1673860823 Tesla gives a sneak peek at the Cybertruck

Tesla gives a sneak peek at the Cybertruck

It’s the most anticipated vehicle of recent years.

Tesla’s CybertruckTSLA) – Get Free Report is designed to revolutionize the image of the truck or pickup truck, not only with its futuristic design, but also with features that experts say will redefine the future of trucks and their place in popular imagery.

After years of waiting, production is scheduled to start next June at the Tesla factory in Austin, Texas. Things seem to be going according to plan, according to chief vehicle designer Franz von Holzhausen. He has just unveiled some features of the Cybertruck and promises big surprises.

First, von Holzhausen assures Cybertruck fans that the design is complete.

“Is the Cybertruck done from a design point of view?” he was asked on the podcast “Ride the Lightning” with Ryan McCaffrey. The episode aired on January 15.

“Yes!” he replied, but added that the pin wasn’t all the way down.

Tesla Cybertruck Guide

Cybertruck has convenient front doors, yoke steering wheel

“You never really have a pencil. We get a new model and work consistently through the entire process. We are constantly working on every detail,” the executive continued. “We learn things through the design phases and the manufacturing development phases that we can improve, and we do. We have teammates who are actively working to ensure that in the development stages, as we move into manufacturing, we make sure we got it right and we didn’t do it, we’re still working on production to make it right to improve.”

Von Holzhausen said the Cybertruck’s front doors will be similar to those on the Model X luxury SUV. Basically, locking and unlocking the Cybertruck is comfortable for the driver. It is not necessary to use the key fob. The truck will have sensors around the driver’s door that can detect the presence of a key fob. So you can keep your key fob in your pocket or purse and Cybertruck will recognize it when you approach it.

“Possibly also in the back doors,” he also said. “There are also buttons on it.”

The chief vehicle designer also hinted that the Cybertruck would offer the option of a yoke steering wheel.

“The control yoke makes a lot of sense. Once you experience it, it’s a great driving experience. Control yoke combined with autopilot. Yes, it makes the whole type of user experience and the inside cockpit easier and cleaner. look at the yoke.”

He promised there would be “pleasant surprises” that were “the right kind of competitive stuff.”

“We want to make sure that we’re putting a huge amount of functionality, performance, you know, driveability, all those things, and just usability into the truck,” because “people use pickup trucks or trucks in general like Swiss Army knives,” von said Holzhausen. “We want to make sure the truck can be tailored and tuned to your specific needs.”

Buyers have to get used to attention

He developed Tesla’s approach to the Cybertruck.

“I think you know Cybertruck is radical so it touches like the uniqueness but it’s 100% functional if not more functional than any other established company. So with that in mind, we want to make sure we didn’t do something that was radically different but didn’t stand up to the real test of why people actually buy a pickup truck.”

When pointed out that no other automaker had given the truck’s design the green light, von Holzhausen agreed, acknowledging that Tesla’s choice was bold and daring.

“The interesting thing is that in the early stages of development we did exercises where we looked at more normal silhouettes and realized how ‘we have an opportunity to do something different, an opportunity that no one else would have the balls to do “, he answered.

He continued, “Elon [Musk, the CEO] like “yes, you have to do it” and hats off to that risk. And I think what’s interesting is that we’ve seen people who would never consider owning a pickup truck, or pickup trucks that just aren’t something they need or aren’t on their radar because of be attracted to the uniqueness of it.

“We pushed people out of their normal comfort zone and brought them something that’s just radically different and will be radically different on the street and, you know, if you’re not used to attracting attention, that might be a bit difficult its beginning,” said von Holzhausen.

Musk first unveiled the electric pickup prototype at a promotional event in Los Angeles in November 2019. The vehicle was described as something out of the movies Mad Max and Blade Runner. The billionaire himself said the Cybertruck was “partially influenced by ‘The Spy Who Loved Me,'” a reference to the amphibious Lotus Esprit S1 from the 1977 James Bond film.

The Tesla Cybertruck promises an electric range of up to 500 miles, a maximum towing capacity of 14,000 pounds and a base price of under $40,000. Buyers must also add Tesla’s Full Self-Driving driver assistance system for $15,000.

On November 24, 2019, Musk announced that Tesla had already received at least 187,000 orders for the Cybertruck. It was five days after the vehicle was unveiled.

Tesla is no longer taking orders for the Cybertruck in Europe and Asia-Pacific. But the vehicle can still be ordered in the US, Mexico and Canada.

People can reserve one of the vehicles for a $100 refundable deposit — essentially no commitment for a vehicle that won’t be cheap.

The Cybertruck’s immediate rivals are the Rivian (RIVN) – Get a Free Report R1T Electric Pickup, the GMC Hummer Pickup from GM (GM) – Get a free report and the Chevy Silverado electric pickup. It will also compete against the F-150 Lightning, the electric version of the Ford (f) – Get a free F-150 pickup report.