Blog entry by Berenice Wheatley
Almost four years to the date the bonkers Cybertruck was unveiled, Tesla has finally delivered the first examples to US customers.
An event at the firm's Giga Texas facility overnight saw Elon Musk present a dozen Cybertrucks to their lucky owners in a glitzy handover that comes two years later than when Tesla initially said the truck would be delivered.
And fans were given another major shock as the full line-up of specifications was revealed, including their disappointing ranges and higher-than-promised prices.
Not that this matters to UK drivers, because the electric pick-up is unlikely to be sold here or in Europe for one reason in particular.... which we explain below.
Tesla has finally delivered its first Cybertrucks to 12 lucky customers at a glitzy event hosted at its Giga Texas facility. But UK customers can't get their hands on one for a very good reason...
The truck, which is made of shiny, flat stainless steel panels, is said to be partly inspired by a car-turned-submarine in the 1977 James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me, Musk has previously commented.
While the last four months has seen endless teasers for the next-generation truck, only last night did we get to see hard information regarding its true capabilities.
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This emerged shortly after Tesla's official 'Delivery Event', which was watched by 3.7 million users on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter that's owned by the Tesla co-founder.
On stage, Musk declared: 'I think it's our best product - the most unique thing on the road. The future should look like the future.'
But the future is more expensive than what Mr Musk had originally promised, as revealed by the Tesla website shortly after the presentation of the first 12 examples.
Tesla's new Cybertruck is shown on display at a Tesla store in San Diego, California, last week
The US brand confirmed watered-down performance figures for the three variants - and a significant hike in price for the cheapest of all.
The entry rear-wheel drive version - not available until 2025.
This provides a 250-mile range, acceleration from 0 to 60mph in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 112mph.
It will start from $60,990 (£48,000) in the US, which is over 50 per cent more than the $39,999 entry price touted by Musk in 2019 - and a cost analysts have said will likely only draw select, affluent buyers.
The increase in pricing is - according to experts - a result of the new body material and unconventional, futuristic styling adding complexity and costs to production.
As such, many believe it threatens to alienate traditional pickup truck buyers who focus on utility - which is one of America's biggest markets.
The second launch variant - and also the longest-range model - is a 600bhp all-wheel-drive (AWD) Cybertruck.
This rings in at $79,990 (£63,000).
It should provide a 0-to-60mph time to 4.1 seconds and range of 340 miles - a far cry from the 500 miles-plus Musk first suggested from a single charge.
That said, Tesla claims it comes with a 'range extender' - which is an extra battery pack - that stretches its mileage to 470.
Given Cybertruck's official weight of 3,107kg (yes, it weighs over three tonnes), it comes as little surprise that range is more limited than some would have expected.
And while we're discussing weights, the Tesla pick-up's maximum towing capacity is 4,990kg and the flatbed can take 2.5 tonnes. The latter can also fit materials up to four feet wide and eight feet long.
Finally, the range-topping Cyberbeast comes with a monumental $99,990 (£79,000) price tag.
Using the tri-motor drivetrain from the Model S Plaid with 845bhp, it should return a 320-mile range, 2.6 second sprint from standstill to 60mph and increases the top speed to 130mph.
Not only is it claimed to be bulletproof and capable of withstanding 9mm bullets, Musk showed the Cyberbeast out-sprinting the entry Porsche 911 Carrera in a drag race while towing another 911 on a trailer behind it in the latest publicity stunt for the vehicle.
The US brand confirmed watered-down performance figures for the three variants - and a significant hike in price for the cheapest of all
The entry price - which is more than double promised by Musk in 2019 - is likely to limit its appear to US business owners looking to buy one as a utility vehicle
Who is going to buy Cybertruck?
While the performance might be impressive, experts think Elon Musk might have priced out a wider potential customer base with the Cybertruck's hiked costs.
'This is going to appeal to a wealthier clientele that can afford the price point and they want something that is unique and quirky,' said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at auto research firm Edmunds.
'That just isn't a large segment of the population that can afford that especially where interest rates are.'
The announcement also triggered disappointment amongst fans on social media.
On Reddit, one user posted: 'Was anyone else disappointed with the CyberTruck Introduction?
'I was so excited. And then totally let down. Tesla blew their biggest chance to really WOW the public. The lighting. The presentation. Just everything sucked. I love Elon. I love the truck. But sad at a blown opportunity. What did you think?'
Another responded: 'Used to the awkward presentations, but being so light on the details like not even mentioning bi-directional and kicking the dual and beast up $30k, just totally wtf.'
The announcement also triggered plenty of disappointment amongst fans with a number of people taking to social media to voice their opinions on the pick-up
The increase in Cybertruck pricing is - according to experts - a result of the new body material and unconventional, futuristic styling adding complexity and costs to production
The Tesla pick-up's maximum towing capacity is 4,990kg and the flatbed can take 2.5 tonnes. The latter can also fit materials up to four feet wide and eight feet long
Others laid into the new vehicle.
One added: 'I think most of us are just disappointed with how expensive it is with it's horrible range. And yes im aware about the extended battery pack but you have to wonder how much that will really be knowing Tesla.
'But definitely disappointed and will wait for the next year model for more tweaks anyway.'
Another posted: 'Obviously disappointment across the board. The price has ruined the truck and the top end range is now pointless. They really failed here, they are going to lose customers left and right until they bring that back to reasonable number which to me is 50, 60, 80. You need to be undercutting everyone else, that's the whole point of the design, to make it cheap.'
Images of the new Cybertruck released overnight show one wading through shallow river water
After Musk estimated in 2019 that the Cybertruck would sell for $40,000, the vehicle drew more than a million reservation holders who put down $100 deposits.
New deposits are $250, Musk said at the event on Thursday.
The price is not a surprise to many, said Paul Waatti, an analyst at consultancy AutoPacific.
Waatti told Reuters before the event that the Cybertruck would do well with a smaller audience.
It will now go head-to-head with the biggest EV pick-up models in America.
This includes Rivian's R1T with a starting price of $73,000 and Ford's new F-150 Lightning, which starts from around $50,000.
The larger and more powerful Hummer EV pick-up is another obvious rival at the premium end of the market - this costs more than $96,000.
The event in Texas saw Musk handover a dozen of the cars to a select number of lucky buyers
Tesla UK removed the option to pre-order Cybertruck in 2022, and the option to put your name down for one hasn't returned since. Here's the reason why...
Why can't you place an order in the UK?
First deliveries of Tesla's Cybertruck might have started in the US, but it still remains unclear if the pick-up will go on sale in the UK - or across Europe.
Tesla UK removed the option to pre-order Cybertruck in 2022, and the option to put your name down for one hasn't returned since.
Musk claimed last year that it will be an uphill task to meet US demand alone, saying the company had 'more orders of the first Cybertrucks than we could possibly fulfil for three years after the start of production'.
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