Pricing for the base RWD model starts under $50k, while the highest trim AWD model starts under $60k.
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Looks like only the highest trim is coming out this year.
Correct. They got to make some money now that the fed EV rebate is gone.
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Still might not be enough against the Model Y for example which is considerably cheaper across the Base and Premium trims. Rivian’s other challenge is their service is terrible and facilities are limited.
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The Model Y is a much more practical car than the. R2. On paper it should have a big advantage. But Americans seem to like boxy off road capable vehicles even if they never leave the pavement. Many buyers of EVs and ICE vehicles accept trade offs in price and practically in the name of unseeded off road capabilities. So that definitely helps a bit. Also the R2 just looks better than the Model Y.
That said, any chance that the R2 has at being a big success is due to the fact that one of the core EV demos (white urban/suburban left of center voters) holds very negative views of Elon Musk.
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Yep, Elon is their biggest selling point probably. Plus, the Model Y is everywhere, and the R2 is the new shiny model that looks just like a $90k R1.
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The R2 looked cool in the YouTube early reviews, but they only have boring colors for it now. Should make the wrap designs an option. Rivian has the worst color selection for a fun vehicle.
Have a deposit as well. Love the Borealis color, but not sure ready to get rid of my current daily.
Depends right?
If you want a real SUV by ride height and space, R2 seems more practical.
Y is a hatch/fastback.
I’d get the RWD in 2027.
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I don’t think you could convince me that for the average use case, on paper, the R2 is more practical. Yes it has more storage space but that is mostly higher due to the boxy design which is much less useful than a wider or longer trunk. How often do you need to stack tall items in the trunk. And the ground clearance seems similiarly unimportant for all but the limited number of people who off this their EVs or maybe live in very snowy places. And the trade off is Rivians struggle in real world highway range testing with their style looking cool but not being particularly aerodynamic.
But the R2 looks so much cooler which of course is a big factor in car buying. I think the Model Y looks very unattractive and would not buy one for a number of reasons including design, lack of physical controls and Elon.
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Friend of mine drives a CT for biz purposes and the amount of Anti Elon and WWii hand gestures he gets still today in metro NY is unreal. 
Along with printed messages left on the wiper.
I hope this R2 does wonders for RIVN stock but SCOUT will be tough to beat in this EV outdoorsy spirit segment.
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I think the Scout will do well since you can reserve a hybrid version (harvester) that will extend the range up to 500 miles.
Autoblog is stating that about 87% of pre-orders is for the hybrid version. My only concern is the availability and location of service stations along with reliability issues for a new model.
I need some physical buttons in my car. I was never a big fan of the Ipad-like screen for all the controls. No comment on Elon. 
Is Rivian’s whole brand positioning about being ‘outdoorsy’? All the photos of their products have them towing boats, driving in forests etc. The people I see in my town driving RS1’s are soccer moms. I can’t even recall seeing one with a ski rack over the years.
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The actual EV specs are lackluster now, imagine 3-5 years down they road.
Rivian is claiming that this thing gets 3.75 m/kwh in EPA testing. It is shaped like a brick, that is impressive if true in real world.
I’m not actually talking about SUV usage (hence why I wiould get the RWD). Clearance height is more for comfortable ingress/egreass. Overall height is good for viewability. I put a bike in my vehicle, so the boxiness and larger cargo space is important.
Aesthetically, box format is a reason for Broncos, Range Rovers and even the new Santa Fe. You could say that’s why pickups are beloved.
That’s why I said it depends.
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What do you guys think the lease payment would be like?
If I were to guess, it will be less than R1.
In all seriousness, no one will have any exact numbers until the release and lease terms are shared.
Most likely terrible. There will not be available inventory like the R1, which has incentives. They will sell every R2 they can produce this year.
Rivian has to make a profit on this vehicle. They will not be giving them away.
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Well right now the R1S standard with a $80k price has a lease around $950 if you don’t put a down payment. They advertise $749 leases but that’s with a $2000 incentive, $3,500 down plus around $3500 due at signing. It’s been a bit since I played with the numbers but these are ballpark.
My guess is the R2 will have a reasonable residual but a jacked up money factor. Just gut feeling with $3500 due at signing it’ll be in the $700-750 range a month for 36/10 but they will get to advertise it for $599 a month if you put say $3500 down plus fees etc.
Probably the smart play for me is to keep my current car another 1-2 years and consider leasing the R2 when inventory builds up and they are discounting and the attention is on the R3.