Rivian officially kicked off its first R2 customer deliveries this week, and the new vehicle is packed with clever surprises. In a recent walkthrough video of the much-anticipated R2 SUV with Kim Java, Rivian's Chief Design Officer, Jeff Hammoud, showed off some of the easter eggs the design team has baked into its debut mass-market vehicle.
The new platform marks a massive step for the brand as reservation holders are gradually being invited to place their R2 orders through the online configurator. For those who want a closer look before ordering, the R2 has also started arriving at Rivian spaces for demo drives. Beyond the headline metrics, the design team went out of their way to add unique hardware touches to make the vehicle feel fun and personal.
Charge Port Maze
One of the most intricate hardware details is a complex, solvable maze molded directly into the texture of the charge port door’s inner lining. This isn't just a random geometric pattern; it is a fully functional puzzle designed to give owners a quick distraction while waiting for their vehicle to juice up.
Hammoud shared that a designer personally hand-crafted the layout after the team initially experimented with AI software. The computer models struggled with the scaling, forcing the team to move to a manual design to ensure the paths fit the specific proportions of the R2's port door. If you need help getting through the paths, check out our full breakdown of this maze easter egg (solution included).
Gear Guard Gary and Rock Climber Decals
The team also hid subtle graphics in the glass elements of the vehicle. If you examine the frit, which is the black dotted pattern along the outer edge of the windshield, you’ll spot a tiny Gear Guard Gary smiley face. Gary is the quirky animated mascot for Rivian's Gear Guard security system.
The outdoor theme continues on the rear side glass, where a miniature rock climber can be seen ascending the frame of one of the windows. Hammoud pointed this out as a deliberate nod to the outdoorsy, adventure-driven identity of the brand.
R2 Silhouette in the Taillight
Interestingly, Hammoud kept a few secrets to himself during the video walkthrough. Some details were first spotted by fans attending public R2 Block Party events earlier this spring. If you look closely at the driver's side corner of the rear light bar, there is a tiny R2 silhouette etched directly into the plastic housing.
The hidden graphic places a micro outline of the SUV right next to a miniature Rivian logo. This tiny touch is entirely exclusive to the driver's side lens, leaving the passenger side clean.
Software Interactions in RivianOS 2.0
The digital experience matches the hardware fun, as the R2 is launching with an updated operating system. R2 debuts with RivianOS 2.0 right out of the gate, and the new software will eventually make its way to the R1 line as well. RivianOS 2.0 hides its own secrets, including one inside the native Energy app.
When you look at your real-world efficiency stats, a small avatar of Gear Guard Gary appears right next to the projected range impact indicator. The design team integrated distinct emojis to essentially coach drivers on how their current driving style or battery status impacts real-world range performance. Tapping on Gary's face cycles through these different emojis, and a similar hidden interaction is also packed into the main settings menu under Settings < Gear Guard.
Floor Storage Adventure Tools
Moving into the cabin, the team utilized the storage space between the front footwells for a hidden gear graphic. You can pull up the removable lining in the lower center storage area to uncover a series of adventure-themed items etched into the plastic base.
The graphics include a bundle of rope, a carabiner, a pen, a camera, and a Swiss Army knife. Hammoud noted that the compartment itself is really convenient, especially for female drivers, who find it perfect for securely storing their handbags. The Swiss Army knife graphic might also serve as a clever metaphor for the versatility of Rivian’s original R1 platform, with the R1T often being called the “Swiss Army knife of trucks.”
Gear Guard Gary Tissue Box Etching
Another little detail is buried right inside the storage layout of the center console. Based on customer feedback, the design team added a dedicated tissue box storage drawer inside the R2's armrest area to keep cabins neat.
If you pull up the removable lining inside the bottom of that specific drawer, you will find another hidden graphic stamped directly into the plastic floor. The plastic molding reveals a small etching of Gear Guard Gary blowing their nose into a tissue. It’s a quirky, literal nod to the intended purpose of the storage slot itself, showcasing how much fun the design team had matching the hardware visuals to everyday utility.
A Dad Joke Under the Frunk
The R2’s front trunk area beats out the competition on volume alone, offering 5.2 cubic feet of power-opening storage space. That easily clears the 4.1 cu-ft of space found on the Tesla Model Y, which the R2 is meant to directly challenge (compare the R2 to the Model Y). But the design team also decided to hide what Hammoud lovingly called a "dad joke" right under the hood.
If you pop open the plastic cap for the windshield washer fluid inlet, you will find a custom frog-skunk hybrid animal, a "frunk", molded into the underside of the lid. Following that pattern, there’s also a cow-owl hybrid, a "cowl", stamped directly into the exterior cowl panel right where the frunk meets the base of the windshield.
More Secrets Waiting to Be Found
Hammoud described these small elements as "surprise and delight features" that R2 owners will naturally stumble upon throughout their multi-year ownership experience. While these small easter eggs don’t change the core utility of the vehicle, they play a huge role in building real brand loyalty and making the ownership experience feel personalized.
Rivian’s design chief made it clear that we have only scratched the surface of what’s hidden inside the R2. "There's a bunch of other ones. I don't want to give them all away," Hammoud said. "I think you probably try to find some of the other ones." As customer handovers ramp up beyond the first wave of Performance Launch Package deliveries and Rivian introduces even more R2 trims, starting with the Premium variant slated to debut later this year, owners will undoubtedly discover even more hidden details sprinkled across the chassis and software.
