The long-awaited Tesla Cybertruck also lands with less range than initially announced back in 2019.
After over 4 years since its Elon threw a baseball and shattered the supposedly bulletproof window of its initial Cybertruck concept back in 2019, this wedge-shaped all-electric pickup from Tesla has finally since arrived in production form. And while the American EV manufacturer may be leaps and bounds ahead of its competition with its current mainstream models, its latest angular addition to the lineup unfortunately doesn’t seem to be all that impressive against its direct competitors like the Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning.
Starting off with the basics first though and discussing the spec of this Cybertruck on its own, this Tesla pickup headlines with a tri-motor Cyberbeast variant that supposedly packs 845 hp and can complete the century sprint a mad quick 2.6 seconds. This particular top-of-the-line trim too can supposedly to haul up to 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg) in its six-foot-long by four-foot-wide composite bed and tow up to 11,000 lbs (4,990 kg), which it handily demonstrated by showing a video of this all-electric pickup beating a 911 in a drag race while towing a 911.
Tesla is also particularly proud to highlight for the stainless steel body of its Cybertruck to be bullet resistant, and its windows apparently to be rock-proof too (and now actually ball-proof as well from the live launch). Though prospective buyers in the real world will probably be more interested in the four-corner air suspension that comes as standard on this truck, not to mention too its starting price of $60,990 (RM 285,000).
That aforementioned attractive starting price is unfortunately however to be a bit of a misnomer, as it only applies to the rear-wheel drive model that Tesla announced will only arrive in 2025 (which in turn means it actually is totally possible for it not to arrive at all). The current lowest-priced variant therefore of this Cybertruck is instead to be the 600 hp dual-motor trim costing $79,990 (RM 374,000), with the Cyberbeast wearing a launch price tag of $99,990 (RM 467,000).
And just as a bit of a refresher to those who can’t recall back to 2019, Tesla has previously promised back in 2019 that the cheapest Cybertruck will land costing $39,900 (RM 187,000). The dual-motor and tri-motor variant meanwhile was supposed to be only $49,900 (RM 233,000) and $69,900 (RM 327,000) respectively too, which is incidentally what the current Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T are actually selling for these days.
Moreover, Tesla’s previously bold range claims of over 500+ miles (800+ km) for its tri-motor truck is unfortunately now quoted to instead be a significantly less-impressive 320 miles (515 km). The automaker is however did manage to achieve the more manageable promised range figures for its lower-end models, with the single-motor and dual-motor variant quote to achieve 250 miles (400 km) and 340 miles (550 km) respectively on a single charge.
Credit where credit is due too, Tesla is also currently quoting that the Cybertruck can add up to 136 miles (219 km) of range after as little as 15 minutes at a Supercharger. There is also apparently to be a range extender options on the dual-motor and Cyberbeast models that promises to deliver 470+ miles (760 km) and 440+ miles (710 km) of range, but this being Tesla it has not yet clarified how specifically the apparently $16,000 (RM 75,000) bed-toolbox equipment option will work yet.
And just continuing on the topic of what Tesla has yet to clarify yet, it actually remains to be seen when exactly these Cybertrucks will enter the hands of real customers. That is as while the automaker did promise deliveries will occur at its recent launch event, all 10 vehicles were rather cunningly delivered to employees of the company.
The company has further hinted that due to production difficulties, full-scale production of this Cybertruck will likely not be occurring until 2025. Though with its controversial looks and less-than-awe-astounding specs, it really remains to be seen as to how many of the alleged 2 million pre-orders placed back in 2019 will actually convert to real trucks on the road.
