FIRST LOOK: Rivian R2 (and R3!) | $45k Tesla Model Y Slayer

Not one, not two, but three new Rivian electric crossovers have just been unveiled. Up first (and expected) is the R2, a shrunken follow-up to the full-size R1T and R1S that originally launched the Rivian brand. It’s the first vehicle on their new ‘mid-size’ platform, so think of it as Rivian’s Tesla Model Y rival. It’ll come in single-, dual- and tri-motor forms, with pricing from around $45,000 when deliveries kick off in the first half of 2026. It’ll eventually make its way to Europe, too. The surprises at the launch event in California, USA were the R3 and R3X. Also built on the new platform, they’re smaller again than the R2 and are more akin to raised-up hatchbacks. We won’t see them until at least 2027, but the R3 should come in under $40,000, while the R3X is the performance version, with a tri-motor set-up for 0-62mph in under three seconds. It's a lot to take in, not least for Top Gear Magazine’s editor-in-chief, Jack Rix, who got a sneak peek of the R2, R3 an