Tesla Cybertruck is finally here with with higher price, shorter range

01 December 2023

In a long-awaited moment for electric vehicle enthusiasts, Tesla has finally unveiled the 2024 Cybertruck at its Gigafactory in Austin, Texas. The event, live-streamed on X, marked a significant milestone for the company as it introduced the world to a truck that CEO Elon Musk boldly claims is "a better truck than a truck, and a better sports car than a sports car in the same package."

One of the standout features of the Cybertruck is its stainless steel body, which Tesla describes as an "exoskeleton." This innovation not only offers a striking visual appeal but also provides the Cybertruck with great torsional stiffness. The Cybertruck's "shatter-resistant glass," infamous for its mishap during the announcement in 2019, has now been showcased as remarkably resilient, withstanding baseballs at 70 mph and even a hailstorm of class 4 intensity.

Under that space-age exoskeleton, the Cybertruck packs a punch. It boasts an 800-volt electric architecture and the tri-motor version called Cyberbeast can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds, making it a force to be reckoned with on the road. With 845 horsepower, the top-tier model promises a thrilling and unforgettable ride, with a top speed of 130 mph.

The Cybertruck offers a great 11,000 lb towing capacity and a 2,500 lb payload. The six-foot-long and four-foot-wide (183 cm x 122 cm) composite bed can accommodate four-by-eight-foot (122 cm x 244 cm) sheets of plywood with the tailgate down. The tough composite material that the bed is made of eliminates the need for a bed liner, per Tesla's claims.

Tesla has equipped the Cybertruck with a steer-by-wire system that adapts steering wheel rotation based on vehicle speed. Rear-wheel steering and rear torque vectoring enhance maneuverability, giving it a turning circle smaller than a Model S. The 18.5-inch central touchscreen is complemented by a secondary 9.4-inch screen for rear passengers,.

Tesla offers three versions ofthe Cybertruck: RWD, AWD, and the high-performance Cyberbeast. The RWD model is projected to reach 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, with a range of 250 miles. The AWD variant, producing 600 horsepower, can sprint to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and achieve a range of 340 miles. The Cyberbeast's range is 320 miles. Back in 2021 Tesla said the Cybertruck will go 500 miles on a charge, but clearly the final vehicle comes significantly short of that milestone.

To partially make up for that Tesla is offering an optional "range extender" - an extra battery that takes about a third of the bed and increases the AWD version's range to 470 miles and the Cyberbeast's to 440 miles.

There is no price for that range extender yet and no other details on how it plugs in and if it can be used as a battery in your home when not in use.

More bad news come with the pricing, which is nowhere near the $40,000 Musk promised when the truck was first announced. The RWD and AWD models start at $60,990 and $79,990, respectively, while the Cyberbeast comes in at a base price of $99,990. And if you want that most affordable version you'll have to wait until 2025 as it's not going to be initially available.

For those seeking adventure, Tesla offers a unique accessory – the Cybertruck Basecamp tent attachment - for $2,975. Designed to match the Cybertruck's aesthetics, this accessory can be an ideal companion for outdoor enthusiasts.

Tesla is also offering three different wraps for the Cybertruck, if you want to spice up the stainless steel body. Those are priced at $6,500 for satin black or white and $5,000 for clear satin.

Tesla provides a four-year or 50,000 miles basic vehicle warranty, while the battery and drive unit both remain under warranty for eight years or 150,000 miles.

It has been a long wait - there’s no question about that and the vehicle we got in the end is not quite what we were promised 4 years ago. But it is still going to be a game-changer in the electric vehicle industry and remain the most talked-about truck for a while.

We are yet to see if enough people will accept the new realities and if Tesla can manufacture enough units to make it a commercial success, though. At the last earnings call Musk himself tempered expectations and said Tesla will need at least 18-months before the Cybertruck starts generating significant revenues. The wait isn't quite over yet, then.

Source