Tesla Cybertruck: Still Crazy After All These Years

by Tim Healey

Published: December 1st, 2023

tesla cybertruck still crazy after all these years

Last night, Tesla finally unveiled the production Cybertruck. Four years after we first saw it -- "we" meaning society. Us TTAC folk weren't at either event.

The truck looks mostly like the concept, with a few differences. It will be available with all-wheel drive with a tri-motor setup. The electric motor on the front axle will make 300 horsepower, and in a first for Telsa, there will be an electronic-locking front differential. In the rear, there will be two electric motors, one for each wheel -- thus obviating the need for a differential. The total system power will be up to 845 ponies -- though you need to select the top-line Cyberbeast trim and then activate a Beast mode to get all that oomph.

The dual rear motors will allow for torque vectoring.

Other key specs include a claimed 0-60 time of under 3 seconds, a max towing capacity of 11,000 pounds, and a curb weight of between 6,600 pounds and 6,900 pounds, depending on trim and equipment. A rear-drive base model is coming in 2025.

All-wheel drive models that are standard spec will make 600 horsepower and have a claimed 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds. These will weigh in at 6,603 pounds while the Cyberbeast tips the scales at 6,843. Payload will be up to 2,500 pounds.

The rear-drive truck will have a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 pounds.

That same rear-drive truck will start at $60,990 and have a range of 250 miles and a claimed 0-60 of 6.5 seconds. Standard AWD units have a range of 340 miles and the Cyberbeast has a claimed range of 320 miles.

Like many EVs, the Cybertruck offers bi-directional charging -- 11.5 kW worth. Fast charging will allow you to pick up over 120 miles of range within 15 minutes. A range extender may be on offer that can add 120-130 miles, and it appears to be a battery, not a gasoline-powered generator.

Unlike us, Motor Trend was at the reveal event in person and says the truck is smaller than the prototype and is dimensionally similar to a Ford F-150.

Other specs are hard to ascertain, but reporting from MT suggests that 18- and 20-inch wheels will be available, as will an adjustable air suspension. The truck's max ground clearance appears to be 17 inches. The bed will be 4x6 and there will be up to 67 cubic feet of underbed storage to go along with 120.9 cubic feet of in-bed storage. That latter number is for one the tonneau cover is in use.

One interesting feature? A monowiper. Yes, the truck has just one wiper blade for the entire front windshield.

The most notable interior feature is a squared-off steering wheel.

Finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the claim that the stainless-steel bodywork is bulletproof.

We already listed the base price, if you're so inclined. Yes, you can order one now, though again, the base rear-drive truck isn't arriving until 2025. For now, you can snag a base AWD for $79,990 or a Cyberbeast for $99,990.

Love the look or hate it, one thing is for sure -- you will stand out.

[Images: Tesla]

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Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments

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5 of 38 comments

VoGhost on Dec 02, 2023

This is the only new vehicle I have the slightest interest in.

1 Reply
- See 2 previous
- Tassos on Dec 02, 2023
  
  On another matter. Musk promised a $35k model 3 IN 2016, not in 2023;
  
  When Tesla sells the 3 for less than $35k (MUCH less after the tax credit) in 2023, in WORTHLESS 2023 Dollars, its corresponding 2016 price is less than TWENTY or TWENTY FIVE AT MOST.
  
  but of course most Tesla critics are Dumb as OXen and Econ Illiterate.
  
  1
- Tassos on Dec 02, 2023
  
  Actually the new (and MUCH improved) Prius Prime Plug-in is a vehicle everybody should STUDY carefully before foolishly making sweeping statements that it does not interest her or him or whatever the hell their stupid PC pronoun is. AND the Prims has a pure EV range more than double its predecessor and four times its grandfather.
  
  1
- VoGhost on Dec 03, 2023
  
  Buy what you like, gramps. I don't need your permission to get what I like.
  
  Like
ToolGuy on Dec 03, 2023

I went looking for the owner's manual and came up short.

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Recent Comments

Bd2 Lexus is just a higher trim package Toyota. ^^
Tassos ONLY consider CIvics or Corollas, in their segment. NO DAMNED Hyundais, Kias, Nissans or esp Mitsus. Not even a Pretend-BMW Mazda. They may look cute but they SUCK.I always recommend Corollas to friends of mine who are not auto enthusiasts, even tho I never owed one, and owned a Civic Hatch 5 speed 1992 for 25 years. MANY follow my advice and are VERY happy. ALmost all are women.friends who believe they are auto enthusiasts would not listen to me anyway, and would never buy a Toyota. They are damned fools, on both counts.
Tassos since Oct 2016 I drive a 2007 E320 Bluetec and since April 2017 also a 2008 E320 Bluetec.Now I am in my summer palace deep in the Eurozone until end October and drive the 2008.Changing the considerable oils (10 quarts synthetic) twice cost me 80 and 70 euros. Same changes in the US on the 2007 cost me $219 at the dealers and $120 at Firestone.Changing the air filter cost 30 Euros, with labor, and there are two such filters (engine and cabin), and changing the fuel filter only 50 euros, while in the US they asked for... $400. You can safely bet I declined and told them what to do with their gold-plated filter. And when I changed it in Europe, I looked at the old one and it was clean as a whistle.A set of Continentals tires, installed etc, 300 EurosI can't remember anything else for the 2008. For the 2007, a brand new set of manual rec'd tires at Discount Tire with free rotations for life used up the $500 allowance the dealer gave me when I bought it (tires only had 5000 miles left on them then)So, as you can see, I spent less than even if I owned a Lexus instead, and probably less than all these poor devils here that brag about their alleged low cost Datsun-Mitsus and Hyundai-Kias.And that's THETRUTHABOUTCARS. My Cars,
NJRide These are the Q1 Luxury division salesAudi 44,226Acura 30,373BMW 84,475Genesis 14,777Mercedes 66,000Lexus 78,471Infiniti 13,904Volvo 30,000*Tesla (maybe not luxury but relevant): 125,000?Lincoln 24,894Cadillac 35,451So Cadillac is now stuck as a second-tier player with names like Volvo. Even German 3rd wheel Audi is outselling them. Where to gain sales?Surprisingly a decline of Tesla could boost Cadillac EVs. Tesla sort of is now in the old Buick-Mercury upper middle of the market. If lets say the market stays the same, but another 15-20% leave Tesla I could see some going for a Caddy EV or hybrid, but is the division ready to meet them?In terms of the mainstream luxury brands, Lexus is probably a better benchmark than BMW. Lexus is basically doing a modern interpretation of what Cadillac/upscale Olds/Buick used to completely dominate. But Lexus' only downfall is the lack of emotion, something Cadillac at least used to be good at. The Escalade still has far more styling and brand ID than most of Lexus. So match Lexus' quality but out-do them on comfort and styling. Yes a lot of Lexus buyers may be Toyota or import loyal but there are a lot who are former GM buyers who would "come home" for a better product.In fact, that by and large is the Big 3's problem. In the 80s and 90s they would try to win back "import intenders" and this at least slowed the market share erosion. I feel like around 2000 they gave this up and resorted to a ton of gimmicks before the bankruptcies. So they have dropped from 66% to 37% of the market in a quarter century. Sure they have scaled down their presence and for the last 14 years preserved profit. But in the largest, most prosperous market in the world they are not leading. I mean who would think the Koreans could take almost 10% of the market? But they did because they built and structured products people wanted. (I also think the excess reliance on overseas assembly by the Big 3 hurts them vs more import brands building in US). But the domestics should really be at 60% of their home market and the fact that they are not speaks volumes. Cadillac should not be losing 2-1 to Lexus and BMW.
Tassos Not my favorite Eldorados. Too much cowbell (fins), the gauges look poor for such an expensive car, the interior has too many shiny bits but does not scream "flagship luxury", and the white on red leather or whatever is rather loud for this car, while it might work in a Corvette. But do not despair, a couple more years and the exterior designs (at least) will sober up, the cowbells will be more discreet and the long, low and wide 60s designs are not far away. If only the interiors would be fit for the price point, and especially a few acres of real wood that also looked real.