Rivian is proving that building a mass-market electric vehicle does not mean losing the quirky charm that defined the brand in the first place. As the automotive world inches closer to the first R2 SUV handovers later this spring, enthusiasts are continuing to uncover delightful details hidden within the car's hardware and software.
In a recent walkthrough video of the highly anticipated midsize SUV with Kim Java, Rivian's Chief Design Officer, Jeff Hammoud, pulled back the curtain on a hidden interaction inside the vehicle's infotainment system. The easter egg stars the company's beloved animated mascot, Gear Guard Gary, and it turns a simple check of your driving efficiency into an interactive experience.
Tapping Into Gary's Personalities
The newly discovered interaction lives inside the vehicle's native Energy app. When monitoring your driving efficiency, a small icon of Gear Guard Gary appears next to the "Projected range impact" indicator to serve as a visual guide. Hammoud explained that the design team integrated distinct emojis to essentially coach drivers on how their battery’s current status impacts real-world range performance.
If you tap on the circular Gary icon, his facial expression dynamically shifts, rotating through a series of expressions. For a “Normal” range impact, the emojis range from a focused look with a magnifying glass to a joyful face wearing a sweatband. A similar hidden interaction is packed into the main settings menu under Settings > Gear Guard. Tapping the full-body Gary avatar causes him to change poses, switching from a friendly wave to holding up a compact action camera..
The best part of this software touch is that it is not exclusive to the upcoming model. Because Rivian maintains a unified software architecture, this interactive easter egg is already live and fully functional on all Gen 1 and Gen 2 R1T and R1S vehicles currently out on the road.
Part of a Growing Maze of Easter Eggs
This clever Energy app feature is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Rivian has a long history of baking fun details directly into its platforms to reward curious owners. When the company put the R2 on display at SXSW 2026, fans noticed a solvable maze molded into the plastic of the charge port door lining, among other secrets.
The design team has also integrated physical callbacks into the glasswork. The R2 features a subtle Gear Guard Gary smiley face stamped onto the frit band of the front windshield, alongside a tiny rock climber silhouette scaling the edge of one of the rear side windows. These small additions highlight a passionate culture within Rivian’s design studio, injecting personality into the product line.
Launching a Crucial Electric Platform
These lighthearted features arrive at a very critical moment for the young EV manufacturer. Rivian officially kicked off mass production of the R2 at its Normal, Illinois, plant last month, quickly followed by the launch of the official R2 order configurator for waitlist holders.
The midsize platform will hit the market via three primary configurations. The premium Performance trim starts at $57,990 and leads the production wave, followed closely by the $53,990 Premium trim later this year and the long-range and $45,000 entry-level Standard models through 2027. For a complete look at how these upcoming models compare across battery size, motor layouts, and standard features, you can check out our full breakdown of the announced R2 specs.
By blending high-end engineering with an elements-focused design language, Rivian is building a distinct identity that sets it apart from traditional legacy manufacturers. It’s clear that their team views both hardware and software as a canvas for creativity, making the daily commute just a little bit more entertaining for customers.
