Cybertruck: new images and surprises for Tesla’s electric pickup

Unofficial images posted on the forum Cybertruck owners’ club suggest that the cybertruck of You’re here has undergone several notable changes. Subject to their authenticity, these photos reveal several important new features in the design of the Cybertruck, including a pair of exterior mirrors. Their style rather conventional surprises because one would have expected that Tesla seeks to better integrate them into the design of the bodywork. But, as recalled Electrek, the rear-view mirrors of the Cybertruck have been designed in such a way that they can be easily replaced by cameras if the legislation evolves in this direction.

The other notable novelty spotted in the photos of the cybertruck concerns the presence of a gigantic wiper blade capable of covering the entire surface of the imposing windshield. We also notice that the handles of doors retractable (as on the Model S) have completely disappeared. And for good reason, Tesla has decided to remove them and replace them with an automatic opening system when the driver approaches.

Cybertruck production pushed back to 2023

In these new images, the Cybertruck appears with rims in alloy reminiscent of those of Model 3. When first introduced, the electric pickup sported aero hubcaps that hid the wheels.

If all these developments were to be confirmed, this new version of the Cybertruck could well prefigure the production model. However, its launch is still uncertain. Not long ago, the agency Reuters revealed that Tesla would have decided to push it back to next year. The Cybertruck is to be assembled in a new Gigafactory currently under construction. construction in Texas.

Tesla Cybertruck: the surprise is there

Article of Marc Zaffagni, 22/11/2019

With its design that some would say straight out of blade runner or the pencil stroke of a kindergarten child, Tesla’s Cybertruck will leave no one indifferent. But beyond its unique look, what are its arguments for attacking one of the most buoyant segments of theautomotive ?

Elon Musk was undoubtedly very pleased by finally unveiling his baby, the pickup Tesla Cybertruck. He has been talking about it for almost 7 years, promising something new. From this point of view, the mission is totally successful. The Cybertruck is a real visual shock. The sad spirits will say that it only took a few minutes for a designer to draw these simplistic and rough lines. More temperate observers will be delighted by such audacity, which ignores the usual tendency among car manufacturers to always rely on a familiar aesthetic reference. The Cybertruck is unlike any existing production vehicle. Whether you like it or not, the freedom of style he expresses is totally refreshing.

But this debate on the aesthetics of the Tesla pickup is ultimately secondary to what is at stake. Because it is not a supercar produced in a few dozen copies that will be snapped up by a handful of large fortunes. The Cybertruck is attacking a highly strategic market, particularly in the United States where pickups are one of the largest segments, representing several million units each year. It is therefore above all the performance and services as a utility vehicle that will make this pickup a credible alternative to the existing and future competition.

An electric quad for the Cybertruck

The Cybertruck announces a range of 400, 500 or 800 kilometers depending on the type of battery chosen. It can carry up to 1.5 tonnes of payload and tow up to 6.3 tonnes in its four-wheel drive version. Elon Musk had promised the performance of a Porsche 911. On paper, this seems to be the case since Tesla announces a 0 to 100 km / h in 2.9 seconds, which promises sacred accelerations.

A pneumatic suspension increases ground clearance up to 40 cm. Furthermore, theair used by the circuit can also be used to power the on-board compressor to work with pneumatic tools. For off-road travel, the Cybertruck advertises an approach angle of 35 degrees and a departure angle of 28 degrees. 110/220 V electrical outlets are integrated to connect tools. The skip can be configured according to different uses, including a sliding shutter or a high-wind system that transforms it into a camping tent with integrated kitchen. During the presentation of the Cybertruck, Elon Musk also unveiled a electric quad in a matching design that can mount on the back of the pickup and charge its battery there. No details on its marketing have been given for the moment.

The same stainless steel as the SpaceX Starship

The Cybertruck style has a bit of a military side to it that inspires a sense of ruggedness. This translates into practice with a monocoque body made of a stainless steel 30X ultra-hard cold rolled of which SpaceX will use to build his ship Starship. To prove his solidity, Elon Musk invited on stage one of his collaborators who struck a blow mass on a door, which did not show the slightest damage.

On the other hand, things went a little less well when the person threw a steel ball at the windows sides supposed to withstand violent shocks. Elon Musk was obviously expecting the same result as for the door, but the windows actually shattered, provoking a slightly embarrassed laugh from the Tesla boss who promised to “fix that”. Its engineers will have plenty of time to look into it since production will not begin until the end of 2021, at best.

Finally, let’s come to the price of the Cybertruck, which also surprised observers. Tesla announces a base price of 39,900 dollars for the propulsion version, 49,900 dollars for the intermediate four-wheel drive model with two motors and 69,900 for the one with three motors. Prices qualified as quite reasonable for the market, knowing for example that the Rivian RT1, one of Cybertruck’s main rivals, starts at $69,000. A lot of things are still likely to change between now and the launch of the Cybertruck. But Elon Musk has already won his bet to shake up the codes.