One thing almost everyone misses, is the shelf that flips out on the inside of the lift gate, to set things like drinks on, when you're standing outside with the rear window down. You can see it closed in your shot looking up at the inside of the lift gate. I wish there was a closer look at the rear accessory attachment ports for the bike rack and cargo/kitchen. No one seems to be checking that out. Glad you pointed out the puddle light, though! I haven't seen anyone else show that on UA-cam!
@@DriveElectricWithDomenick check out some of the latest posts by guys checking out the R2 at the new Rivian store in New York. They even show how the shelf works.
RJ said there are 2 reasons, 1. The rear is where the voltage load is for charging, so he didn't want to run high-voltage cable to the front, and 2. They want to accommodate all the curb side chargers in Europe, so they don't get smashed into by other cars or people on bikes.
Tesla has to update the V3 cables to accommodate all the current evs anyway, so the expectation is that those cables will be longer when the vehicle is produced in 2 years. The rest of the logic from RJ explains the reasoning behind the charge port location
This car should have come out last year. And it's still 2 yrs off. Stand by for big dilutions to their shareholders or bankruptcy. I hope they make it because both the R2 and R3 look awesome.
RJ said the charging port is in the back passenger side because of the engineering of the battery pack, where the high voltage load is. Remember, he's an engineer...there's a purposeful reason for just about everything with a Rivian. It has nothing to do with cords draping over the front.
I wish I could remember where I heard that cord thing. I almost think I overheard a Rivian employee explaining it to someone, but not sure now. I should have been more clear about the source of that info.
Like it or not, there are more V3 stalls/dispensers out there than ALL other stalls/dispensers combined. In fact, more than 4 times more than all other Fast DC charging ports combined. So unless you want to restrict your options to only 25% of the charging options out there without having to carry around an extension that can be lost or stolen, or taking two spots, you place it on the correct location. That's either the right front, or the left rear. If you can't get an engineer to design that, then you have the wrong engineers. At the end of the day, a struggling company needs every single sale they can get to survive. With all other manufacturers moving their ports to the correct locations to charge on the vast number of V3's without an extension, your customers willing to haul around an extension will be very, very limited. That's not what the most highly funded startup in American history with it's stock down over 90% needs.
@@Paul-cj1wbI think a big part of it is they plan to sell them in Europe and curbside charging is the norm while USA we can deal it it and the brand more established
@@matthaze7906 Have you been in Europe lately? Outside of Oslo, Norway, which only has around 10 to no more than 15% of streets with level 2 chargers, street side chargers in the rest of Europe are basically non-existent. And keep in mind that in cities, the vast majority of residential streets are one way, to that drivers park on both the right and left side of the street. I should know, I'm a NYC boy. And let's not forget about the UK, which drives on the left side of the road to begin with.
@@Paul-cj1wb No, that’s just what I hear on out of spec along with v4 are going to have a longer cable. Seems kind of odd choice to cater to though The stock maybe down %90 but the valuation by any sane person hasn’t changed much. It hit NYSE at the hype of SPAC and EV hype. I remember making 10x on Nikola which turned out the showcased vehicles were scams.
Thanks, they should have put the NACS port connector on the driver side rear so you can back in to charge like a Tesla at the Superchargers! Or like you mentioned at the passenger front corner.
I’m not a crossover or SUV guy, but there’s a lot to like here. I’m curious if I got one, if I’d want to trade it in for the R3X when that finally happens.
Does it have Lidar? I put in an order for an R2 a ywah and I have the latest FSD beta but I know my stupid Tesla can never actually get to L3 without Lidar, ultrasonic sensors and more cameras. In fact my older M3 has ultrasonic sensons and when I got my model Y a few weeks ago I had to sign a waiver saying no ultrasonic sensors before they would allow me to transfer the FSD.
Didn't see any lidar, but it's supposed to have eleven cameras and five radar sensors, plus the ultrasonics. Rivian has autonomous ambitions but they aren't making any promises yet.
@christianrichard5805 Good point. Though Model Y ground clearance is only 6.6 inches compared with 10 inches of the R2, so some of that extra height doesn't translate into interior cargo space.
@@christianrichard5805 so the height isn't due to more interior or roof room, headspace it's only because of higher off road suspension and larger dia tires vs the model Y. And the nose is longer to, so I'd bet the model Y will still have more total cargo space vs R2.
It's preproduction plastic, so I expect it will look more...interesting in commercial production. The plastic on the inside of the rear hatch was similarily smooth, with that blank look to it, but I expect there to be textures and a close button, at the very least, in the production version.
It's odd to me that most people think the charge port should be on the passenger side rear for curbside parking. There are many parking spaces that have the curb on the drivers side as well. No position, other than center, would make everyone happy I guess.
@@DriveElectricWithDomenick exactly and they cannot achieve them with their expensive cars. Thus they have no chama of achieving them with a cheaper car.
@@whynotstartusingyourbrain8726 well said! Forbes claims rivian burned up over $19,000,000,000 just from 2019-2023. Rj last year claimed publicly the GA plant alone would need between $10-15billion in total capital funding. 😀 I wonder if bezos steps in and buys out rivian later this year as they approach becoming financially unsolvable? Then he could own both a rocket&car company for any future d*ck measuring contests with Elon. 😁👍🏻
I disagree. I'm switching from Tesla to the Rivian R2 as soon as it hits the market. And I think a lot of other people are too. I have FSD and honestly I can take or leave it. It's not worth the price.
One thing almost everyone misses, is the shelf that flips out on the inside of the lift gate, to set things like drinks on, when you're standing outside with the rear window down. You can see it closed in your shot looking up at the inside of the lift gate. I wish there was a closer look at the rear accessory attachment ports for the bike rack and cargo/kitchen. No one seems to be checking that out. Glad you pointed out the puddle light, though! I haven't seen anyone else show that on UA-cam!
Yeah, I'll have to look that up. I'm on my phone and not seeing it.
@@DriveElectricWithDomenick check out some of the latest posts by guys checking out the R2 at the new Rivian store in New York. They even show how the shelf works.
@toddbroeker8683 Thanks, will do!
I think RJ said they didn't put the charging port on the front because there will be a rear wheel drive model?
RJ said there are 2 reasons, 1. The rear is where the voltage load is for charging, so he didn't want to run high-voltage cable to the front, and 2. They want to accommodate all the curb side chargers in Europe, so they don't get smashed into by other cars or people on bikes.
Tesla has to update the V3 cables to accommodate all the current evs anyway, so the expectation is that those cables will be longer when the vehicle is produced in 2 years. The rest of the logic from RJ explains the reasoning behind the charge port location
Appreciate the in person walk through - I watched the launch, but you shared some additional observations!
Thanks!
I have two dalmatians waiting to take possession!
This car should have come out last year. And it's still 2 yrs off. Stand by for big dilutions to their shareholders or bankruptcy. I hope they make it because both the R2 and R3 look awesome.
RJ said the charging port is in the back passenger side because of the engineering of the battery pack, where the high voltage load is. Remember, he's an engineer...there's a purposeful reason for just about everything with a Rivian. It has nothing to do with cords draping over the front.
I wish I could remember where I heard that cord thing. I almost think I overheard a Rivian employee explaining it to someone, but not sure now. I should have been more clear about the source of that info.
Like it or not, there are more V3 stalls/dispensers out there than ALL other stalls/dispensers combined. In fact, more than 4 times more than all other Fast DC charging ports combined. So unless you want to restrict your options to only 25% of the charging options out there without having to carry around an extension that can be lost or stolen, or taking two spots, you place it on the correct location. That's either the right front, or the left rear. If you can't get an engineer to design that, then you have the wrong engineers.
At the end of the day, a struggling company needs every single sale they can get to survive. With all other manufacturers moving their ports to the correct locations to charge on the vast number of V3's without an extension, your customers willing to haul around an extension will be very, very limited. That's not what the most highly funded startup in American history with it's stock down over 90% needs.
@@Paul-cj1wbI think a big part of it is they plan to sell them in Europe and curbside charging is the norm while USA we can deal it it and the brand more established
@@matthaze7906 Have you been in Europe lately? Outside of Oslo, Norway, which only has around 10 to no more than 15% of streets with level 2 chargers, street side chargers in the rest of Europe are basically non-existent.
And keep in mind that in cities, the vast majority of residential streets are one way, to that drivers park on both the right and left side of the street. I should know, I'm a NYC boy.
And let's not forget about the UK, which drives on the left side of the road to begin with.
@@Paul-cj1wb No, that’s just what I hear on out of spec along with v4 are going to have a longer cable. Seems kind of odd choice to cater to though
The stock maybe down %90 but the valuation by any sane person hasn’t changed much. It hit NYSE at the hype of SPAC and EV hype. I remember making 10x on Nikola which turned out the showcased vehicles were scams.
Great walk thru! Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks, they should have put the NACS port connector on the driver side rear so you can back in to charge like a Tesla at the Superchargers! Or like you mentioned at the passenger front corner.
I can’t wait for the R2 to be delivered! Should be my first or 2nd non Tesla EV 🤩
I’m not a crossover or SUV guy, but there’s a lot to like here. I’m curious if I got one, if I’d want to trade it in for the R3X when that finally happens.
Rivian looks like two Edsels coming at you. We all know what happened to Edsel
I wonder how much hassle and expense it would be design-wise to have multiple charge points on the vehicle?
It's probably fairly high. Some Porsche Taycans have AC charging on one side and AC/DC on the other, which is an interesting approach.
The Audi GT has it on both sides
The cables needed are very expensive and heavy.
Does it have Lidar? I put in an order for an R2 a ywah and I have the latest FSD beta but I know my stupid Tesla can never actually get to L3 without Lidar, ultrasonic sensors and more cameras. In fact my older M3 has ultrasonic sensons and when I got my model Y a few weeks ago I had to sign a waiver saying no ultrasonic sensors before they would allow me to transfer the FSD.
Didn't see any lidar, but it's supposed to have eleven cameras and five radar sensors, plus the ultrasonics. Rivian has autonomous ambitions but they aren't making any promises yet.
Did they ever fix the vampire drain issue?
It's been greatly decreased, from what I understand.
Is the R2 bigger than a Tesla Model Y?
It's 1.5 inches shorter than Model Y, but doesn't slope down in the rear like the Tesla, so it should have more cargo room.
1.5 inches shorter in length but almost 3 inches taller in height
@christianrichard5805 Good point. Though Model Y ground clearance is only 6.6 inches compared with 10 inches of the R2, so some of that extra height doesn't translate into interior cargo space.
@@DriveElectricWithDomenick ah very true
@@christianrichard5805 so the height isn't due to more interior or roof room, headspace it's only because of higher off road suspension and larger dia tires vs the model Y. And the nose is longer to, so I'd bet the model Y will still have more total cargo space vs R2.
Open up the front trunk at 5:01.....Ouch Me eyes Me eyes. Plastic overload.
It's preproduction plastic, so I expect it will look more...interesting in commercial production.
The plastic on the inside of the rear hatch was similarily smooth, with that blank look to it, but I expect there to be textures and a close button, at the very least, in the production version.
It's odd to me that most people think the charge port should be on the passenger side rear for curbside parking. There are many parking spaces that have the curb on the drivers side as well. No position, other than center, would make everyone happy I guess.
Best part about Nissan Leaf. 😃
So let's get that straight. Rivian cannot sell a very expensive car profitably. But now they want to sell you a much cheaper car.
Automakers need scale to be overall profitable. Vehicle gross margins are more important at this stage.
@@DriveElectricWithDomenick exactly and they cannot achieve them with their expensive cars. Thus they have no chama of achieving them with a cheaper car.
@@whynotstartusingyourbrain8726 well said! Forbes claims rivian burned up over $19,000,000,000 just from 2019-2023.
Rj last year claimed publicly the GA plant alone would need between $10-15billion in total capital funding. 😀
I wonder if bezos steps in and buys out rivian later this year as they approach becoming financially unsolvable?
Then he could own both a rocket&car company for any future d*ck measuring contests with Elon. 😁👍🏻
I think this company will continue to plummet if they do not have something to compete with Tesla FSD
I disagree. I'm switching from Tesla to the Rivian R2 as soon as it hits the market. And I think a lot of other people are too. I have FSD and honestly I can take or leave it. It's not worth the price.