[AutoGuide.com]

Just when we thought Tesla was moving towards a state of complacency and an almost sedate and conventional path, the company dropped the Cybertruck out of nowhere.

Just to be clear from the get-go, Tesla will not be challenging the Detroit big three of Ford, GM and FCA when it comes to pick-ups nor is it aiming to make a dent in their share of the pick-up pie simply because it would be whimsical and quite frankly impossible.

The Cybertruck is more of a statement than a product and reaffirms that despite the Model 3s and Model Ys, the company still retains its whacky touch. Despite the deceivingly low starting price of $39,000 (cough Model 3 cough), make no mistake that the Cybertruck is a “halo” vehicle rather than a viable high-volume product, something the spec sheet reaffirms.

Unlike the other more conventional half-ton pick-ups, the Cybertruck features a high-endurance exoskeleton Tesla says is literally bulletproof. The body is forged from the same 30x cold-rolled stainless steel that is also employed as the building material for the SpaceX rocket. The windows too are made from allegedly military strength glass—and we haven’t even gotten to the really interesting parts yet. It will have three powertrain options, a singe-motor, dual-motor, and a supercar-beating tri-motor setup.

The single motor will be good for 250 miles on a single charge, have a towing capacity of 7,500 lb, and a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds. The dual-motor will be able to haul over 10,000 lb and crack 60 mph in 4.5 s. Finally, the tri-motor Cybertruck will have a towing capacity of 14,000 lb, driving range of over 500 miles compared to 300 miles on the dual-motor and a scarcely believable 0-60 time of 2.9 s. That’s faster than a lot of supercars of today.

The cabin, features seating capacity for six and a 17-inch touchscreen vehicle and infotainment interface in true Tesla fashion. And with a 6.5-foot well-hidden bed with 100 cubic feet of lockable storage, it’s practical too.

Aesthetically, it looks like something that jumped out of Total Recall. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, but to our eyes it’s not appealing to look at. In profile, it actually looks like a barn going sideways on wheels. But it does look futuristic in a mildly dystopian, Blade Runner-esque way. Besides, 30 years ago, this is exactly the kind of vehicle we would have imagined roaming our streets.

[Source: AutoGuide.com]