- An ex-Ford designer envisions the Roamer sharing its underpinnings with the R1S and R1T.
- The design includes rear doors and C-pillars with built-in ladders for easy rooftop access.
- Unfortunately, Rivian has given no indication that it’s developing a model like this.
Whereas most EV startups have attempted to penetrate the market with either mass-market models or high-end hypercars, Rivian went about things differently with the R1S and R1T. The two models, based around the same skateboard architecture, are focused on adventurers who want to enjoy the wilderness and all the practicality that a vehicle focused on this area offers.
Inspired by the R1T and R1S, former Ford and Pininfarina designer Aditya Narayan has imagined what could be the ultimate Rivian adventure vehicle. It’s dubbed the Roamer, and whereas the R1T is a pickup and the R1S is an SUV, the Roamer is an eye-catching van similar in size to its siblings and designed to tackle the most treacherous terrain imaginable.
Read: Rivian Is Cutting Costs But Still Loses Over $32,000 On Every EV It Builds
From a visual standpoint, the Roamer shares plenty in common with the R1 models. The front end features Rivian’s characteristic oval-shaped headlights, connected with an intricate light bar made up of dozens of little LEDs. One of the most interesting aspects of the car’s design is that the windshield stretches all the way to the headlights, meaning there’s no traditional hood. The front overhang is also very short.
The most intriguing design detail is found on the sides of the Roamer. Located on the rear doors and the thick C-pillars are five large cut-outs you can slide your feet into and use as a ladder. This would be very handy for a car like the Roamer as it’s equipped with a large rooftop tent, and the ladder provides easy access to it. Like the front, the rear is familiar Rivian, although the light bar of R1 and R2 models is now made up of dozens of little LEDs.
While we’d love to see Rivian build a van like this, it hasn’t publicized any plans to do so. The firm recently launched refreshed R1T and R1S models and is working on its cheaper, mass-market offerings, the R2 and R3.
