It is difficult to miss it in pavilion 2 of the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris. The Cybertruck occupies a good place at the Tesla stand, enough to attract the attention of curious people, connoisseurs of the American brand or simply attracted by this very atypical vehicle.
Although deliveries began at the end of 2023, this vehicle, which is not intended for Europe at the moment, is being toured around the Old Continent. We were able to discover it at the opening of the fair this Wednesday, May 22. Here are the 5 details that caught our attention.
Size XXL
Its very original design is inspired by science fiction, with this name “cyber truck” which refers directly to “cyberpunk”a dystopian world or the future not necessarily idealized in many literary works, but also from cinema to video games.
Beyond this explosive look, we are faced with a huge vehicle. A length of 5.69 meters (20 centimeters less than the concept) and a width of 2.4 meters. Height level, between 1.78 and 1.90 meters depending on the regulation of the adaptive suspensions.
Weight side: around 3 tons (varies depending on 2 or 3 engine versions). Enough to make it compatible with a simple French car permit. However, this size and doubts about pedestrian safety in the event of an impact make its marketing in Europe unlikely at the moment. Priority for the moment to the United States, which continues to be a huge market for pick-ups.
Essential point in a pick-up, the bed. It offers a capacity of 1800 liters. And the mechanical blind that covers it can support 130 more kilos on its own.
Giant screens and steering wheel “without strings”
Inside we find, of course, the very refined style of the Tesla, but still in XXL version.
Without a meter screen, but with an 18.5-inch touch screen, a new record for Tesla. In fact, it’s larger than the Model S and X (17 inches) and the Model 3 and Model Y (15 inches).
The steering wheel is very small in this immense cabin. It also hides another innovation, a direction “direct by cable”. Electronic steering without mechanical connection to the wheels, as in the Lexus RZ that we tested in an advanced prototype.
The Cybertruck also has 4-wheel steering, another first for Tesla, which makes the vehicle more agile.
In the back we also find a “little” 9 inch screen. A little more than the Model 3 “improved” (the redesigned version launched last year) or in the Model S, Model X duo.
Bullet resistance, unbreakable windows.
Of course, we haven’t tested it… but Tesla presents its Cybertruck as “bulletproof”, bullet resistant. And equipped with unbreakable windows.
Tesla specifies that the Cybertruck can withstand 9-gauge and 45mm bullets, as well as 12-gauge shotguns.
This particularity, a bit surprising when we talk about cars, also illustrates a certain change in Elon Musk’s style in recent years. Tesla moved its headquarters from California to Texas at the end of 2021 and the priority no longer seems to really be saving the planet, but rather resisting the apocalypse in Mad Max style and in a totally cyberpunk spirit. A change of direction for the brand that echoes the billionaire’s usually controversial statements, particularly on issues away from the automobile.
An innovative range extender
We didn’t have the opportunity to discover it at the show, but the Cybertruck is the first Tesla model that has autonomy. “scalable”.
In fact, it is possible to add an additional 50 kWh battery to gain almost 200 km of additional range. Enough to go from 500 to 700 kilometers in the most powerful Cyberbeast version, and from 550 to 750 kilometers in the twin-engine version.
This additional package can be installed directly on the underside of the Cybertruck platform.
No Tesla logo
Interesting detail: there is no Tesla logo on this model. Outside and inside, with a specific logo on the steering wheel.
In this way, the Cybertruck would stand out almost as an independent model in the range. What differentiates it from older vehicles “classics” and the reflection of the ambitions of the American brand in other areas of mobility, also with the Semi for electric heavy vehicles, and even further with humanoid robots, a copy of which is also present on the stand.
Source: BFM TV
