The newest vehicles in the Rivian lineup share a fresh midsize EV platform, which the automaker says reduces the number of parts through consolidation and intelligent design. Both the R2 and R3 will be available with three motor configuration options: single-motor, rear-wheel drive; dual-motor, all-wheel drive; and a three-motor setup with two motors in the rear and one in front. Less than 24 hours after the launch, more than 68,000 reservations poured in for the R2. It doesn’t hurt that Rivian unveiled a slew of custom accessories for the new EV line, including rooftop tents and other outdoorsy options. The announcement that Rivian models will be able to be charged up at Tesla Superchargers helps as well. Following Ford’s lead, Rivian models can connect to Superchargers with an available adapter that’s about the size of a 1.5-pound bag of coffee beans. And finally, the price tag of less than $45,000 will put the R2 in a competitive bracket with other EVs and will be more affordable for families. While it might have seemed like a head-scratcher to some that Rivian upstaged its own R2 reveal to pull the curtain off the R3 and R3X, it’s a move that brings major buzz to a scrappy EV brand looking for a win. With investing analysts giving Rivian middling marks recently as EV demand appears to wane, the EV builder is looking for all the interest it can generate.

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