In a thrilling display of power and speed, Tesla’s long-awaited Cybertruck outpaced a Porsche 911 in a short race, all while towing another Porsche 911. This remarkable feat was showcased during the unveiling of the Cybertruck at a grand event in Austin, Texas. The futuristic vehicle, priced at $60,990, is a far cry from the $40,000 price tag that CEO Elon Musk had initially announced in 2019.
The design of the Cybertruck is partly inspired by a car-turned-submarine from the 1977 James Bond film “The Spy Who Loved Me.” Musk, who drove the Cybertruck onto the stage to the sound of applause, handed vehicles to a dozen eager customers. He boldly claimed that the Cybertruck has “more utility than a truck” and is "faster than a sports car.”
Beats a Porsche 911 while towing a 911pic.twitter.com/4YdS1tKQse
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 30, 2023
The Cybertruck is available in three variants, priced between $60,990 and $99,990. The highest performance variant, the ‘Cyberbeast,’ and the all-wheel-drive trim, which starts at an estimated $80,000, are set to be available next year. The most affordable rear-wheel-drive version, with an estimated starting price of about $61,000, will hit the market in 2025.
The Cybertruck enters a fiercely competitive pickup truck market, where it will go head-to-head with Ford’s F150 Lightning, Rivian Automotive’s R1T, and General Motors’ Hummer EV. The Cybertruck is critical to Tesla’s reputation as a maker of innovative vehicles and is key for generating sales.
However, Musk has tempered investor expectations about the product, citing problems in ramping up production and warning that it would take a year to 18 months to make it a significant cash flow contributor. He has said Tesla was likely to reach a production rate of roughly 250,000 Cybertrucks a year in 2025.
The Cybertruck’s longest-range version can drive an estimated 340 miles (547 km) and comes with a “range extender” or extra battery pack that extends its range to 470 miles. In 2019, Musk had said the truck would travel 500 miles or more on a single charge. This discrepancy might raise some eyebrows among potential buyers.
Despite the challenges, the Cybertruck represents a bold step into the future for Tesla. As Musk said at the event, “Finally, the future will look like the future.” Only time will tell if the Cybertruck lives up to its promise and whether it can carve out a significant place in the competitive electric vehicle market.
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