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Another segment-shaking creation from Tesla. It has its sports fastback Model S, its SUV Model X and its Model 3 saloon, but it doesn’t have a pick-up – the leading sales segment in Tesla’s home market of the US. Well, the shockingly striking Cybertruck is its answer, with this all-electric pick-up due to go on sale in 2021.
What will its rivals be?
It will take on the typical big American pick-ups with gas-guzzling engines, like the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Nissan Titan, Ram 1500 and GMC Sierra. As yet, Tesla has no plans to sell the Cybertruck in Europe.
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Any tech info?
The Cybertruck was revealed by Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk, a known film fanatic, on November 21, 2019. That’s not just any random date: it is the day shown up at the start of the sci-fi epic Blade Runner, a steampunk film from which the Cybertruck takes its styling influence. It also has the wedged shape of the original Lotus Esprit, as Musk is a big fan of the British sports car from its appearance in James Bond flick The Spy Who Loved Me, and the cold-rolled stainless-steel bodywork also hints at the DeLorean DMC-12, star of the Back To The Future film series. Specifications are vague but there should be single-motor (rear-wheel drive), dual-motor (all-wheel drive) and tri-motor (also AWD) versions available, which will allow the Cybertruck to lug 1,600kg in its load bed and which will be capable of towing between 3,400kg (single-motor) to 6,350kg (tri-motor) of braked trailer. Performance is also said to be quick from the pure EV, with 0-100km/h in anything between 2.9 and 6.5 seconds, with top speeds in the 175-210km/h range, while air suspension will be standard, as will an interior that can seat six people.
What will the range be like?
Tesla has said it will offer three battery options: one for 300km, one for 500km and one for 800km. No word yet on the battery capacities that will allow for these ranges, however.
Expectations?
If you’re a member of the Teslarati, the fan club of this convention-challenging US EV brand, they will be off the scale. Otherwise, its strange looks and US-only sales strategy make it more of a curiosity than anything, but if Tesla does decide to bring it to Europe then traditional turbodiesel pick-ups like the Volkswagen Amarok, Mercedes X-Class, Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi L200 might all suddenly have a showroom fight on their hands.