7 Things To Know About The Tesla Cybertruck

A few days ago, Tesla rattled the internet with another new automotive product. This is their first pick-up truck and it looks like something straight from the Ripley from Aliens would use to traverse a hostile alien planet. Cower in the presence of the almighty Cybertruck.

The internet is still abuzz with love-hate memes about the Cybertruck but here are some of the main things you need to know about this electric pick-up:

1) It will haul ass like a bat out of hell
The Tesla Cybertruck is available in three powertrain configurations – single motor RWD, dual-motor AWD and tri-motor AWD (two motors on the rear axle), all with different battery capacities. The entry-level single motor version claims a 0-96kph time of under 6.5 seconds with a towing capacity of around 3,400kg. Go up to the dual-motor version and you do nought to 96kph in less than 4.5 seconds and tow over 4,500kg of stuff. But if you want the FULL Tesla chest-collapsing experience, go for the tri-motor Cybertruck that claims a 0 to 96kph time of under 2.9 seconds. This version is also capable of towing around 6,350kg which means you could lug your second home around with you.

2) You’ll reach a charge point before the battery runs out
Tesla claims the US$70,000 tri-motor version of the Cybertruck will offer over 800km of range. Even if you spend your day hooning through the dunes, use all the electronics and bring it down to 60% of its max range, that’s plenty to work with. At least in the US where the Tesla supercharger network is expanding rapidly.

 

Meanwhile, the entry-level US$40,000 single-motor Cybertruck claims a range of around 400km which is still enough for a weekend in the woods. The dual-motor bumps the claimed range closer to 500km and the price jumps to US$50,000.

3) It’s full of possibilities
The Cybertruck can seat up to 6 adults in its cabin which means plenty of room when not used at full capacity. Its payload is over 2 metres long with a capacity of over 1,500kg and it gets a built-in cover. The payload gate can extend into a ramp to make it easier to load certain kind of items into it. When closed, it is a vault-like storage space. The Cybertruck gets air suspension as standard to adjust its ride height depending on the use with up to 40cm of ground clearance. You can even open up the rear section to use it for camping and cooking.

4) You can buy a Tesla quadbike as an accessory
That big loading bay of the Cybertruck? You could carry a quad-bike in there for an adventure trip. But why carry something powered by fossil fuel when you can stick with the electric theme and wedgy design? Behold the best optional extra for a car in recent years – the Cyberquad electric ATV. There’s not a lot of details about the pricing and specs for the Tesla ATV but it looks cool in the back of the Cybertruck and that covers most of it.

5) It can drive through walls*
*We hope. The Tesla Cybertruck and its exoskeleton are built from Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless steel. It also gets Tesla’s own armoured glass. The idea is to ensure the safety and protection of the occupants but I think using the Cybertruck as a wrecking ball would be a lot more fun if you have a junkyard to play around in.

While the internet was busy grating on the EV truck’s low-res design as if it were a video game texture pack from the 1990s, Elon Musk explained on Twitter: “You can’t stamp ultra-hard 30X steel because it breaks the stamping press.” Point made, mic dropped, back to getting humans to Mars where they can drive around in *drum roll please* a space-ready Cybertruck.

6) It has a really big screen with option to pre-order self-driving tech

Tesla has fitted the Cybertruck with a singluar 17-inch touchscreen display for the car and the infotainment controls. This one is actually in a portrait orientation unlike the vertical screens of the previous cars. For an extra US$7,000 the Cybertruck can be equipped with all the autonomous driving tech Tesla has to offer but isn’t allowed on public roads yet.

7) Years till delivery as production will start in 2021
Like most things Tesla, the unveil and the delivery of a revolutionary new product has a timeline of a few years. The official date as of says that production will begin in late 2021 and the Tri-Motor variant will enter production in late 2022.

If you don’t mind the wait and still want a Tesla Cybertruck, you can place your order now for a refundable deposit of just US$100. Better hurry though because if Musk’s tweets are accurate, more than 200,000 people have already booked one. You might as well add another 6 months till delivery.

What do you think of the Tesla Cybertruck? Do you think it will be able to hold its own against the electrified Ford F-150 (already announced)? Would you cancel your order for the Rivian R1T to buy a Cybertruck instead? Share your thoughts in the comments below and don’t forget to subscribe to The Auto Loons for more cool updates from the car world.