Electric Rivilution
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Bill
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- Mar 5, 2019
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- Scottsdale
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- 2016 Model X P90D
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Jason Camissa got to play with the R3 and R3X at the live reveal event in Laguna Beach. In his words:
Rivian let me play with the R3 and R3X, live in person!
Impressions:
Unlike the Ioniq 5, it doesn’t look way bigger in person. It’s still smallish. And the Rivian design language prepares us for it being a small SUV, even though it it’s damn-near identical to a Lancia Delta.
Crazy that both Ioniq 5 and R3 are so close to 50-year-old Giugiaro designs. I’d say the man is having a renaissance. I’m not mad about it!
I suspect the overall length is around that of a VW Golf (170”ish) but the cabin is quite a bit smaller. Sitting “behind myself” means my knees about touch the seatback. This is a consequence of the front end being from a much longer car (R2) — the frunk is way bigger than it ‘should’ be. Except that long-hood, short-deck stance is exactly why we’re all head-over-heels in love with it. Nobody complains you can’t run a marathon in stilettos. Need more space? R2’s back seat is ENORMOUS.
The wheels and tires on the R3X are ridiculously oversized and exactly the reason we all love it so much. Total automotive Kewpie doll effect and I’m here for it. Realistically, the R3 is probably what I’d buy as a City Car (my driver’s license does not need an 800-hp hot-hatch.)
I love the double-opening rear hatch (hatch or glass only, like my E39 5-series.) Ingenious engineering behind it, too, using the same gas struts for both.
I normally don’t lose my mind over glass roofs, but this one is particularly open-air feeling.
The biggest letdown: unlike R2, which looks like a production-intent prototype, R3 is much earlier in its development.
I wouldn’t expect to see the first ones until 2027. That’s a long wait, but hey, good things…
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