New Tesla Cybertruck revealed: 0-60mph in 2.9sec, 500-mile range
Tesla shows off its radical pickup truck for the first time in L.A., with extraordinary spec claims and a futuristic body
Tesla has stunned the pickup truck world with the unveiling of its Cybertruck, the US brand’s long anticipated first foray into the popular full-size truck market.
Revealed at an event in Los Angeles, California - separately from the motor show - the all-electric Cybertruck is the same length (5.87m) as traditional competitors, but that’s where the similarities end. For starters, it features a radical wedge-shape design unlike anything else, which Tesla CEO Elon Musk insists isn’t far from production readiness.
The Cybertruck’s promised spec list is equally stunning. Three powertrain options will be offered with one, two or three electric motors. The single motor, rear-drive only version is said to do 0-60mph in 6.5 secs, with no quoted battery size but a claimed range of 250 miles. It can also tow 3,400kg, with a 1360kg payload. This is said to cost from $39,900 (around £30,600) before any government incentives.
Next us is the mid-range dual-motor variant, offering all-wheel drive, a claimed 0-60mph time of 4.5sec and the ability to tow over 4,500kg. That is said to cost $49,900 (£38,300) before incentives.
The crowning glory is the top-level car, using Tesla’s latest tri-motor ‘Plaid’ EV powertrain. Priced from $69,900 (£53,700), its specs include a claimed 500-mile range on a charge, 0-60mph in just 2.9sec, and the ability to complete the quarter mile in just over 10sec. The towing capacity is 6,350kg, Musk claims.
The Cybertruck’s angular body is said to be made of “ultra-hard 30X cold-rolled stainless steel”. It’s said to be bulletproof up to 9mm rounds, with Musk stressing the body’s ability to resist damage with multiple implements (including a sledgehammer) used to try to break it on stage. However, this plan backfired when Tesla’s head of design threw a metal ball at the window, with both left-side windows smashing in the process. That prompted Musk to quip: “room for improvement."
The load bay is 6.5ft long, the same as a standard Ford F-150, and features a raisable cover. Tesla claims over 2,800 litres of lockable storage space including the covered load bay (dubbed the ‘vault’), frank, and sail pillars.
First examples of electric pick-up truck delivered to customers after long and problematic gestation
www.autocar.co.uk
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