Universal Hands-Free 2.0 arrives in Q3 and finally takes the system off the highway, adding stop light and stop sign response, automatic lane changes on surface streets, Auto Park, and On-Ramp to Off-Ramp routing. It is the groundwork Rivian needs before Point to Point shows up in late 2026.
Rivian's R2 Performance Launch Edition lease numbers are out, and they land right on top of the Tesla Model Y Performance. Both start at $57,990, with monthly payments within about sixty bucks of each other. Here is the full breakdown against the Model Y and the entry R1S, including where the Tesla still wins and where the residuals actually flip.
The R2 will launch without several software features R1 owners use regularly, including Rivian Assistant, Climate Hold, and Pet Mode, with Rivian indicating some will not arrive for at least the first month of ownership.
The base R2 Standard finally has firm numbers. Rivian set it at $44,990 before destination and moved it up to a Summer 2027 arrival, with rear-wheel drive, 350 hp, 355 lb-ft, and 275-plus miles of estimated range.
Rivian flew me out to Park City to drive the production R2 on road and off road, and after two days with it I'm convinced the only thing that can slow this car down is how fast Rivian can build them. Demand is not the problem. The R2 Performance is genuinely quick, the cabin stays quiet even on the all terrains, and the rear legroom is almost absurd for the size. The R2 Standard surprised me more than I expected too, and RivianOS 2.0 makes my R1 feel slow. Here's the full rundown on the drive, the new pricing, the software, and where the autonomy roadmap is actually headed.
