Zachary Shahan once asked, half-jokingly, “A three-second, tri-motor, performance electric hot hatch for $45,000? Where do we sign up?” That question might soon have a real answer. Rivian, the Illinois-based electric automaker, is moving forward with its R3 and R3X — compact, angular SUVs inspired by the rally legends of the 1980s like the Audi Quattro and Lancia Delta Integrale. With the R2 now in production, Rivian is setting its sights on a new chapter: bringing more accessible, high-performance EVs to market before 2030.

This matters because affordability and range have long been barriers to mass EV adoption. Rivian aims to break through both. The R3, set to be the company’s most affordable model, is expected to start below the R2’s $45,000 price point — with estimates from Car and Driver placing it between $37,000 and $47,000. Built on the same platform as the R2, the R3 and R3X will offer two battery options, with the larger delivering over 300 miles of EPA-estimated range. They’ll also feature the NACS charging standard, enabling seamless use of Tesla Superchargers, and promise a 10-to-80% charge in under 30 minutes on high-power Level 3 stations.

Performance won’t be an afterthought. The tri-motor R3X variant is projected to launch before the standard R3 and will rocket from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds — a feat made possible by a powertrain Rivian has refined in its flagship R1 models. While exact specs are still under wraps, the R1S and R1T’s tri-motor setups produce 850 horsepower and 1,103 lb-ft of torque, offering a tantalizing preview. The R3X will also boast enhanced off-road readiness: increased ground clearance, optional off-road suspension, unique bumpers, and two-tone accents inside and out.

All of this will likely roll off the line at Rivian’s new Atlanta, Georgia factory, slated for completion in 2028. That facility, partly funded by Volkswagen’s multibillion-dollar investment in Rivian’s software platform, could become a cornerstone of the company’s scale-up. As legacy automakers scale back EV ambitions — Ford recently took a $19.5 billion write-off on its electric plans — and Tesla faces political headwinds, Rivian is stepping into the gap.

With clean, rally-inspired design from Chief Design Officer Jeff Hammoud and a clear path to affordability, Rivian isn’t just building cars — it’s building opportunity. As the EV landscape shifts, the R3 and R3X could become the accessible, thrilling, and practical choices many have been waiting for.