In a big event last night, Tesla finally started a handful of deliveries of the Cybertruck, and of course, Elon Musk took to the stage to reveal some of the juicy specifications. There were also some bold claims, as always.
During the handover of just ten fully electric Cybertruck pickup trucks, we found out that Tesla's latest model will pack up to 845 hp (less than the GMC Hummer EV Edition 1, for example) in the three-motor all-wheel-drive format, which has a nickname – Cyberbeast. There's also a dual-motor AWD version with 600 horsepower, but the flagship will sprint to 60 mph (96 kph) in just 2.6 seconds and will wrap up the quarter-mile in precisely eleven seconds (or less).
The towing capacity is up to 11,000 pounds, there's a 2,500-pound payload rating, and the four-by-six-foot composite bed has a standard tonneau cover. We can finally start configuring our favorite Cybertruck now, and the RWD model starts at $60,990 with 250 miles of estimated range and a zero to 60 time of 6.5 seconds. However, this version is coming in 2025, meaning you can order now and take delivery of the AWD and Cyberbeast if you want the truck to go out of the factory next year.
The AWD starts at $79,990 with up to 340 miles on a single charge, 4.1s to 60 mph, and a top speed of 112 mph. The Cyberbeast is $99,990 and drops the figures to 320 miles of range, 2.6s with rollout subtracted to 60 mph, and has a superior top speed of 130 mph. The latter might cause a problem during drag races – especially if they're done on longer half-mile distances, but we will probably see a lot of skirmishes starting next year.
Meanwhile, one of the central bragging points from Elon Musk was that – to put the 2.6s sprint and 11-second quarter-mile into the proper perspective, Tesla dragged a Cyberbeast against a Porsche 911… while towing another Porsche 911! However, we should see there are some problems here. First, this was a race organized by the automaker – if they lost, they would not have presented the footage. Secondly, I can hardly believe that Tesla's Cybertruck was dragging the Porsche 911 Turbo S!
For now, we can give them the benefit of the doubt – it's mighty impressive to see a truck towing a sports car and beating another sports car of the same kind at the local quarter-mile dragstrip. Even if that Porsche 911 is the base version, probably. Anyway, that's not the most preposterous thing about the Cybertruck. Instead, there's an entire least of 'marvelous' achievements by the now-Texas-based automaker and energy company.
For example, the body is made of a stainless steel 'super alloy' that does not need to be painted – but that also means you only get one shade to choose from. I suspect the aftermarket realm will have some lucrative business wrapping Cybertrucks in all imaginable colors. The non-corrosive body is also capable of resisting gunfire from stuff like a .45-caliber Tommy gun, a 9mm Glock pistol, or a 9mm MP5 submachine gun. Now, don't think about robbing the bank and thinking you're safe from Police fire.
Additionally, the chassis is said to have a torsional rigidity that's better than a McLaren P1, and the low battery placement helps with rollover protection – the event featured safety test footage with the Cybertruck resisting rollover attempts at 16 mph. There's also four-corner air suspension, all-wheel steering, and steer-by-wire from the (in)famous Tesla yoke.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News