Rivian will unveil full pricing, options, and specifications for its R2 electric SUV on March 12, the company announced Tuesday on X, as media reviews of the prototype vehicle went live following months of anticipation.
“The wait is almost over. The first R2 variant, featuring dual motors and all-wheel drive, launches this spring,” Rivian said.
The company’s founder and CEO RJ Scaringe had said in November that an R2-dedicated event would be held in early 2026 while announcing that the first configuration of the mid-size SUV would be a Dual Motor.
“We’ll be sharing full details — pricing, options and more — on March 12. That’s just 4 weeks and 2 days from today. But who’s counting?” the company added in the post.
The announcement came hours after the company lifted its media embargo, allowing automotive reviewers — including MKBHD and Douge DeMuro — to publish their first impressions of the R2 prototype.
First Reviews
Doug DeMuro, whose YouTube channel has more than 5 million subscribers, was among the first to test the dual-motor prototype, which Rivian said is close to what the launch trim will be.
DeMuro described the interior as “pretty impressive,” noting the materials and design successfully mimic the more expensive R1S despite the lower price point.
“I’m actually shocked by this interior, because even though I know this car is a lot less expensive than an R1S, it really doesn’t look it,” he said.
Despite its compact footprint, the R2 offers what DeMuro called a “shockingly large” rear seat, with more legroom than expected and no central floor hump obstructing the middle seat.
Specs Revealed
The dual-motor R2 prototype packs 656 horsepower, 609 lb-ft of torque, and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds — specifications revealed for the first time in Tuesday’s reviews.
Rivian estimates range at more than 300 miles from an 87.4 kWh battery pack, with 10% to 80% charging in approximately 30 minutes.
At 186 inches in length, the R2 is about 15 inches shorter than Rivian’s existing R1S SUV and roughly 2,000 pounds lighter.
The two-row SUV slots between the Tesla Model Y and Honda CR-V in size.
Unlike the body-on-frame R1S, the R2 uses unibody construction and lacks adjustable air suspension, instead using conventional coil springs with active dampers.
Ground clearance measures 9.7 inches, compared to 6.6 inches for the Tesla Model Y.
Final Validation Testing
Rivian announced Monday that the R2 has entered “final validation testing,” the last stage before customer production begins.
“With production around the corner, R2 has officially entered final validation,” the company said in a blog post.
Chief Engineer Max Koff said the development fleet “performed incredibly well through all our testing—better than we ever expected.”
Each development vehicle accumulated “tens of thousands of miles” in conditions ranging from -45°F in Fairbanks, Alaska to 122°F in Death Valley.
Delivery Timeline
The company has repeatedly said deliveries will begin in “the first half of the year.”
A sales representative at Rivian‘s King of Prussia Mall showroom in Pennsylvania told a customer that deliveries would start in “mid-April,” as EV reported Monday.
However, Rivian has not confirmed that deliveries of the $45,000 base trim will begin this year.
Barclays’ Cautious Outlook
Barclays expects Rivian to deliver 48,000 electric vehicles in 2026, a figure that would still fall short of the automaker’s 2023 total despite the R2 launch.
The 48,000-unit forecast would represent a 13.6% increase from the 42,247 vehicles Rivian delivered in 2025, but remains below the 51,579 units delivered in 2024 and 50,122 in 2023.
Levy noted that investor sentiment has turned negative heading into the fourth-quarter earnings report, following a period of excitement in late 2025.
Analyst Dan Levy reiterated an Equalweight rating and $14 price target.
Rivian will release its fourth-quarter results after US markets close on Thursday, with a management conference call featuring Scaringe and CFO Claire McDonough scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern time.
