Elon Musk probably had a great time unveiling his baby, the Tesla Cybertruck pickup truck. He has been talking about it for almost 7 years, promising something new. The mission is successful. The Cybertruck is a real visual shock. The sad spirits will say that it only took a few minutes for a designer to draw these simplistic and raw lines. More moderate observers will enjoy such audacity, which ignores the usual tendency of car manufacturers to always rely on a familiar aesthetic reference. The Cybertruck is unlike any existing production vehicle. Whether you like it or not, the freedom of style it expresses is refreshing.
The same stainless steel as for the SpaceX Starship
The Cybertruck style has a slightly military feel that inspires a feeling of robustness. It reflects with an exoskeleton body made of ultra-hard 30X cold-rolled stainless steel that SpaceX will use to build its Starship ship. To prove its solidity, Elon Musk invited one of his collaborators to the stage, who slammed a heavy mass blow on a door, which did not show the slightest damage.
However, things went a little worse when the person threw a steel ball at the side windows that were supposed to withstand violent impacts. Elon Musk expected the same result as for the door, but the windows smashed, causing Tesla’s boss to laugh a little embarrassed and promise to “fix it.” Its engineers will have plenty of time to study it, since production will only begin at the end of 2021, at best.
We come to the price of Cybertruck, which also surprised observers. Tesla announces the lowest rate of $39,900 for the propulsion version, $49,900 for the intermediate four-wheel-drive model with two engines, and $69,900 for the three-engine model. Qualified prices that are quite reasonable for the market, knowing, for example, that the Rivian RT1, one of Cybertruck’s main rivals, starts at $69,000. A lot of things may still be moving between now and the launch of the Cybertruck. But Elon Musk has already succeeded in his challenge to shake up the codes.
An electric quad for the Cybertruck
The Cybertruck announces ranges of 400, 500, or 800 kilometers depending on the size of the battery you choose. Its payload is up to 1.5 tonnes and can tow up to 6.3 tonnes in its four-wheel-drive version. Elon Musk had promised the performance of a Porsche 911. On paper, this seems to be the case since Tesla announces a 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, which promises a lot of acceleration.
An air suspension increases ground clearance by up to 40 cm. Also, the air used by the circuit can be used to supply the on-board compressor to work with pneumatic tools. For off-road travel, the Cybertruck announces an approach angle of 35 degrees and a departure angle of 28 degrees. 110/220 V electrical sockets are integrated to connect tools. The truck can be configured for different uses, including a sliding shutter or a windbreak system that transforms it into a camping tent with an integrated kitchen. During the Cybertruck presentation, Elon Musk also unveiled a matching electric quad that can be mounted on the back of the pickup and recharge its battery. No details on its marketing have been provided at this time.