Rivian’s new ‘treehouse’ rooftop tent comes with a film projector | TechCrunch

Symbol Credit: Kirsten KorosecRivian has somewhat cinematic wonder tucked in its new “treehouse” rooftop tent, probably the most many equipment the automaker plans to promote along its next-generation R2 SUV and long run R3 EVs.
The rooftop tent, which Rivian calls the treehouse, is supplied with a film projector, which is administered the usage of energy from the Rivian, Brian Gase, Rivian’s senior director of prototype and particular initiatives, instructed TechCrunch all over a buyer match in Laguna Seashore, California. The client match used to be held Thursday night, a number of hours after Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe unveiled the all-electric R2 SUV and the sporty R3 and R3x hatchback automobiles.
The treehouse, as Rivian has branded it, isn’t like the white-labeled Yakima tent designed for its flagship R1T truck.
Symbol Credit: Rivian
This new treehouse product is contained in a hardshell, which then opens up into a big rooftop tent. Reverse the outlet is a huge window, the place the roll-down display screen is positioned, Gase mentioned. The projector may also be attached to an influence supply from the automobile, he added. The treehouse additionally comes with an internal fan and lights.
Gase mentioned the treehouse design will in large part stay the similar as soon as it is going on sale. At the moment, he mentioned, the focal point is ready holding the standard top with out making it too dear.
“It’s about the fee as a result of you’ll have a look at it and say ‘that’s superior,’ however you then’re striking a pricey tent on a product that you just’re seeking to get to an introductory degree value,” Gase mentioned, relating to the R2, which is anticipated to have a beginning value of $45,000.
Symbol Credit: Kirsten Korosec
The treehouse-that-turns-into-a-movie-theater is only one of a number of adventure-minded equipment printed Thursday along Rivian’s next-generation of smaller extra inexpensive EVs. Rivian plans to promote a shipment field that mounts to a hitch at the again of the automobile and that may be paired with a brand new trip kitchen. The kitchen features a water tank, cooler and cookware set.
On Thursday, Rivian printed the R2, a five-seat, all-electric midsized SUV that may have greater than 300 miles of vary and a base value of $45,000. In a wonder twist, Scaringe additionally unveiled the smaller R3 and the R3x efficiency, a compact hatchback-style EV with sporty vibes. Rivian hasn’t given a manufacturing timeline for the R3 automobiles.
The R2, which is able to now be made on the corporate’s Standard, Illinois manufacturing unit, is anticipated to enter manufacturing within the first part of 2024. The corporate mentioned it’s going to save about $2.25 billion via shifting manufacturing of the R2 from its deliberate Georgia manufacturing unit to its present manufacturing unit in Standard.

Author: OpenAI