The Cybertruck is Tesla's electric pickup truck. All-terrain, durable, high-performance, autonomous, capable of transporting and towing heavy loads, this excessive vehicle is much more than a flashy design: Tesla wants to prove that it is not just Elon Musk's whim.
Tesla's Cybertruck is finally a reality. The superlative electric pickup dreamed up by Elon Musk has finally been released to the general public, after years of difficult development. The imposing, futuristic-looking off-road vehicle boasts impressive technical specifications and offers features that sometimes hold many surprises. Price, availability date, interior and exterior design, range, engine, and performance: find out everything you need to know about the Cybertruck.
When can you buy the Cybertruck?
Tesla began deliveries of the Cybertruck on November 30, 2023, during a launch conference at the Gigafactory in Austin, Texas. The first owners of the vehicle are in the United States, and availability will then expand to other markets, including Europe. For now, only the two most expensive versions are available, with the rear-wheel drive version arriving in 2025.
Announced with great fanfare in 2019 by Elon Musk, the Cybertruck was supposed to be marketed by Tesla as early as 2021. However, the brand faced significant design challenges, forcing the manufacturer to push back the deadline several times.
How much does the Cybertruck cost?
Tesla had announced pricing in 2019, but these are no longer relevant today. The Tesla Cybertruck's starting price is $60,990 before government subsidies, more than $20,000 more than the base model initially announced in 2019.
The cheapest version won't be available until 2025, while the AWD and “Cyberbeast” versions are currently priced at $79,990 and $99,990. Despite initial predictions of $70,000 for the most expensive version in 2019, the pickup is now priced at $100,000. There are already reportedly over two million reservations for the Cybertruck (which only require a $100 deposit, refundable if canceled), but these prices could well push some to cancel their reservations.
It was during the 2022 Cyber Roundup event that Elon Musk admitted that Tesla would increase the price of the Cybertruck, as it could not match the previously announced prices. “A lot has changed since [2019], so the specifications and prices will be different. I hate to give a little bit of bad news, but I think there was no way to anticipate inflation and the various problems we experienced,” the entrepreneur commented at the time.
Here’s a summary of the prices for all versions of the Cybertruck:
- Single-motor version: starts at $60,990
- Dual-motor version: starts at $79,990
- Tri-motor version: starts at $99,990
A number of options are expected to personalize your vehicle and further increase the price. The pickup truck promises to be highly customizable, so you'll be able to choose from a large number of accessories depending on your use. As a reminder, Full Self-Driving (FSD), or fully autonomous driving, is not available in France. This feature costs $15,000 across the Atlantic (or a monthly subscription of $199). Several colors, besides the standard metallic gray, will likely be offered later.
Also, note that if your children are also in love with the Cybertruck (it's possible), Tesla has launched a miniature electric version alongside the Cybertruck. Priced at $1,500, this mini-Cybertruck promises a range of 20 km and a top speed of 16 km/h.
What is the design of the Cybertruck?
While its shape and aesthetics have changed little since the product was first presented, the Cybertruck's design has taken different paths in recent years. Not all the specifications that were previously communicated are necessarily current anymore.
The Cybertruck immediately catches the eye with its futuristic design, which seems to come straight out of a work of science fiction or science fiction. It is distinguished by straight lines and a very angular silhouette, which leaves little room for curves, giving off an impression of aggression. At the front and rear, we have horizontal headlights that extend across the entire width of the grille.
The vehicle takes up space and will clearly not be suitable for urban use in some European cities with narrow streets and parking spaces, even if the final version is ultimately around 5% more compact than the prototype unveiled in 2019. Its dimensions reach 5.88 meters in length, 2.03 meters in width and 1.9 meters in height, all mounted on 19-inch wheels. Its curb weight easily exceeds three tons.
Tesla is talking about a smooth, almost impenetrable monochrome exoskeleton to protect the vehicle. It is notably composed of a structural layer of ultra-strong cold-rolled 30X stainless steel. This steel makes the Cybertruck resistant to small-caliber bullets, as proven by several videos shared by the company and this test by a very confident owner. Even without going that far, the Cybertruck is strong enough to emerge almost unscathed when rammed from behind.
The windows, meanwhile, are made from Tesla armored glass. “If there was something better, we would use it,” claims the manufacturer, which assures that the Cybertruck resists dents, damage, and corrosion over the long term thanks to these materials. The armored glass is also effective enough to prevent a thief from breaking the Cybertruck's windows or roof and breaking into the vehicle.
All these advantages have not gone unnoticed by police forces around the world, and some would love to drive an electric pickup truck adapted to their needs. Luckily, an American company has created three Cybertruck models for the police. They should arrive on American roads in 2024.
The electric pickup truck also offers 100 cubic feet (2,832 liters) of secure, lockable storage space, including the underbed space, the front trunk, and the bed's central pillars. A tonneau cover protects the space, as well as its contents, from the elements. When unfolded, it allows the user to load the Cybertruck with bulky equipment, such as a quad bike. Tesla also sells an electric Cyberquad for children in the United States. A flexible cargo securing system ensures cargo protection during transport.
What does the interior of the Cybertruck look like?
The Cybertruck's interior has now revealed all its secrets. From the seats to the dashboard, Tesla maintains a certain uniformity by applying, as on the exterior, an angular design. Initially, the electric pickup truck was supposed to be able to accommodate up to six passengers, in two rows of three.
However, the final version only offers five seats, with the middle seat in the front seemingly gone. Additional storage space under the second-row seats is hinted at.
The display is a large 18.5-inch touchscreen, which provides access to Tesla's famous infotainment system, which has been given a brand new custom user interface. It comes with a second screen in the rear for passengers, who can listen to music or watch a video independently of the content playing in the front.
In any case, it is impossible to miss the large panoramic glass roof that the Cybertruck benefits from, which looks particularly good combined with the large windows, especially those located at the front of the vehicle. Following criticism of the Yoke steering wheel, Tesla has changed its approach and designed a new model. The Cybertruck's steering wheel seems to be a fusion of the Yoke steering wheel and the traditional round steering wheel. Finally, note the presence of a wireless charger under the screen, which can accommodate up to 2 smartphones at the same time.
What are the performances of the Cybertruck?
The Cybertruck has very different performances depending on the chosen configuration.
Single-engine Cybertruck
- Transmission type: Rear-wheel drive, two rear-wheel drive
- Acceleration: 0 to 96 km/h in 6.5 seconds
- Towing capacity: Up to 3,400 kg
Two-Motor Cybertruck
- Drivetrain Type: All-Wheel Drive, Four-Wheel Drive
- Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds
- Towing Capacity: Up to 5,450 kg
Three-Motor Cybertruck
- Drivetrain Type: All-Wheel Drive, Four-Wheel Drive
- Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds
- Towing Capacity: Up to 5,450 kg
The payload capacity reaches 1150 kg, while the adjustable air suspension system promises to adapt to all terrains for a comfortable ride, even in difficult environments. The vehicle is so powerful that it is faster than a Porsche 911 in a straight line, while towing another Porsche 911 in a trailer.
According to Elon Musk, the Cybertruck is “waterproof enough to briefly serve as a boat, so it will be able to cross rivers, lakes, and even seas that are not too rough.” Surely to test this precise point, a video shows the pickup truck driving in the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean, near the Gulf of Mexico. However, it wasn't deep enough to truly test its ability to float.
Ultimately, the ability to drive in water has a name: Wave Mode. But Elon Musk wants to go further, as he claims that a Boat mode will be coming to allow the Cybertruck to float and cross a body of water up to 100 meters long. But given the various feedback from owners, it's best to stay away from water. Several people have noticed rust on the body of their pickup truck. Tesla confirmed that it was indeed corrosion, but without offering a solution due to a lack of technical means to remedy it at the moment. And if you really want to try Wave Mode anyway, maybe what happened to this user will convince you it's a bad idea. Even automatic car washes are apparently a no-go if you don't want to wait hours for the main screen to work again.
The billionaire also mentioned the idea of a very specific option: coating the Cybertruck with a tungsten carbide coating. An extremely hard ceramic material that's resistant to wear, abrasion, scratches, and corrosion. In short, it would take a diamond to scratch the vehicle's bodywork.
In terms of safety, however, it's not quite there yet. In addition to sealing problems resulting from poor alignment of the steel panels making up the body, they are also very dangerous for fingers. This test shows how they can be cut cleanly if they are too close to the doors or trunk as they close.
In April 2024, Tesla recalled thousands of Cybertrucks. The cause was a potentially very dangerous defect since it can block the accelerator pedal by holding it down.
What is the Cybertruck's range?
A monster like the Cybertruck necessarily has significant energy requirements. To satisfy them, Tesla is relying on a new generation of batteries, featuring 4680 cells. These offer much higher energy efficiency than the 2170 cells previously used by the manufacturer. Another advantage of the new 4680 batteries is their much higher charging speed. For example, they are compatible with Megacharger stations, designed for the Tesla Semi electric truck, which can deliver charging power up to 1,000 kW. They also make the most of the capabilities of the more traditional Superchargers.
Tesla's promise was to offer a range of 400 km for the Cybertruck equipped with one motor, just under 500 km for the dual-motor version, and exceed 800 km for the most expensive model with three motors. The final version ultimately doesn't quite achieve all of these goals.
The base Cybertruck offers a range of 250 miles (402 km) on the EPA cycle, one less than the base Model Y. All-wheel-drive versions offer 340 miles (547 km), and the most expensive version offers 321 miles (515 km) of range, well short of the expected 500 miles (800 km). However, Tesla is introducing a “range extender” in the form of an additional battery, placed at the front of the cargo bed, allowing a maximum range of 756 km, but it must be purchased separately at a high cost.
The Cybertruck also offers bidirectional charging technology, allowing it to power other vehicles or electrical devices.
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