Rivian shares first undercover look at upcoming smaller R2 SUV
Rivian has been working on its cheaper, smaller R2 platform for some time now, expected to be the “high volume” counterpart to its flagship R1T and R1S. And we just saw our first look at the R2S – albeit undercover.
R2-based vehicles are expected to be more accessible to buyers and enable higher volume production, getting more EVs on the road and helping Rivian with its current primary goal of upping its production capacity. But currently, the R2 isn’t slated to release until 2026, so we’ve got some time to go until we see it.
We hadn’t seen anything yet of the vehicle, but Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe just revealed a small look at the R2S SUV, alongside chief designer Jeff Hammoud. The short video was posted on the company’s Instagram story, in response to customer questions as part of an “Ask Rivian” segment.
Well, sort of anyway. It’s under cover, and it’s just a clay model, but it gives us a sense of the size and shape of the vehicle nonetheless:
It’s not much to go on, but this is the first we’ve seen of the upcoming model, and we can get a sense of a few things from what we see here.
First, it’s smaller. Which was expected, but it’s nice to see confirmation of. In forum posts about the “reveal,” Rivian community members seemed surprised by just how much smaller it is, given that the R1T and R1S are quite large vehicles. But that’s what we were told would happen, and here it is.
Second, it does seem to maintain a pretty similar shape to the R1S. It’s quite boxy, in contrast to the typical egg-shaped small SUVs common across the rest of the segment. It does look like the roof line tapers in from the sides of the vehicles, perhaps moreso than on the R1S, so its front profile may look a little different. But we’re only seeing one angle, so we can’t be as certain of that.
In the background of the video, we saw some Rivian marketing material which seems to show that the R2 will maintain the R1’s striking headlight design. This design was originally controversial on the truck’s reveal but has become a bit of an icon for the company. We’ve seen a brief glimpse of the clay model’s fender in a previous Rivian video (see this article’s featured photo for that), which also confirmed that the R2 headlight design is similar to the R1.
It looks like the R2 will also come with a built-in portable flashlight which stows and charges in a secret pocket in the front door, another feature carried over from the R1.
Finally, Scaringe also answered a question about “tank turn,” a prototype mode which spins the quad-motor powertrain in opposite directions to allow a vehicle to turn in place on soft surfaces. Rivian showed this off as a cool marketing stunt a few years ago and had been planning to release it to the public.
But Scaringe said that Rivian has apparently now decided to shelve those plans. Rivian decided that the mode would be too destructive to trails and doesn’t fit with the company’s ethos to be better stewards of the environment. Though Scaringe didn’t say anything about “front dig mode,” another simpler version of tank turn which Rivian has patented.
Electrek’s Take
The R2 platform could be thought of as the “Model Y” compared to the R1’s “Model X.” A smaller and less expensive model designed for higher production numbers, in what is currently the most popular vehicle segment.
And we’ve recently gotten some news about how well that is going, with the Model Y becoming the world’s top-selling vehicle. This isn’t to say that Rivian will achieve the same feat – and they’re years behind Tesla in that respect anyway – but it does show the difference in potential volumes between these segments.
As for what we’ve seen of the R2 today, readers may know that I’m a fan of smaller vehicles (I drive a 2,800lb, two-seat Roadster after all), so this seems like an improvement to me. As much as I love Rivian and think the company is doing a great job (and we at Electrek love their vehicles), I do think we need to turn towards smaller vehicles as a society. The R2 doesn’t quite get us there, but it’s headed in the right direction at least.
So when people are surprised at how much smaller the R2 looks than the R1, well, that’s just a bonus for me.
And while I understand the egg shape (it’s about efficiency, which is important), it does get a little old sometimes to see almost every SUV – and indeed, almost every car, since SUV sales are (unfortunately) through the roof these days – with the exact same profile. As long as Rivian can keep the R2 from being too inefficient compared to competing vehicles, I’m glad it’s sticking with bolder lines to differentiate itself from basically everything else in the segment.
What do you think about what we’ve seen of the R2 today? Let us know in the comments.
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Global offshore wind targets are still strong enough to triple global capacity by 2030, despite the US’s offshore wind stagnation under Trump. A new analysis from energy think tank Ember and the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) shows that the rest of the world is charging forward, underscoring confidence in offshore wind as a cornerstone of future clean energy systems.
Based on the latest NHTSA report, Tesla’s ‘Robotaxis’ keep crashing in Austin, Texas, despite ‘safety monitors’ preventing an unknown number of crashes.
Under an NHTSA Standing General Order SGO, automakers are required to report crashes involving their autonomous driving (ADS) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) within five days of being notified of them.
For years, Tesla was only reporting ADAS crashes, since, despite the names of its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems, they are only considered level 2 driver assistance systems.
Since the launch of the Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, where Tesla moved the supervisor from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat, it has now reported its first few crashes under the ADS reporting.
In the first month of operation in July, Tesla reported three crashes with its ‘Robotaxi’ service in Austin.
This week, NHTSA has updated its crash report and revealed a 4th crash that happened in September:
| Report ID | Incident Date | Incident Time (24:00) | Make | Model | Model Year | Automation System Engaged? | Highest Injury Severity Alleged | Crash With | Roadway Type | Weather |
| 13781-11687 | SEP-2025 | 01:25 | TESLA | Model Y | 2026 | ADS | Property Damage. No Injured Reported | Other Fixed Object | Parking Lot | Partly Cloudy |
As we previously highlighted, when it comes to both ADS and ADAS crash reporting, Tesla abuses the redacting capacity and hides most information about its crashes, unlike most of its competitors.
Therefore, we don’t have much information about this new crash, but it reportedly occurred in a parking lot and involved a Tesla Robotaxi crashing into a “fixed object,” resulting in property damage.
What’s most interesting about this crash is that it comes as Tesla released the first bit of data about its Robotaxi program in Austin.
During its earnings call last week, Tesla confirmed that the Robotaxi fleet has traveled 250,000 miles since its launch in late June.
Therefore, Tesla Robotaxi currently crashes at a rate of about once every 62,500 miles. That’s with a safety monitor with a finger on a kill switch, ready to stop the vehicle at all times.
We have no data on how often Tesla’s safety monitors prevent crashes in its robotaxis.
For comparison, the NHTSA report lists 1,267 crashes involving Waymo vehicles. However, Waymo’s robotaxis have covered over 125 million fully driverless miles since inception. That’s a crash every 98,600 miles and without any onboard safety monitor.
Electrek’s Take
That’s the problem with comparing Tesla and Waymo.
At least we can now clearly see that Waymo’s incident rate is much lower than Tesla’s, but that’s with a safety monitor in Tesla robotaxis that prevents an untold number of crashes.
The actual difference could be 10x higher. We simply don’t know. Tesla has always refused to share any data regarding disengagement or intervention rates.
One thing is clear: Tesla is way behind Waymo in autonomous driving safety.
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The electric hot hatch is more than just a show car, Subaru says it offers capabilities only possible with a battery EV.
Subaru unveils new electric STI hot hatch
It’s been quiet on the STI front since Subaru dropped the gas-powered WRX STI in 2022. However, that may change very soon.
The WRX STI was axed due to stricter emissions regulations in Europe, leading many to believe it would be replaced with an electric version. Subaru even said it was looking into opportunities for a next-gen STI version, including an electrified model, but said it would not be built on the new WRX platform.
Now, we are getting our first look at the future of STI. Subaru unveiled two new STI vehicles at the Japan Mobility Show on Wednesday, one a battery-electric (BEV) model and the other a gas-powered model.
Subaru said the EV variant, dubbed the Performance-E STI concept, “represents the future of the Performance Scene, spearheading Subaru’s new generation.”
The electric hot hatch still features a design that “evokes the brand’s heritage,” but with a bit more flair. Unlike the gas version, the Performance-B STI, the EV debuts a new three-line LED headlight design and sportier silhouette.
According to Subaru, the electric STI is “not just a show car,” it can also be used as a daily driver. The aim was to create a performance car that “would inspire everyday life,” Subaru said, adding that “this packaging is only possible with a battery EV.”
The electric hot hatch is equipped with a cylindrical battery, which offers a lower center of gravity and opens up interior space.
Subaru said the setup results in a 15% lower center of gravity than on its previous vehicles. By optimizing downforce and air resistance, the company claims it will outperform the current Subaru Global Platform.
The electric hot hatch also features a new “next-generation suspension” that lowers the hood height by more than 5% while improving control and responsiveness.
Subaru didn’t reveal any other specifics, but said that it will incorporate “innovative technologies” to offer an intuitive, exhilarating driving experience.
Will we see the electric hot hatch actually come to life? Subaru didn’t confirm it was headed for production, but said it represents the future and spearheads a new generation. When and if we will see an electric Subaru STI remains up in the air for now.
Subaru isn’t the only one jumping into the electric hot hatch craze. Honda revealed the Super-ONE at the Japan Mobility Show today, a compact EV that’s packed with fun features.
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