The viability of large-scale adoption of electric vehicles has become a touchy subject lately, almost akin to discussing politics, which we all know is taboo. And of all the EV manufacturers, perhaps none is as controversial as Tesla, headed by outspoken CEO Elon Musk, who is also the current CEO of social media outlet Twitter. When Musk unveiled the new Cybertruck back in 2019, the futuristic design, which was admittedly inspired by the science-fiction film Blade Runner, as well as the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, became the most polarizing Tesla product yet, which is saying something.
The 'Love Or Hate' Styling Draws Polarizing Opinions
I remember some snarky comments at the time of unveiling, some congratulating Musk for designing a DeLorean. Indeed, the angular lines and stainless steel skin do draw some similarities with the ill-fated 1980s sports car. Former BMW and Ferrari design legend Frank Stephenson remarked that “The Cybertruck may feel cutting-edge now, but it will quickly become dated.” He also referenced early PlayStation 1 video game graphics, which “seemed realistic at the time, but look low-quality by today's standards.” Underneath the flamboyant coachwork, some truck fans dislike the Cybertruck’s unibody construction. Currently, the only full-size unibody pickup truck on the market is Honda’s Ridgeline, (not accounting for the compact Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz) which itself is criticized by some hardcore truck fans as being too light-duty or "car-like." Musk’s retort to the negativity surrounding the Cybertruck's unibody architecture was that trucks haven’t changed much in the past 100 years. Yes, they’re larger, more powerful, and more luxurious than ever, but the basic body-on-frame construction with a separate cargo bed setup hasn’t changed in decades.
It's true that you're not likely to see too many Cybertrucks down at your local construction site, but that's not Tesla's target audience. A huge swath of Americans own trucks as a sporty lifestyle choice to support hobbies like overlanding, or even just to project a certain image. It’s not going to be the kind of volume-seller that will challenge segment leaders like the F150, but it was never supposed to.
The Cybertruck's Performance Specs Are Impressive
The Cybertruck is expected to be available with not just one or two, but three or perhaps, even four electric motors. The single-motor truck, which will surely be the lowest priced, has rear-wheel drive, while both the two- and three-motor models have all-wheel drive. Tesla claims that the single-motor base version will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. The dual-motor Cybertruck improves on that number significantly, with a zero to 60 mph time of just 4.5 seconds. Those looking for the ultimate performance will appreciate the three-motor model, which Tesla says will rocket from zero to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. The top speed of the Cybertruck, which is electronically limited for safety, varies between 110 and 130 mph.
But wait, there's more! At the end of 2021, Elon Musk commented that a four-motor version of the Cybertruck would also be available, just like Rivian's R1T. This prompted a new round of speculation that the sub-$40,000 single-motor Cybertruck would be dropped and the more expensive dual-motor version would serve as the new base vehicle. At this point, the fate of both the four-motor and single-motor Cybertrucks are totally unknown because Tesla has been remiss in publishing concrete facts or specifications about the truck. In fact, the online configurator has been removed from Tesla's website altogether.
This Unorthodox Machine Can Tow And Haul Quite Well
If the production Cybertruck can really tow as much as Tesla claims, it will have a higher maximum rating than popular internal combustion alternatives such as the Ram 1500. The single- and dual-motor Teslas have a maximum tow rating of 7500 and 10,000 pounds, respectively. However, models with a third motor will be capable of pulling a whopping 14,000 pounds. Payload capacity is another area where the Cybertruck is said to excel. Its 6.5-foot cargo bed has an impressive 3500-pound capacity, which is hundreds of pounds more than its midsize and half-ton competitors. The bed length itself is also commendable because most crew cab pickup trucks are equipped with cargo beds that are 5.0- to 5.8-feet long.
Crew cabs with optional longer beds are available, but are often produced in smaller numbers, and hence, can be difficult to find in stock at a dealership. The extra length really does add to the functionality when doing truck stuff like hauling lumber or motorcycles. Speaking of motorcycles, the Cybertruck also has a nifty ramp that slides out of the tailgate for loading motorcycles and ATVs, like Tesla's own Cyberquad.
After Getting Constantly Delayed, It Might Finally Arrive
Basically, there's a whole segment of truck enthusiasts who would never buy the Cybertruck because of its styling, which they think might be appropriate for a concept car, but is too radical for the street. CEO Musk is further fanning the flames of hatred by making wild statements such as claiming that the Cybertruck will float and can be used a boat for brief periods of time. Musk also claimed that the truck's window glass was bulletproof, which was decidedly proven untrue. There is also enormous skepticism that the base price will remain at $39,900 since until recently, a Model 3 cost nearly $50,000.
Still, Tesla must be doing something right because as of late November 2022, more than 1.6 million buyers have placed a deposit with Tesla for the Cybertruck. Granted, the deposit is only $100 and is fully refundable, so some of those buyers may be taking a wait-and-see attitude as to how the production version will shape up. Others may have sensed an entrepreneurial opportunity to get on the waiting list, then sell either their position on the list, or the entire vehicle, for a quick profit. Tesla expects to start limited production sometime in 2023, with volume ramping up significantly in 2024.