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Tesla’s controversial CEO, Elon Musk, took a victory lap of sorts, delivering the futuristic Tesla Cybertruck to customers.
Musk bragged that some experts had dismissed the project as impossible.
“This is one of those times we have a car here that experts said was impossible, that experts said would never be made,” Musk said. “I think it’s the most unique thing on the road, and finally, the future will look like the future.”
The truck, encased in rugged geometric features, looks like a vehicle in a sci-fi movie and can transport five passengers with plenty of luggage space.
Musk’s remarks came while delivering multiple Tesla Cybertrucks to new owners at the Tesla Giga factory in Austin, Tx on Nov. 30.
The event occurred four years after a disastrous unveiling of the vehicle, leading people to think the project was dead.
The vehicle has a sharply angular, geometric shape with a design that significantly departs from traditional automotive curves and contours and features a sleek, flat roofline that slopes to the rear, creating a wedge-like profile. The wheels are large and rugged, with a design that complements the overall angular aesthetic of the truck.
Musk said the body, which he called the “steel exoskeleton,” is made “with a special ultra-strong Tesla-designed steel alloy” that did not exist before.
“We needed something that you could actually manufacture, but that would have basically no corrosion, that didn’t need paint, but you can still make it in volume,” Musk said.
Built with Bulletproof Steel Alloy
To demonstrate the toughness, Musk shared a video of the truck’s body withstanding a rain of bullets from an assault weapon, a strange standard feature for a vehicle intended for use by regular people.
“So people say, well, why’d you make it bulletproof? I’m like, why not?” Musk said to explain the reasoning behind making the car bulletproof.
The demo, however, did not shoot the glass, perhaps to avoid a mishap similar to what happened in 2019, the first time Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck to the public.
Musk’s attempt to show off the truck’s shatterproof glass went awry when it shattered from a rock’s impact. Tesla cashed in on the embarrassment during the delivery event, selling a broken-glass window sticker designed to fit the unique Cybertruck back window.
The Cybertruck represents a significant departure from traditional trucks in several aspects. Here’s an analysis of its features, dimensions, and comparisons with a conventional truck.
Cybertruck Delivery Event https://t.co/rWd111HvHc
— Tesla (@Tesla) November 29, 2023
Key Features and Dimensions of Tesla Cybertruck:
- Durability and Protection: Information from the Tesla Cybertruck website indicates the Cybertruck’s exoskeleton is nearly impenetrable, made from ultra-hard 30x cold-rolled stainless steel, providing a monochrome exterior resistant to dents, damage, and corrosion. Its armor glass is a strong glass and polymer-layered composite designed to absorb and redirect impact.
- Dimensions: The Cybertruck measures 19’4″ in length, 6’8″ in width, and 6’3″ in height. Its wheelbase is 12’6″, with an estimated curb weight between 5000-6500 lb.
- Capacity: With the ability to tow up to 14,000 pounds, the Cybertruck is designed for high performance in extreme situations.
- Engine Power and Torque: The Cybertruck’s Tri variant boasts 1,000 pound-feet of torque. Regarding horsepower, the Cybertruck comes with an 800 hp engine.
- Towing and Payload Capacity: The Cybertruck has a towing capacity ranging from 7,000 to 14,000 pounds, depending on the variant.
- Advanced Technology and Safety: According to Tesla, the truck has a 19-inch touchscreen in the front and a 9.4-inch touchscreen in the back. Tesla says passengers can charge multiple gadgets wirelessly and have a “bioweapon defense mode,” a hospital-grade HEPA filtration system that protects from 99.97% airborne particles.
- Bulletproof Body: It’s unclear why the truck needs to come standard in a bulletproof body, but it does, making it an ideal vehicle for anyone feeling they’re under threat of gun assault.
Cybertruck Comes in 3 Flavors
Tesla plans to offer three Cybertruck variants:
- Single-motor rear-wheel drive version,
- All-wheel drive variant,
- The Cyberbeast with three motors.
The single-motor version, with a 250-mile range and a 6.9-second acceleration rate from 0 to 60 mph, won’t be available until 2025. The all-wheel drive variant offers a 340-mile range and a top speed of 112 mph.
The Cyberbeast variant delivers 845 horsepower, a 2.6-second 0 to 60 mph acceleration rate, and a top speed of 130 mph, with an estimated 320-mile range.
Tesla also plans to offer a range extender for longer trips or towing heavy loads, increasing the range to 470 miles for the all-wheel drive version and more than 440 miles for the Cyberbeast.
Pricing
Pricing for the Cybertruck varies, with the rear-wheel version starting at $60,990, the all-wheel drive version at $79,990, and the Cyberbeast just shy of $100,000.
What Tesla is Saying about the Cybertruck
Tesla’s statement about the Cybertruck emphasizes its blend of high utility, performance, and innovative features:
- The Cybertruck, positioned as a reality from science fiction, is starting deliveries.
- It boasts more utility than a traditional truck and is quicker than a sports car, with a towing capacity of 11,000 lbs and a max payload of 2,500 lbs.
- The dual-motor version is estimated to have a 340-mile range, and the tri-motor variant can go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds.
- It features an ultra-hard stainless steel exoskeleton and shatter-resistant Armor Glass to minimize dents, damage, and corrosion and promises easy repairs.
- The Armor Glass can withstand the impact of a baseball thrown at 70 mph or class IV hail, and the acoustic glass contributes to a very quiet cabin.
- The truck offers advanced handling with steer-by-wire and rear steering technology, giving it the maneuverability of a sports car and a smaller turning radius than most sedans.
- An adaptive air suspension system provides 12 inches of travel and 17 inches of clearance.
- There’s ample storage with a 6’x4′ bed, 67 cubic feet of lockable storage, plus an additional 54 cubic feet with rear seats folded, covered by a durable Vault cover.
- The Cybertruck includes integrated power outlets to supply energy to the cabin and bed and can even power a home if the grid fails.
- The interior boasts space and comfort akin to a living room, with large front and back touchscreens, a 15-speaker sound system with subwoofers, and a hospital-grade HEPA filter for air purification.
With its unique design, robust features, and superior performance metrics, the Tesla Cybertruck stands out significantly from conventional trucks. Its advanced electric powertrain, higher towing and payload capacities, and futuristic design elements position it as a notable entry in the electric vehicle market, particularly in the pickup truck segment.
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