The recently-unveiled and eagerly anticipated Cybertruck is a novel and exciting idea. With its space-age design that would not look out of place in a science fiction movie, the Cybertruck is set to become the first electric pickup to ever hit the market,
Unfortunately for Telsa owner Elon Musk, however, amid huge expectation from Tesla fans, the Cybertruck immediately hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons when its armored glass window was improbably smashed during a sledgehammer durability test.
Despite this embarrassing event (which Musk later explained it away by blaming a faulty door), excitement about the Tesla truck remains at fever pitch. With its release set to be in late 2021, we took a brief look at what we can expect from the futuristic, first-of-its-kind vehicle.
- Engine Options
The Cybertruck will come in three different engine configurations, each of which has a different number of electric motors. The more economical single-motor truck ($39,900) has rear-wheel drive transmission, while the dual-motor ($49,900) and tri-motor ($69,900) models will both have all-wheel drive. The trucks have impressive acceleration and top speeds for truck:
- Single-Motor – 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds with a top speed of 110 mph
- Single-Motor – 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph
- Single-Motor – 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph
- Charging and Battery
Although the size of the batteries that will be used in the Cybertruck has not yet been disclosed, we do know that they will all use a 250-kW charging cable that you can use to charge them at one of Tesla’s extensive network of Superchargers. Tesla has said that the cheapest model will have a range of 250 miles, the mid-range model 300 miles, and the flagship model 500 miles.
- Towing and Payload
Tesla claims that the Cybertruck will be able to pull a hugely impressive 7,500-14,000 pounds depending on the model. This puts it far above the towing capacity of competitor pickups. Models can also carry 3,500 pounds in their cargo beds.
- Interior
The inside of the Cybertruck will be even more austere than even the Tesla Model 3 (if that is possible). When it comes to interior design, less really is more as far as the designers at Tesla are concerned. Controls are all contained within a large 17-inch touchscreen display, and the finish is dominated by stainless steel and simple leather-upholstered seats.
- Driver-Assistance Features
The Cybertruck will be available with a self-driving function. Tesla has reported run into some serious difficulties with its Autopilot project. However, Elon Musk has vowed to have it ready in time for the release of the Cybertruck next year.
Despite its disastrous first showing, we are excited to see how the Cybertruck fares when it comes on the market next year. As usual, Tesla is at the forefront of innovation in the field of electric vehicles, and we would be surprised if its futuristic pickup offering is not a major success.