The Tesla Cybertruck EV Looks Like It Belongs To An Alternate Cyberpunk Universe!

• It takes inspiration from the Lotus Espirit S1 from the James Bond film ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’.
• The 30X cold-rolled stainless-steel body is claimed to be dent-proof and bulletproof.
• It hits 0-96kmph in just 2.9 seconds and will be offered with three battery options.
• It gets adaptive active suspension, 406mm ground clearance and 6,350kg towing capacity.
• Prices start at USD 39,900 (Rs 28.6 lakh) with deliveries expected in late 2021.

After a long wait of teasers and announcements, Tesla Inc founder Elon Musk has finally unveiled the Tesla Cybertruck EV Pickup via a live event in Los Angeles. The timing and location of the unveil coincides with the 2019 LA Auto Show. And we can tell you that this new pickup isn’t just a prop out of a Cyberpunk virtual world, but also boasts real-world performance and brutal strength too. But still, is there a more unreal-looking real car that you can think of? We can’t. Here’s the lowdown on the Cybertruck.

Elon Musk, who took centre stage for the unveil, mentioned that inspiration for the Cybertruck’s design  was the Lotus Espirit S1 from the James Bond film ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’. And he’s not wrong as the Cybertruck looks nothing like a traditional pick-up with its radical and sharp design. 

One of the main talking points on the outside is that the Cybertruck is quite the tough cookie with a body comprised of 30X cold-rolled stainless-steel. We even got to see its strength tested out with a sledgehammer that didn’t leave a scratch. Elon Musk also claimed that the truck is bulletproof upto 9mm shells. It also features Tesla armoured glass, but it didn’t exactly prove to be as strong as a metal ball nearly shattered it on stage.  

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It is also gets a premium interior with the capability to seat six passengers. There’s a 17-inch touchscreen as well as Tesla’s signature autonomous driving tech that includes auto park, trailer docking and self-driving. Tesla has also hinted at the possibility of an add-on lifestyle vehicle, a Cyberquad quad bike which can be loaded into the bay of the Cybertruck. Exciting as that sounds, this is all we know about the quad.

The Cybertruck is pretty quick off the line with 0-96kmph dispatched in just 2.9 seconds in its highest trim. And to add insult to injury, Tesla also showcased video showing the Cybertruck beating a current-gen Porsche 911 in a drag race to confirm Elon Musk’s claims. Tesla will offer the Cybertruck in three trims, with the base trim getting a single motor RWD spec and range exceeding 250 miles (403km). The second trim is a dual-motor AWD setup with a range exceeding 300 miles (482km). The third and most efficient trim gets a triple-motor AWD setup and a range exceeding 500 miles (804km). The truck also supports charging capacity upto 250kW via superchargers. It even comes with 120-volt and 240-volt outlets and an air compressor, helping it double up as a mobile power station.

Now we get to the real purpose of the Cybertruck, that is its off-road skills and capabilities as a truck. It features adaptive air suspension with 16-inches (406mm) of ground clearance. Other off-road features include a 35-degree approach angle, 28-degree departure angle, and towing capacity of  up to 14,000 pounds (6,350kg). Funnily enough, Tesla also showcased a video of the Cybertruck beating the Ford F-150 in a tug of war. For trucking capabilities, it features a 6.5-foot (1981mm) bed and a 3500 lbs (1,587kg) cargo capacity. It also features a load mode in which its tailgate turns into a ramp for easier loading. 

Prices for the Cybertruck start at USD 39, 900 (Rs 28.66 lakh) for the single motor RWD model all the way to USD 69,900 (Rs 50.21 lakh) for the top-spec tri-motor AWD. Elon Musk has revealed that pre-orders have already begun with deliveries expected to begin in late 2021. With all these radical figures, the Tesla Cybertruck is a sure shot rival to the likes of America’s favourite pick-up truck, the Ford F-150.