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.

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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

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