxed out price-wise at 60,000. I do not know if that just meant a trimotor large battery and no additional options (like colors) that may come with it or what. With steel and aluminum tariffs, hopefully they can keep that 45-60k price range.

 

[A_E]

If I recall correctly, there have been a couple (2 or 3) YouTubers who went to car shows and asked about the R2 and was told it would be maxed out price-wise at 60,000. I do not know if that just meant a trimotor large battery and no additional options (like colors) that may come with it or what. With steel and aluminum tariffs, hopefully they can keep that 45-60k price range.

False. No one has any authority on price at these shows and they certainly wouldn’t know real numbers when they haven’t been released yet. I’m guessing the range will be 45-65 but nothing is announced outside of starting at 45.

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