In full Blade Runner fashion (a film originally set in November 2019, coincidence?), Elon Musk revealed the Cybertruck, it's long-awaited "crazy torque" machine. Of course, the design was no secret. He said Tesla would make a truck with a decidedly "futuristic-like, cyberpunk" design, and Musk delivered on the promise tonight in Los Angeles, California.
The truck really doesn't look like anything else. With sharp, angular lines and a decidedly futuristic design, the Cybertruck looks completely ripped from a sci-fi film (or the mind of John DeLorean). The chassis is constructed with stainless steel that's able to withstand a sledge hammer (demonstrated on stage) and even a 9mm bullet (not demonstrated on stage). Musk also says it's made from the same steel used on SpaceX's Starship rocket.
The big news is the truck will come in three ranges: 250 miles, 300 miles, and an astonishing 500 miles per charge. The truck will range from $39,900 to $69,900, and you can order one right now. Musk made sure to note that those prices are before any extra features you might want to add on.
To reserve a Cybertruck, all you need to do is put $100 down for a reservation (which is fully refundable), and then you can complete your purchase when production nears in "late 2021." However, if you want the top-of-the-line model (Tri Motor AWD), you'll have to wait until "late 2022" for production to begin (though take those dates with a grain of salt).
Other Cybertruck features and specs include:
- 30X cold-rolled stainless steel chassis
- adaptive air suspension
- tows 14,000 lbs (Tri Motor Model)
- 0-60 in 2.9 seconds (Tri Motor model)
- 1/4 mile in 10.8 seconds (Tri Motor model)
- Autopilot comes standard
- ground clearance up to 16 inches
- vault length at 6.5 feet
- 3,500 pounds of payload capacity
- 250, 300, and 500-mile range variants
- advanced 17-inch touchscreen
- Tesla armor glass (a super tough polymer-layered composite)
As a surprise, Musk also revealed an ATV that can ramp up right onto the Cybertruck.
Of course, the Cybertruck won't be without some competition. Ford has plans to release an electric F-150 and Rivian (also backed by Ford and Amazon) wants to put out an electric truck in 2020.
Whether the Cybertruck is the truck of the future remains to be seen—but it certainly looks the part.
Darren lives in Portland, has a cat, and writes/edits about sci-fi and how our world works. You can find his previous stuff at Gizmodo and Paste if you look hard enough.
