Tesla Cybertruck: Still Crazy After All These Years

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

Last night, Tesla finally unveiled the production Cybertruck. Four years after we first saw it -- "we" meaning society. Us TTAC folk weren't at either event.


The truck looks mostly like the concept, with a few differences. It will be available with all-wheel drive with a tri-motor setup. The electric motor on the front axle will make 300 horsepower, and in a first for Telsa, there will be an electronic-locking front differential. In the rear, there will be two electric motors, one for each wheel -- thus obviating the need for a differential. The total system power will be up to 845 ponies -- though you need to select the top-line Cyberbeast trim and then activate a Beast mode to get all that oomph.

The dual rear motors will allow for torque vectoring.

Other key specs include a claimed 0-60 time of under 3 seconds, a max towing capacity of 11,000 pounds, and a curb weight of between 6,600 pounds and 6,900 pounds, depending on trim and equipment. A rear-drive base model is coming in 2025.

All-wheel drive models that are standard spec will make 600 horsepower and have a claimed 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds. These will weigh in at 6,603 pounds while the Cyberbeast tips the scales at 6,843. Payload will be up to 2,500 pounds.

The rear-drive truck will have a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 pounds.

That same rear-drive truck will start at $60,990 and have a range of 250 miles and a claimed 0-60 of 6.5 seconds. Standard AWD units have a range of 340 miles and the Cyberbeast has a claimed range of 320 miles.

Like many EVs, the Cybertruck offers bi-directional charging -- 11.5 kW worth. Fast charging will allow you to pick up over 120 miles of range within 15 minutes. A range extender may be on offer that can add 120-130 miles, and it appears to be a battery, not a gasoline-powered generator.

Unlike us, Motor Trend was at the reveal event in person and says the truck is smaller than the prototype and is dimensionally similar to a Ford F-150.

Other specs are hard to ascertain, but reporting from MT suggests that 18- and 20-inch wheels will be available, as will an adjustable air suspension. The truck's max ground clearance appears to be 17 inches. The bed will be 4x6 and there will be up to 67 cubic feet of underbed storage to go along with 120.9 cubic feet of in-bed storage. That latter number is for one the tonneau cover is in use.

One interesting feature? A monowiper. Yes, the truck has just one wiper blade for the entire front windshield.

The most notable interior feature is a squared-off steering wheel.

Finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the claim that the stainless-steel bodywork is bulletproof.

We already listed the base price, if you're so inclined. Yes, you can order one now, though again, the base rear-drive truck isn't arriving until 2025. For now, you can snag a base AWD for $79,990 or a Cyberbeast for $99,990.

Love the look or hate it, one thing is for sure -- you will stand out.

[Images: Tesla]

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Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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5 of 38 comments
  • VoGhost VoGhost on Dec 02, 2023

    This is the only new vehicle I have the slightest interest in.

    • See 2 previous
    • VoGhost VoGhost on Dec 03, 2023

      Buy what you like, gramps. I don't need your permission to get what I like.


  • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Dec 03, 2023

    I went looking for the owner's manual and came up short.

  • Mike-NB2 2019 Ranger - 30,000 miles / 50,000 km. Nothing but oil changes. Original tires are being replaced a week from Wednesday. (Not all that mileage is on the original A/S tires. I put dedicated winter rims/tires on it every winter.)2024 - Golf R - 1700 miles / 2800 km. Not really broken in yet. Nothing but gas in the tank.
  • SaulTigh I've got a 2014 F150 with 87K on the clock and have spent exactly $4,180.77 in maintenance and repairs in that time. That's pretty hard to beat.Hard to say on my 2019 Mercedes, because I prepaid for three years of service (B,A,B) and am getting the last of those at the end of the month. Did just drop $1,700 on new Michelins for it at Tire Rack. Tires for the F150 late last year were under $700, so I'd say the Benz is roughly 2 to 3 times as pricy for anything over the Ford.I have the F150 serviced at a large independent shop, the Benz at the dealership.
  • Bike Rather have a union negotiating my pay rises with inflation at the moment.
  • Bike Poor Redapple won't be sitting down for a while after opening that can of Whiparse
  • Rover Sig 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, like my previous JGC's cheap to keep (essentially just oil, tires) until recent episode of clunking in front suspension at 50K miles led to $3000 of parts replaced over fives visits to two Jeep dealers which finally bought a quiet front end. Most expensive repair on any vehicle I've owned in the last 56 years.
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