Elon Musk has set his sights on two frontiers: a city on Mars and a truck that reflects his vision of the future.
He may or may not hit his target date of 2050 for the first, but the Tesla Truck is taking preorders now for the 2021 model.
Tesla didn’t start out cautious in the first unveiling of its truck but issued a challenge to Ford’s iconic F-150 from day one.
Some key Tesla truck specs?
This futuristic-looking stainless-steel utility truck has three basic configurations:
- Single Motor Rear Wheel Drive – 250-mile range and a towing capacity of 7,500 pounds
- Dual Motor All Wheel Drive – 300-mile range and a 10,000-pound towing capacity
- Tri-Motor All Wheel Drive – 500-mile range and a 14,000-pound towing
Features Common to all Tesla Truck Models
Due to its low center of gravity and powerful drivetrain, this truck produces a world-class combination of torque and traction control.
All configurations come with Tesla’s groundbreaking autopilot and access to its growing network of charging stations.
The Evolution of an American Standard
Tesla’s choice to go head to head with the Ford F-150 in its first marketing campaign was intended to claim the Tesla Truck is not as good as a Ford, but better.
First introduced in 1941, Ford’s F1-50 has remained an American standard for almost 75 years, so why might the Tesla Truck replace it?
For one thing, this first Tesla, like the F-150 is simply too large for markets outside of the U.S. This is a full-side all-electric workhorse that can compete with any gasoline truck in price right off the showroom floor.
It’s true the cheapest Ford F-150 has a beginning price of just under $30,000 and Tesla is $10,000 more. But this isn’t a fair comparison.
The baseline F-150 seats just two to three passengers and has a bed length of 5.5 feet. To match Tesla’s Cybertruck specifications of seating 6 people with a 6.5-foot bed, the two trucks will sell for approximately the same $39,000.00.
What Makes the Tesla Truck Special?
It’s where the comparisons end that may make the Cybertruck the one for you. Tesla comes standard with a built-in air-compressor, a 110–220V outlet for electrical equipment, adjustable air suspension, a built-in cover for the vault, and a built-in bed cover than can slide up and down.
These are options on the Ford but drives its price well beyond the $40,000 mark.
How Tesla Kept Prices Down
The price point was not made possible by cutting corners with inferior materials. Instead, the Cybertruck is manufactured by using lasers to cut stainless-steel plates to fashion the unified cab and bed.
Yes, you have just one option in colors for the time but that stainless steel body has the advantage of being extremely rust-resistant.
But what about the interior?
The trend over the last few years is for trucks to be as comfortable and luxurious as cars.
Tesla accomplishes that luxury feeling at less cost by producing a dashboard made from composite paper with the strength and look of marble.
Teslarati describes the interior:
These materials are then combined and baked at extremely high temperatures to create a durable and dense material that is water-resistant, environmentally sustainable, and very cost-effective.
Surprisingly, one of the most cost-effective is the single large screen that dominates the dashboard.
Rather than a dashboard full of knobs, dials, and instruments which or more expensive, this iPad-looking display is the command center of the truck.
Don’t Take Our Word for it, See What Other Tesla Truck Owners are Saying
Pros:
- First Electric Truck Designed from the ground up
- Power for the big loads and hauls
- Sports car Responsiveness
- 650,000 already preordered
Cons:
- Controversial design
- Unproven charging infrastructure
- Untested new manufacturing plant
Know What You Want, Know What You’re Getting
If people saying your truck looks odd doesn’t bother you, you’ve probably already overcome any objections that could have prevented you from considering it.
If color is a sticking point, Tesla recently announced a new Gigafactory in Berlin that has the most advanced paint shop in the world. It will supply “layers of stunning colors that subtly change with curvature” of your new Cybertruck.
One of the highlights of its first official unveiling was a video of a tug-of-war between a Ford F-150 and a Cybertruck. A better contest would have been a contest between the Tesla taking on an F-150 and a Porsche 911 at the same time.
Not everyone wants a working truck that can go 0-60 in 2.9 seconds, but it is something to think about.
Pre-production car models are notorious for failing to supply what was promised. So far, the only changes Tesla has made are minor improvements and hopefully glass that can withstand a sledgehammer.
If you saw a clip of the unveiling of the Tesla Cybertruck, you already know what we’re talking about.
Do yourself a favor before you buy and get a Vehicle History report. It’s important to know for sure that the Tesla you are looking at has a history that is clear of accidents, branded titles, and all those other potentially costly issues.
