The 2026 Rivian R2 is one of the most hotly anticipated electric vehicles when it launches next year. This smaller SUV will make the Rivian brand more affordable with a $45,000 starting price (the R1T and R1S are $69,900 and $75,900, respectively). There is still a long way to go before the R2 reaches customer hands, but Rivian is hard at work testing the vehicle to make sure it stands up to any abuse.
Company CEO RJ Scaringe posted a video to his personal Instagram account, showing the R2 being tested on a shaker table, also known as a road simulator shaking machine. A clever caption reads, “R2 at the gym!” The purpose of the machine is to test vehicle suspension to its limits to gauge how well it can hold up against harsh vibrations. From what we can see in the video, the R2 stands up well.
Standing Up To Abuse
Unlike the larger R1T and R1S models, the R2 will not use air suspension, likely because it’s too expensive for this price point. Still, the baby Rivian gets a multi-link rear suspension with an isolated rear subframe, which should deliver impeccable ride quality without needing adaptive air springs. This setup includes five stamped steel links and what Rivian calls its “starfish” forged aluminum rear knuckles with integrated bushings to reduce unsprung mass.
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It seems the electric SUV is progressing smoothly.
As you can see in the video, the machine is delivering harsh vibrations to all four wheels, and the R2’s body is barely moving at all. That means if you take it off-roading on a dirt or gravel road, the vibrations won’t intrude too much into the cabin.
What To Expect From The R2
Rivian has been sharing sneak peeks of the R2, likely to keep up the hype for this long-awaited model. We still don’t have full pricing information, but we know the R2 will be offered in single-motor, dual-motor, and tri-motor configurations, starting at around $45,000 for the single-motor model. It will ride on Rivian’s next-generation Midsize Platform, which will deliver over 300 miles of range and 10-80% charging in under a half hour.
Crucially, the R2 should be a boon for Rivian’s sales numbers. The American automaker sold 51,579 vehicles in 2024, which is a far cry from the 459,000 vehicles produced by Tesla in the fourth quarter alone. Having an affordable model for the masses should help bolster sales the same way the Model 3 and Model Y did for Tesla.
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