Rivian R2, R3 and R3X

[wbradley]

For those who strive for a vehicle that does 2.9s 0-60 times, calculate the cost per launch. All that just to experience 0.94 g's on your back.
Flight surgeon Col. John Stapp experienced over 42 Gs in an experimental rocket sled in the earlier days of aerospace research. Probably there are many amusement park options that will way "out thrill" a Plaid or equivalent, but without the status.
Having viewed many YouTube dragstrip videos, I get the impression these superfast e-racers are doing many of their launches not on a race strip. Despite the large numbers of Plaids (or equally powerful) electrics sold, I never see them featured on the popular drag channel Cars and Zebras.

It seems people are creating more and more ways to put wealthy people's lives at greater risk. For example, offering the "amusement" of diving to see the Titanic in an uncertified carbon fibre sub.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

And the fascia...oh man...every electric car seems to be using that type of slit headlights flanking a thin "grille".

Now that LED headlights are a thing, you are going to see that in almost all new cars ICE/EV or otherwise. GM is already moving to it. The slit isn't always the headlights by the way. Take the LYRIQ below, the headlights are the interior vertical LEDs (the exterior ones are DRL's and also provide cornering lights) and the "slits" that run horizontally at the hoodline are the turn signals.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Now that LED headlights are a thing, you are going to see that in almost all new cars ICE/EV or otherwise. GM is already moving to it. The slit isn't always the headlights by the way. Take the LYRIQ below, the headlights are the interior vertical LEDs (the exterior ones are DRL's and also provide cornering lights) and the "slits" that run horizontally at the hoodline are the turn signals.

Hmmm, where have I seen that layout before?

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Hmmm, where have I seen that layout before?

Seems like Ugly Ducking/Beautiful Swan to me. I'll let you decide which is which.

[wbradley]

The Aztek was a lame attempt to market SUVs to a younger active crowd. I knew someone who had a new black one, and it didn't look too bad since the color hid the ridiculous side cladding more. He actually liked the vehicle, and previously he used to order Yukon XLs from his father who was in the business and sell them after 6 months at zero cost or at a profit at that time. But he liked the Aztek. Too bad 99% of them looked so awkward with that experimental looking face and uber shmaltzy Pontiac cladding, which is probably the biggest negative associated with the brand. It's like a Chevy with love handles.

Just let's all be thankful we aren't stuck driving Nissan Cubes. It's almost always men drivers when I see them, like 40 year old Asians with no shame. Lol

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by wbradley

Too bad 99% of them looked so awkward with that experimental looking face and uber shmaltzy Pontiac cladding, which is probably the biggest negative associated with the brand. It's like a Chevy with love handles.

That was a GM affliction, not just Pontiac. The Astro, Avalanche, and a few other models were wearing the cladding of shame during that time period. All of them looked better without it.

My unsubstantiated theory was the body panel plant at Spring Hill (home of Saturn at the time) needed more work to do to keep the shop busy.

[wbradley]

The 90's Grand AM was the poster child for cladding affliction. Lol

[Dake]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Love how everyone goes nuts at 26:04 for the "flipper glass" like it is something unique.

It is pretty unique in this day and age; there are fewer and fewer (and many of those are "older" models) so it's nice to see a new car with one.

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

Good looking designs. Shame they're comically large.

This is my complaint. As a fan of the "Rad-era", I really love the R3 and it's retro Lada/Lancia/GTI lines - but despite the lower roof line, it's still roughly the same length as a modern RAV4.

That being said at the right price, the R3 could be the first EV I'm genuinely interested in.

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by wbradley

The 90's Grand AM was the poster child for cladding affliction. Lol

90's Pontiac as a whole was cladding affliction central.

I think the first one that actually made an effort to rid itself of it was the 8th gen grand prix.

[wbradley]

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

90's Pontiac as a whole was cladding affliction central.

I think the first one that actually made an effort to rid itself of it was the 8th gen grand prix.

I think you're correct. That was the car that had rear doors that swung open a full 90 degrees. Only reason I knew that was when that vehicle was still current I did some business with a gentleman who was an engineer, originally from Conneticut as I recall, that was working at GM manufacturing in Oshawa, ON where the vehicles were built .

I read there was a particular designer at GM that was responsible for slapping those ridiculous mouldings on everything.