Tesla's new Cybertruck isn't like any other
pickup truck ever made. Yes, there's a truck
bed, huge tires, and off-road capabilities,
but just one glance at Tesla's newest creation
proves that Elon Musk is making a huge bet
with this vehicle. In this episode of
The Bottom Line, we're taking a closer look at
Tesla's Cybertruck and how it fits into the
company's broader electric vehicle plans.
Let's start with the most obvious ... uh,
attribute of the Cybertruck: its design. Tesla's
retro pickup looks like a truck version of
a DeLorean that would feel more at home in a 1980s
dystopia than in a 21st century suburban driveway.
Its distinct look comes not only
from its hard angular lines, but also from
the truck's exoskeleton, which is made from
cold rolled steel that SpaceX -- Musk's other
company -- is using for its upcoming Starship
rocket. Tesla says the steel is nearly impenetrable,
and during its unveiling, the Cybertruck's
lead designer hit the door panel of the truck
with a sledgehammer to show how it won't dent.
Musk said at the event that it's literally
bulletproof to a nine millimeter handgun.
And then, there are the glass windows.
Tesla says they're ultra strong glass with a polymer
layered composite that creates an armor protection
that can absorb and redirect impacts. The
live demonstration of this armor glass didn't
go as well as the door demonstration, though.
When the lead designer threw a metal ball
at the window to show the window's strength,
it smashed into the glass and created a spider
web crack. Musk said on Twitter afterwards
that the Cybertruck's glass was compromised
after they hit the door with a sledgehammer.
While the Cybertruck has a very polarizing
design, at least one theory helps explain
the truck's aesthetic. It has to do with the
fact that pickup truck owners tend to be very
loyal to their truck brand. So, if Tesla released
a pickup truck that, well, looked like other
traditional trucks, then it probably wouldn't
win over many converts. But, by releasing
a truck that is so far outside of the box,
it might just win over truck fans who are
looking for something radically different.
But how well does the Cybertruck's specifications
compete with current pickup trucks?
Let's start with the Cybertruck's impressive towing
capacity. The base model of Tesla's new truck
with a single electric motor and rear wheel
drive can tow 7,500 pounds, but if buyers
up for the dual motor all-wheel drive version
-- which they probably will, because why would
you spend money on a truck to ride out the
apocalypse with and not get all wheel drive?
-- then you get 10,000 pounds of towing capacity.
And finally, the tri-motor version has an
insanely impressive towing
capacity of 14,000 pounds.
Musk made sure to compare his new truck to
the 2020 Ford F-150, which has a slightly
less impressive 13,200 pound towing capacity.
The Cybertruck can also handle a heavier payload,
has been approach and departure angles, has
more truck bed storage capacity, and has higher
ground clearance than Ford's F-150. Oh, and
it's also insanely fast. With three motors,
the truck will launch its driver and up to
five other passengers from zero to 60 miles
per hour in an incomprehensible 2.9 seconds,
and comes with a range of about 500 miles.
That version will set you back $69,900.
The dual-motor model will perform the same zero
to 60 task and is still-mind blowing 4.5 seconds
for $20,000 less. The base model accomplishes
the zero to 60 time in 6.5 seconds and gives
buyers a range of about 250 miles.
Putting the truck's controversial aesthetic
aside, Tesla's new truck fills an important
gap in the company's vehicle lineup. Pickup
trucks are one of the most popular vehicles
in the U.S., and the Cybertruck will finally
allow Tesla to tap into this market. The big
question now is how much demand there is for
this electric beast. Musk has already said
that there are 250,000 Cybertruck pre-orders,
but that figure might not be the best indicator
for eventual sales. The cost to pre-order
a Cybertruck is just $100, but it's hardly
a firm commitment to buy the vehicle. It essentially
just puts you in line to order the truck when
they become available. One optimistic forecast
puts the total amount of annual Cybertruck
deliveries at 200,000 starting in 2023, but
that's just an estimate, and only time will
tell how that prediction plays out.
The bottom line is that whether or not you
love or hate Tesla's Cybertruck, Elon Musk
is making a huge bet with this truck.
If it pays off, Tesla will have created a pickup
truck like no other, and will tap into one
of the largest vehicle markets in the U.S.
If it fails, well, at least we'll have gotten
a glimpse of what trucks look like
in an alternate dystopian reality.
What do you think of Tesla's new Cybertruck?
Let us know in the comments below.
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