FOUR YEARS AFTER ELON MUSK’S STEEL-CLAD PICKUP MADE ITS CONTROVERSIAL DEBUT, THE TESLA CYBERTRUCK IS NOW ON THE ROAD, INTENT ON TURNING THE EV SCENE ON ITS HEAD ONCE AGAIN
BY EVAN MONROE
Not since the late 1990s debut of the petrol-chugging Hummer has a machine been as intoxicatingly polarizing as Tesla’s Cybertruck. Flaunting a beasty exoskeleton comprised of battle-ready stainless steel, the all-electric pickup has been saddled with setbacks ever since its November 2019 unveiling which, one might recall, rocked the internet when the concept truck’s “unbreakable” armored glass shattered during Elon Musk’s presentation including supply chain snags and powertrain issues. This year, Musk’s high-riding spaceship is finally coming to fruition, released as a 2024 model (Tesla hoped it would be in showrooms by the end of 2021).
Now ready for the road (or surface of Mars?), the Cybertruck is available in two trims for its inaugural year: a dual-motor base and a beefy tri-motor Cyberbeast, both all-wheel drive. A rear-wheel drive, single-motor variant with a slimmer price tag will join the lineup next year. The dual-motor option is stocked with a respectable 600 ponies and 3.9-second 0-60 time, while the 845-hp ‘Beast rockets from standstill to 60 in a supercar rivaling 2.6 seconds. Both models are equipped with an adjustable air suspension that can travel 12 inches, offering up to 17 inches of ground clearance for off-roading. Steer-by-wire and rear-wheel steering is standard, giving the 19-foot-long, full-size pickup the turning radius of a sports sedan.
While the EV faces steep competition in an ever-swelling market (in addition to all-electric options from Ford, GMC, and American startup Rivian, Chevy and Ram will soon release their engine-free pickups), it does stand out from the pack in design, boasting a triangular unibody shell fashioned from flat sheet metal panels of cold-rolled stainless steel. The armored glass, Tesla purports, can withstand the impact of baseball at 70 mph, and the massive six-by-four-foot cargo bed can handle up to 2,500 pounds. The interior is almost shockingly minimalist, even for the Tesla badge. There are only two touchscreens in the cabin, a central 18-inch infinity screen up front and another 9.4-inch screen for rear passengers. Additional tech includes a 15-speaker audio system with two subwoofers, wireless charging ports, and an all-glass roof. After years of anticipation (and questions whether the truck would ever see the light of day), initial deliveries began last December. Starting MSRP is $79,990.
Tesla
