? Tesla Truck Kinda Edgy Tho - Tesla releases oddly polygonal pickup truck

[rcmaehl]

Sources:
CNet (Quote 2 & media source)
The Verge (Test drive breakdown)

Jalopnik (Quote 1 source, images wouldn't load for me  )

Literally every other media outlet because POLYGONS
 

Summary:
Tesla has released the CyberTruck prototype, a surprisingly polygonal, (semi-)bullet proof truck with production starting in 2021.

 

Media (click to enlarge):

 

Quotes/Excerpts:

Quote

What’s the next big thing for electric vehicles? Probably pickup trucks. Ford is doing it and so are startups like Rivian. Elon Musk isn’t about to be outdone, and tonight,,, the electric automaker unveiled something truly different. What Musk showed off tonight was arguably Tesla’s most radical product to date, a truck design that looks more DeLorean than Silverado. Tesla chose to unveil this here and now because Musk loves Blade Runner. He’s made some wild claims about what it can do: out-truck a Ford F-150, outperform a Porsche 911, be “literally bulletproof” and ideally start under $50,000. It’s also “the official truck of Mars.” “Trucks have been the same for a very long time,” Musk said tonight. “We wanted to show you something different... and we need sustainable energy now.”  It’s utilitarian to a fault, angular, brutal. It does, in fact, look like it was designed more for space exploration than trips to the mall. The Cybertruck isn’t what anyone would call beautiful, but it absolutely stands out. Motor Trend says the only color it will come in is silver, but you can get a vinyl wrap if you like. Musk said the glass is impact-resistant, but this was clearly proven false during a dismal demonstration on stage. “We’ll fix it in post,” he said. For the most part, this has been a pretty good year for Tesla. The third quarter was profitable, the critical Shanghai Gigafactory started producing cars, the Model Y crossover was unveiled and despite not really being $35,000 as promised, the Model 3 sedan is doing well. 

Quote

The Tesla Cybertruck is finally a reality. Elon Musk is promising to deliver this unconventional all-electric full-size truck surprisingly soon, and the company is already taking reservations. You'll be presented with three choices: Single motor, rear-wheel drive - $39,900; Dual motor, all-wheel drive - $49,900; Tri motor, all-wheel drive - $69,900.  Tesla hasn't yet detailed battery sizes, but during the presentation, a max-range figure of over 500 miles was disclosed for the tri-motor model, while the dual-motor version was listed at 300+ miles and the single-motor base model at a still-healthy 250-plus miles. For now, the only Cybertruck option listed is Self-Driving, priced at a heady $7,000. As the site notes, "Selecting Full-Self Driving today will secure your price as it increases in the future."  Still onboard? You'll have to plunk down your name, email address, phone number, credit card number and agree to pay a $100 deposit ($150 AU). The funds will be taken immediately, but Tesla says the deposit is fully refundable.  Tesla's website says you can cancel a Cybertruck preorder at any time right up until delivery, at which point reservation holders are entitled to a full refund of their preorder payments. In other words, if you're curious about the Tesla Cybertruck but you're not sure how you want to configure yours (or maybe you're not even sure if you want one), there doesn't seem to be much of a downside to plunking down a Benjamin to hedge your bets and get on the waiting list. "You will be able to complete your configuration as production nears in late 2021." However, if you want the most expensive -- and presumably the most powerful -- tri-motor, all-wheel-drive Cybertruck, you're looking at an estimated production date of late 2022. Despite showing an electric ATV during the Cybertruck reveal as a special "one more thing" surprise, Tesla hasn't indicated whether it will produce the recreational vehicle or whether it will offer preorders.

 

My Thoughts:

Holy 80s Polygonal Wireframe Tank Games Batman. I know Tesla likes to break the mold, but this is definitely their most controversial design yet. I can understand it's supposed to be utilitarian but wow. Perhaps this was a requirement like how original stealth planes were extremely angular but I'm not sure how I feel about this truck.

Edited November 22, 2019 by rcmaehl
fix missing cnet link

[GenericFanboy]

inside looks amazing though

[Hugh54321]

my kid could draw that

[Arika]

i think i played this game on PS1

[TVwazhere]

If DeLorean made a Pickup truck. Now we just need a movie made in 2040 to be about time travel back to 2015

[Bombastinator]

I’m calling BS on this one.  Look at the rims.

[Derkoli]

[TempestCatto]

Fellow pickup truck owners, wya?

 

 

30 minutes ago, rcmaehl said:

out-truck a Ford F-150

Yes, any 3/4 ton or above can do just the same.

 

30 minutes ago, rcmaehl said:

outperform a Porsche 911, be “literally bulletproof”

I'll give it this. Not that I want to go pod racing with any of my vehicles. Though all-terrain tires will limit how fast you can go.

(although my snow plow is bulletproof )

 

 

Still though, I'd much rather my '96 than this ugly turd box. No thanks.

[Levent]

8 minutes ago, GenericFanboy said:

inside looks amazing though

We all know inside beauty is usually not enough. /s

 

[Derkoli]

Just now, TempestCatto said:

ugly turd box

I agree, it is really ugly, the model S, X, roadster 2020 etc. all look really clean and smooth, but this thing just looks boxy.

[GenericFanboy]

Eh idc, not gonna be looking at the outside, so frankly idc lmfao

[Velcade]

4 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

I’m calling BS on this one.  Look at the rims.

They drove it around. 

 

 

[rcmaehl]

8 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

I’m calling BS on this one.  Look at the rims.

Multiple people did a test drive including Marquees
 

 

[SpaceGhostC2C]

You forgot the picture of this truck when you switch to "flight mode".

 

Spoiler

 

[Bombastinator]

3 minutes ago, TempestCatto said:

Fellow pickup truck owners, wya?

 

 

Yes, any 3/4 ton or above can do just the same.

 

I'll give it this. Not that I want to go pod racing with any of my vehicles. (although my snow plow is bulletproof )

 

 

Still though, I'd much rather my '96 than this ugly turd box. No thanks.

Ugly turd box in pic, yes. Verrrry very 90’s styling.  So 90’s it probably is 90’s.  The rims in particular are of that era.  That’s not the actual pic I suspect.  

 

this “report” is written in a very sarcastic fashion.  Someone hates tesla and wants to dump on it.  That’s fine and all, but this isn’t news.  

[Bombastinator]

5 minutes ago, Velcade said:

They drove it around. 

 

 

Seems they did.  Look at the steering wheel.  It’s not “release”. It’s a slapped together running gear only test mule. No wonder it looks like it’s made of sheet aluminum.  It probably is. Video does support the point though.  The pic isn’t BS.  Just the headline.

 

Whats weird is that tesla did this at all.  You don’t show test mules to journalists for just exactly this reason.  They get dumb ideas about what they’re looking at.  This is how Prince became “the artist” for several months until he won his lawsuit.  

 

 

[Tribalinius]

I really dig the Blad Runner vibe. I'd drive that around. I'm too old to give a f*** of people's opinion if they saw me with that anyway !

[Velcade]

5 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

Seems they did.  Look at the steering wheel.  It’s not “release”. It’s a slapped together running gear only test mule. No wonder it looks like it’s made of sheet aluminum.  It probably is. Video does support the point though.  The pic isn’t BS.  Just the headline.

 

Whats weird is that tesla did this at all.  You don’t show test mules to journalists for just exactly this reason.  They get dumb ideas about what they’re looking at.  This is how Prince became “the artist” for several months until he won his lawsuit.  

 

 

Not aluminum; stainless steel.  The press release has them hitting it with a sledgehammer to show impact resistance.

 

It's certainly something that hasn't been seen before and it's quite striking.  It's also an early production so I'd only expect it to get better.  The steering wheel I wouldn't pay much attention too, it's the same wheel that was in the roadster at its reveal. 

[BuckGup]

It’s like Apple and designs. Everyone hates it because it’s different than in a few short months every car will look like it

[Froody129]

Personally I think a flat bit, even a small one, on the top of the roof would improve it.

 

At first I hated it, but the concept is growing on me. This is something built entirely to be practical and efficient at what it needs to do. It’s not the typical American pickup that’s built to compensate for insecurity, it’s something built to do things. 
 

That said, I don’t know if the range is big enough. Any real pickup work dramatically impacts range, and if those numbers are ideal then the real-world numbers will be disappointing 

[rcmaehl]

Just realized chrome supports emoji URLs:


I must create a URL shortener that shortens links to emoji only.

 

EDIT: they apparently exist already...

[Bombastinator]

10 minutes ago, Velcade said:

Not aluminum; stainless steel.  The press release has them hitting it with a sledgehammer to show impact resistance.

 

It's certainly something that hasn't been seen before and it's quite striking.  It's also an early production so I'd only expect it to get better.  The steering wheel I wouldn't pay much attention too, it's the same wheel that was in the roadster at its reveal. 

Oh it’s been seen before.  25 years ago.  Still not believing that’s the actual body style.

[Taf the Ghost]

I'm dead certain I've seen nearly this exact design in a bad sci-fi movie. Still trying to figure out which one.

[rcmaehl]

I think we've figured it out boys
 

Spoiler

 

[Taf the Ghost]

Just now, rcmaehl said:

I think we've figured it out boys
 

  Hide contents

 

It definitely looks like something out of Battlezone from the 90s, or early 2000s Jeeps in games.