Tesla has launched the Cybertruck – a pure-electric pick-up with sportscar performance and a range of more than 500 miles on a charge.
Set to rival Rivian’s R1T, the Cybertruck has been in the pipeline for a while, and takes a significantly different design direction to the current Model S, X, and 3, as well as the forthcoming Model Y and Roadster.
The Cybertruck will come in three variants initially. There will be a single motor, rear-wheel drive version, a dual-motor all-wheel drive model, and a tri-motor all-wheel drive option. A 0-60mph time of 2.9 seconds is quoted.
Seating for up to six adults is available in the cab, and the Cybertruck will tow more than six tonnes. Along with the large bed load space, there is the usual front load area found in Tesla models, and some other EVs.
Charging is possible across the Tesla Supercharger network, including the soon to be rolled out V3 ultra-rapid set-up. Although UK specifications have not been announced, it is expected that the Cybertruck will be launched with a CCS inlet.
Ranges are quoted on the US EPA test cycle, which tends to be tougher than the WLTP-derived figures used in the UK and Europe. As such, range figures may increase slightly when specifications are revealed for the EU market.
The single-motor model has a range of 250+ miles and 0-60mph time of less than 6.5 seconds. As the entry level model, it’s towing capacity is a little less than 3.5 tonnes. The dual-motor model sees that capacity increase to 4.5 tonnes, and a range quoted of more than 300 miles on a charge. The acceleration time drops to a sub-4.5 second 0-60mph time.
Top of the range tri-motor model has the 500+ mile quoted above, plus the headline sprint time and towing figures.
Full self-driving technology is being sold as a pack, though this will depend on what regulations have come into force in each market once the Cybertruck arrives. The design has been influenced at least in part by the 1970’s Lotus Esprit.
Fully-refundable deposits of £100 are being taken now, with configurations able to be fixed as production starts late in 2021. Tri-motor models are expected to enter production a year later. No pricing information is available for any market, and all above figures are quoted to US specifications.
The main reason for the Cybertruck is that the US market is dominated by large pick-up models. The Tesla will be challenged by both the Rivian, and a pure-electric version of Ford’s best-selling F150. The former will come to the UK, though there has been no announcement yet as to whether the Ford will arrive – currently the largest pick-up Ford sells in the UK is the smaller Ranger.
Pricing in the US will start at just under $40,000. By comparison, the Model 3 also starts at less than $40,000, and in the UK sees the figure of £39,490 translate 1:1 from the US dollar cost.
Whether that would remain the same for the Cybertruck is complicated slightly by the fact that pick-ups are classed as commercial vehicles in the UK, and subject to different tax and government grants – but expect similar prices for the entry level model when launched. By extension, we can expect the dual-motor Cybertruck to cost from around £47,000.
