by Steven Perez
posted on February 18, 2024
Tesla’s electric truck is finally a reality
Any new Tesla model brings plenty of hype, but the Cybertruck is one of the most anticipated cars in a long time. Its unique design, touted capabilities, plus many delays and questions about its production have made it quite a story. It’s been over four years since Tesla first unveiled this stainless steel-clad electric pickup truck, but it’s here now, and there’s nothing else like it on the road.
First thing’s first: this thing looks wild. The razor sharp angles, horizontal light bars, and flat unpainted surfaces make the Cybertruck look like something you’d see in a sci-fi blockbuster or on the shelf at a Toys “R” Us. It’s nearly unheard of for an automaker to dream up a concept with such unabashed childlike appeal, then actually make it. So no matter how you feel about the design or even just the idea of the Cybertruck, its existence alone is worthy of some recognition.
The pickup truck that bucks trends
A pickup truck may seem a strange choice for Tesla’s next model, but it’s one of the most popular body styles in the US and should present a big opportunity for the American brand. And besides, the Cybertruck isn’t trailblazing the electric truck segment — it’ll have to compete with the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, GMC Hummer EV, and the forthcoming electric Chevy Silverado and Ram 1500 REV — so it better stand out.
And stand out it does. The unpainted steel cladding, the standard look for Cybertrucks from the factory, screams “Blade Runner” (though Azim’s gloss black truck below cosplays as a stealth bomber) and helps prevent dents and corrosion. And this futuristic wedge comes with a customary-for-Tesla slate of impressive numbers and frivolous-but-amusing features. For this first year of production, there are two trims available: a 600-horsepower dual-motor version tagged as “AWD,” and a 845-horsepower tri-motor version called the “Cyberbeast” — though both models are all-wheel drive.
Tesla says the AWD version can hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and max out its range at 340 miles, while the Cyberbeast does the 60 sprint in a mind-bending 2.6 seconds with a slightly reduced max battery range. Either way you have it, that’s solid range and entirely unnecessary speed for a vehicle of this heft, but that’s the kind of trick Tesla loves to pull off.
Another headlining trick in this truck: rear-wheel steering. When turning sharply at slower speeds, the rear wheels turn oppositely from the front set, like some riding mowers, giving the Cybertruck a better turning radius than the Model S. It has adaptive air suspension with a maximum ground clearance of 17 inches (that’s a lot) and can fit 35-inch tires. The “shatter-resistant” windows, which failed spectacularly during a launch event demonstration in 2019, are said to be able to withstand “class 4 hail” or a baseball thrown at 70 mph. So you’ll be safe from aggressive little league pitchers.
The interior is typical minimalist Tesla. A funkily shaped steering wheel sits next to a large screen, and according to the manufacturer, the acoustic glass in the windows and roof make the cabin “as quiet as outer space.” Beyond that, there’s seating for five and most of the interior features that are standard in a car at this price point (about $80,000 for the AWD version, and $100,000 for the top trim).
The Cybertruck does offer competitive towing capacity and payload for a truck, the bed can fit a standard 4×8 piece of plywood with the tailgate down, and there’s extra room in the frunk, so in theory, one could make do with upgrading to this from their old Tacoma or Silverado. But really, the Cybertruck is meant to capture the imagination and turn heads. Look what can be done if you abandon tradition and brush off the naysayers. Is everything about this truck strictly necessary? Surely not, but it joyfully scratches a certain itch for many, and it’s a guaranteed conversation starter.
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Steven Perez
Steven is an avid car guy and content maker at Turo. Between Golden State Warriors games he can be found getting lost somewhere in California.
