The Cybertruck is Tesla’s electric pickup truck. All-terrain, resistant, efficient, autonomous, capable of transporting and towing heavy loads, this vehicle of excess aims to be much more than a flashy design: Tesla wants to prove that it does not does not act on a simple whim of Elon Musk.
Tesla’s Cybertruck will finally become a reality. The superlative electric pick-up dreamed of by Elon Musk will indeed be marketed to the general public, after years of difficult development. The imposing all-terrain vehicle with a futuristic look has technical characteristics and offers services that sometimes hold many surprises. Price, availability date, interior and exterior design, autonomy, engine and performance, find out everything you need to know about the Cybertruck.
When can you buy the Cybertruck?
The current official goal is to deliver the first models before the end of 2023. The first owners of the vehicle will be in the United States, and then availability will expand to other markets, including Europe. Mass production should only begin in 2024, so the release of the Cybertruck in France should therefore take place, at the earliest, sometime next year.
Announced with great fanfare in 2019 by Elon Musk, the Cybertruck was to be marketed by Tesla in 2021. But the brand faced significant design challenges, forcing the manufacturer to postpone the deadline several times.
How much does the Cybertruck cost?
There are already more than two million reservations for the Cybertruck (which only require a deposit of 100 US dollars, refundable in the event of cancellation), but we still do not know its final price. Tesla had communicated prices in 2019, but these are no longer relevant today.
During the 2022 Cyber Roundup event, Elon Musk admitted that Tesla was going to increase the price of the Cybertruck, unable to match the previously announced prices. “A lot has changed since then [2019], so specifications and prices will be different. I hate to give kind of a little bad news, but I think there was no way to anticipate inflation and the various problems that we experienced”commented the entrepreneur.
To give you a first idea of what to expect, here’s what the Cybertruck initially cost:
- Single-engine version: from 39,900 US dollars
- Two-engine version: from 49,900 US dollars
- Three-engine version: from 69,900 US dollars
So we know the electric pickup will cost more than that. Furthermore, a certain number of options are expected to personalize your vehicle and further increase the bill. As a reminder, Full Self-Driving (FSD), or fully autonomous driving, is not available in France. This feature costs 15,000 US dollars across the Atlantic (or a monthly subscription of 199 US dollars). Several colors, in addition to the standard metallic gray, will also be offered, probably for a fee.
What is the design of the Cybertruck?
If its shape and aesthetics have evolved little since the first presentation of the product, the design of the Cybertruck has taken different paths in recent years. All the specifications that may have been communicated are no longer necessarily on the agenda now, but we still have a certain number of elements available.
The Cybertruck immediately catches the eye with its futuristic design, which seems straight out of a work of science fiction or anticipation. It is distinguished by straight lines and a very angular silhouette, which leave little room for rounding, giving an impression of aggressiveness. Both front and rear, we have horizontal headlights that extend across the entire width of the grille.
The machine takes up space and will clearly not be suitable for urban use in certain European cities with narrow streets and parking spaces, even if the final version is ultimately around 5% more compact than the prototype unveiled in 2019. Its dimensions reach 5.88 meters in length, 2.03 meters in width and 1.9 meters in height, all mounted on 19-inch rims. Its curb weight has yet to be confirmed and will depend on vehicle configuration, but we should easily exceed three tonnes.
Tesla evokes a smoothed, almost impenetrable monochrome exoskeleton to protect the vehicle. It is notably composed of a structural layer of ultra-robust, cold-rolled 30X stainless steel. The windows are made from Tesla armored glass. “If there was something better, we would use it”, claims the manufacturer, which ensures that the Cybertruck resists dents, damage and long-term corrosion thanks to these materials. We hope for Elon Musk and his company that the final product this time actually resists a pétanque ball.
On this point, doubt nevertheless remains. For good reason, recent images of the Cybertruck crash tests have caused some concern on the web. In particular, we saw the windshield completely exploded after the impact, as did the doors, completely unhinged and bent. Please note, however, that these are internal tests, and not an official crash test conducted by the NHTSA for example.
The electric pickup also offers 100 cubic feet (2,832 liters) of lockable secure storage, including the under-bed space, front trunk and central bed pillars. A tonneau cover helps protect the space, as well as its contents, from bad weather. Unfolded, it lets the user load the Cybertruck with bulky equipment, such as a quad bike for example. Tesla also markets an electric Cyberquad for children in the United States. A flexible load securing system helps ensure cargo is protected during transport.
What does the interior of the Cybertruck look like?
The Cybertruck’s interior has not yet revealed all its secrets. Truth be told, we know little about the vehicle’s interior. From the seats to the dashboard, Tesla respects a certain uniformity by applying, as on the exterior, an angular design. Initially, the electric pickup was to be able to accommodate up to six passengers, in two rows of three. The manufacturer has, to date, not officially announced that this feature is no longer relevant, but it seems from the latest images reaching us that the Cybertruck has gone from six to five seats, following the disappearance of what was the middle seat at the front. The Tesla site still shows six seats, perhaps this is an option, or the information has not been updated. Additional storage space under the second row seats is also mentioned.
The display is entrusted to a large 18.5 inch touch screen, which provides access to Tesla’s famous infotainment system, equipped for the occasion with a brand new personalized user interface, according to the brand. Here again, vagueness is required since the manufacturer states on its French page that it is a 17-inch touch screen that is on board.
In any case, it is impossible to miss the large panoramic glass roof that the Cybertruck benefits from, which is particularly well associated with the large windows, especially those located at the front of the vehicle. Following criticism of the Yoke steering wheel, Tesla changed its tune and designed a new model. The steering wheel of the Cybertruck appears to be a fusion of the Yoke steering wheel and the traditional round steering wheel.
How does the Cybertruck perform?
The Cybertruck presents very different performances depending on the configuration chosen. As a reminder, a four-engine Cybertruck model has been abandoned, or left aside at least temporarily.
Single-engine Cybertruck
- Type of transmission: Rear-wheel drive, two-wheel drive
- Acceleration: 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds
- Towing capacity: Up to 3,400 kg
Twin-engine Cybertruck
- Transmission type: All-wheel drive, four-wheel drive
- Acceleration: 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds
- Towing capacity: Up to 4,500 kg
Three-engine Cybertruck
- Transmission type: All-wheel drive, four-wheel drive
- Acceleration: 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds
- Towing capacity: Up to 6,350 kg
The payload capacity reaches 1588 kg, while the adjustable air suspension system promises to adapt to all terrains for a comfortable ride, even in difficult environments.
What is the autonomy of the Cybertruck?
A monster such as the Cybertruck necessarily has significant energy requirements. To satisfy them, Tesla is banking on a new generation of batteries, featuring 4680 cells. These offer much greater energy efficiency than that delivered by the 2170 cells, until now used by the manufacturer. Another advantage of the new 4680 batteries is their much higher charging speed. They are, for example, compatible with Megacharger stations, designed for the Tesla Semi electric truck, which can deliver charging power of up to 1,000 kW. They also make the most of the capabilities of the most classic Superchargers.
Tesla’s promise is to offer a range of 400 km for the Cybertruck equipped with one motor, just under 500 km for the two-motor version and exceed 800 km for the most expensive three-motor model. For the moment, these are only scores targeted by Tesla: we will have to wait for the scores from the approval cycles to have a better idea of the real autonomy of the vehicle. Doubts have been expressed in particular about the possibility of reaching 800 km on this type of vehicle.