Ever wondered what a metal doorstop the size of a Ford F-150 looks like? Me neither, but it seems like Tesla has. Recently, Tesla released their newest model, the Cybertruck, aimed at the midsize truck market. However, it seems like they missed the mark. After digging deeper, several automotive influencers and myself have found some major drawbacks.
Quick Stats:
- Price: $39,000 +
- Towing: 7,500 lbs. +
- Range: 250 miles +
- Deposit: $100
- Available 2021
- Competitors: Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Toyota Tundra, Rivian R1T, Bollinger B2.
Comparison:
- Price: The Cybertruck markets itself as a direct competitor of the Ford F-150, as shown in their tug-of-war video. The base price, however, is higher than the Ford F-250, F-350, Chevy Silverado HD, and other medium-duty pickups.
- Towing: The base Ford F-150 has a towing capacity of 7,700 lbs, slightly higher than the base Cybertruck. The base F-350, with a similar starting price, has a towing capacity of around 12,000 lbs., much higher than a base Cybertruck.
- Range: The base Cybertruck only has a 250 mile range. The problem is that while towing, Model X owners claim that their range decreases significantly, upwards of 60%.
- Functionality: As cool as it looks, the Cybertruck’s bed does not look very usable. It’s triangular sides make access to the bed significantly harder. According to some calculations (using proportions), the side is about 1 foot taller than the same area on a Ford F-150. making it significantly harder to get into the bed of the truck.
- Legality: Although the production model will most likely have mirrors, it is important to acknowledge an issue brought up by Wired. They found a part of a United Nations Agreement that claims, “No protruding part of the external surface shall have a radius of curvature less than 2.5 mm.” This means that pointed and sharp edges must be very small. If enforced, Tesla will likely have to redo many parts of the Cybertruck.
- Availability: All of the Cybertruck’s gas-powered competitors are currently on sale. The Rivian R1T is supposedly to arrive late 2020 while Bollinger expects the B2 to arrive in 2021.
Tesla, being Elon Musk’s brainchild, has the potential to pull this off. After seeing their long journey, it’s likely that the Cybertruck will receive some updates before hitting the streets. As of right now, I’m not sure how many $100 reservations will turn into orders, but in it’s currently state, its future is questionable.
Links:
- https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2019/11/22/tesla-cybertruck-is-ugly-as-sin-there-i-said-it/#13db06127da6
- https://www.wired.co.uk/article/tesla-cybertruck
- https://www.cybertruckownersclub.com/
- https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/22/cars/tesla-cybertruck-electric-pickup-truck/index.html
- https://www.motortrend.com/cybertruck/
- https://www.wired.com/story/why-tesla-cybertruck-looks-weird/#intcid=recommendations_wired-right-rail-popular_8e068eac-6b11-4c0a-9e65-8245856c5d0b_popular4-1
- https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-x-range-impact-towing/
Here Are Some Videos Outlining Some Aforementioned Flaws:
