Photo: Jim Farley | X
Watching the Tesla Cybertruck having a hard time going uphill on a steep incline sparked debate on social media and prompted rivals to show their own capabilities. First, the Rivian R1T and now, the Ford F-150 Lightning show how they can tackle the same off-road course. Ford’s CEO Jim Farley posted the video of the pickup truck with the Blue Oval badge doing its thing during the climb. But it is missing one important component.
Back in October, footage of the Tesla Cybertruck completing an off-road course in California surfaced. The video was shot at Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA) near Monterey, an hour's drive from Tesla’s headquarters in Palo Alto.
Two prototypes sporting the RC lettering, which stands for 'Release Candidate,' are seen trying to climb an obstacle called 'the stairs.' It obviously wasn’t easy for them, and the two had to put a lot of effort into it. The drivers go at a very low speed as if they are either afraid not to wreck anything or are testing some off-road technology on the move.
The videos showing the Cybertrucks struggling sparked controversy on social media, with users poking fun at the model's off-road capabilities despite all the goodies Elon Musk has been crediting it with.
Last week, a Rivian R1T truck showed its moves up 'the stairs,' and it turned out to be a walk in the park. But the Rivian pickup truck was not racing up those "stairs" either.
Someone on X explains that this particular part of the off-road course is a low traction surface, mostly covered in cement and dust. The more vehicles climb it, the more slippery it becomes. During the climb, the suspension puts in a lot of work, articulating and flexing up to the last wheel spin.
Now, Ford's CEO Jim Farley interrupts the debate with a video uploaded on social media, showing the company's electric pickup truck going up the Hollister Hills SVRA. The caption reads "The F-150 Lightning does it all."
The move is just one more battle in the Tesla-Ford war, one that is mostly visible in the price sector, with Ford cutting prices of the Mustang Mach-E every time Tesla comes up with a discount for its main competitor, the Model Y.
There is, though, no information on the powertrain of the Cybertruck that did the off-road demonstration at the Hollister Hills. Tesla will sell the vehicle in four configurations: a single motor, a dual-, a three-, and a quad-motor variant.
The R1T was obviously a quad-motor pickup truck, since it is the only variant Rivian started deliveries for. This must have helped as each of the four motors engages a wheel.
Meanwhile, the Ford F-150 Lightning is powered by twin electric motors, each mounted on an axle in an all-wheel drive setup.
And the debate does not stop here. Someone on former Twitter/current X pointed out that the Ford truck is missing the air deflector, a move that helps it gain a few more inches in ride height and provides it with a better angle of approach on rough terrain.
The R1T sports a maximum ground clearance of 14.9 inches (378 millimeters), the Cybertruck rides at a whole 16 inches (406 millimeters) above the ground, while the F-150 Lightning has to resort to only 8.4 inches (213 millimeters). So that pretty much settles it.
Two prototypes sporting the RC lettering, which stands for 'Release Candidate,' are seen trying to climb an obstacle called 'the stairs.' It obviously wasn’t easy for them, and the two had to put a lot of effort into it. The drivers go at a very low speed as if they are either afraid not to wreck anything or are testing some off-road technology on the move.
The videos showing the Cybertrucks struggling sparked controversy on social media, with users poking fun at the model's off-road capabilities despite all the goodies Elon Musk has been crediting it with.
Last week, a Rivian R1T truck showed its moves up 'the stairs,' and it turned out to be a walk in the park. But the Rivian pickup truck was not racing up those "stairs" either.
Someone on X explains that this particular part of the off-road course is a low traction surface, mostly covered in cement and dust. The more vehicles climb it, the more slippery it becomes. During the climb, the suspension puts in a lot of work, articulating and flexing up to the last wheel spin.
Now, Ford's CEO Jim Farley interrupts the debate with a video uploaded on social media, showing the company's electric pickup truck going up the Hollister Hills SVRA. The caption reads "The F-150 Lightning does it all."
The move is just one more battle in the Tesla-Ford war, one that is mostly visible in the price sector, with Ford cutting prices of the Mustang Mach-E every time Tesla comes up with a discount for its main competitor, the Model Y.
There is, though, no information on the powertrain of the Cybertruck that did the off-road demonstration at the Hollister Hills. Tesla will sell the vehicle in four configurations: a single motor, a dual-, a three-, and a quad-motor variant.
The R1T was obviously a quad-motor pickup truck, since it is the only variant Rivian started deliveries for. This must have helped as each of the four motors engages a wheel.
Meanwhile, the Ford F-150 Lightning is powered by twin electric motors, each mounted on an axle in an all-wheel drive setup.
And the debate does not stop here. Someone on former Twitter/current X pointed out that the Ford truck is missing the air deflector, a move that helps it gain a few more inches in ride height and provides it with a better angle of approach on rough terrain.
The R1T sports a maximum ground clearance of 14.9 inches (378 millimeters), the Cybertruck rides at a whole 16 inches (406 millimeters) above the ground, while the F-150 Lightning has to resort to only 8.4 inches (213 millimeters). So that pretty much settles it.
F-150 Lightning does it all. ???? pic.twitter.com/uCMUSxUIpj
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) November 15, 2023
Was the Ford F150 a stock truck or was it modified to get more ground clearance? https://t.co/050OqACtuz
— ???? JCV (@jcvbavaria) November 15, 2023
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