Tesla Cybertruck Unveiled: Higher Price, Shorter Range

Jawad

01 Dec 2023

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Tesla Cybertruck Unveiled: Higher Price, Shorter Range

In a highly anticipated moment for electric vehicle enthusiasts, Tesla unveiled the 2024 Cybertruck at its Gigafactory in Austin, Texas. The live-streamed event on X marked a significant milestone for the company, introducing a truck that CEO Elon Musk boldly claims to be "a better truck than a truck, and a better sports car than a sports car in the same package."

One of the Cybertruck's standout features is its stainless steel body, referred to by Tesla as an "exoskeleton." Beyond its visual appeal, this innovation provides the Cybertruck with impressive torsional stiffness. The once infamous "shatter-resistant glass" has now proven its resilience, withstanding baseball impacts at 70 mph and a class 4 hailstorm.

Underneath its futuristic exoskeleton, the Cybertruck boasts an 800-volt electric architecture, and the top-tier Cyberbeast version can accelerate from 0 to 97 km/h in just 2.6 seconds, delivering 845 horsepower and a top speed of 209 km/h.

With a towing capacity of 4,990 kg and a 1,134 kg payload, the Cybertruck's composite bed, measuring six feet long and four feet wide, eliminates the need for a bed liner. Tesla's steer-by-wire system, rear-wheel steering, and rear torque vectoring enhance maneuverability, while the central 18.5-inch touchscreen is complemented by a secondary 9.4-inch screen for rear passengers.

Tesla offers three Cybertruck versions: RWD, AWD, and the high-performance Cyberbeast. However, the promised range of 805 km falls short, with the RWD projected at 402 km, the AWD at 547 km, and the Cyberbeast at 515 km. To address this, Tesla offers an optional "range extender," increasing the AWD version's range to 756 km and the Cyberbeast's to 708 km.

Despite Elon Musk's initial promise of a €37,000 base price, the RWD and AWD models start at €56,830 and €74,540, respectively, while the Cyberbeast is priced at €93,180. The most affordable version is set to be available in 2025.

For adventurous users, Tesla offers the Cybertruck Basecamp tent attachment for €2,772, designed to complement the truck's aesthetics. Additional aesthetic choices include wraps priced at €6,100 for satin black or white and €4,700 for clear satin.

Tesla provides a four-year or 80,500 km basic vehicle warranty, with an eight-year or 241,400 km warranty for the battery and drive unit.

Despite the extended wait and deviations from the initial promises, the Cybertruck is expected to be a game-changer in the electric vehicle industry. However, Tesla anticipates at least 18 months before it becomes a significant revenue generator, leaving the wait ongoing.