Suddenly, out of nowhere, I realised that I’d shown you my dream of a Rivian R3T – but I hadn’t yet posted my hot and lowered R3W wagon.
I’m here now to address that wrong. Can you just imagine how incredible a treat it’d be if Rivian were to launch its upcoming new R3 in a lowered, longroof form? My word, the very thought of it…
Let me know what you think of my speculative render of an R3W wagon (or R3SW sportwagon?), and which model in my imagined three-body R3 line-up you’d have!
Mike Stevens
Mike is a dad, a motoring journalist, designer, photographer, gadgethead and erstwhile cyclist. Proudly ADHD 💪
March 2024: Rivian, I need an R3T
Rivian’s new small R3 electric SUV is very, very much my jam. But a truck… 🤤
Funnily enough, I’m not even into trucks (or utes as well call them in Oz, etymology debates aside) all that much. I certainly have no practical need for one, and I’m not keen to be everyone’s mate with a ute, either.
I’ve always liked the look of them, though, and the ‘man of the land’ romance of it all. So I admit I do love to see a new truck revealed (although many of them are too damn big for their buyers’ needs), and when Rivian showed its new R3 this week, I knew I’d want to see it as a ute.
Firstly, here’s the R3 as intended
There isn’t much driving footage of the R3 (or the equally new R2) just yet
But somebody on Reddit managed to capture them rolling past after their unveiling.
Now, let’s talk about an R3T truck…
The idea of a truck version of the R3, to join the existing and much bigger R1T (if not an R2T version of the new R2), is probably pretty appealing to as many dads out there as it is to me.
So, of course, I couldn’t resist pouring an hour-or-so into converting the R3 into a four-door ute to rival models like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. I’ve only done the rear, but that’s enough really. What do you think?
And here’s how it looks next to the (petrol-powered) Ford Maverick.
Would you be keen on a small electric, mostly urban ute?
Here’s what folks on Threads and Instagram thought when I posted this last night.
Sounds like I need to do a two-door version!
I was inspired by Australia’s now extinct two-door, unibody (car-based) utes, so that ain’t exactly a terrible idea…
Oh, and here’s the R2!
Will Rivian launch in Australia?
Urgh, who knows.
They brought two cars into Australia for testing back in 2021, but that could’ve just been for weather testing – Australia is a popular destination for that type of work.
Realistically, the brand is already struggling to keep up with demand in North America, so the idea of them deciding they can handle a wider global launch is a challenging one to embrace.
That said, the company has confirmed plans to open a US$5 billion plant in Georgia, USA, to enable international expansion. So that’s cause for hope!
You can get more details on the R2 and R3 here at WhichCar.
Mike Stevens
Mike is a dad, a motoring journalist, designer, photographer, gadgethead and erstwhile cyclist. Proudly ADHD 💪
News, gadgets, movies, toys, mobility, edc, etc.
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