What's all the hype around the Tesla Cybertruck? Let's find out

The Tesla Cybertruck looks like a vehicle straight out of a sci-fi movie and it was only in December 2023 with its global debut that we believed it was reality. To much of our surprise, the model displayed was not a concept but a full-fledged production vehicle with sales commenced in North America.

After only seeing the electric pickup truck in images, we, like many enthusiasts, wanted to experience the Tesla in person. Recently all our prayers were listened to, thanks to the Asian tour the pickup truck is currently undertaking. The EV has already graced the lands of China, Hong Kong, and Japan, and is currently in Malaysia at the Tesla Experience Centre Cyberjaya. Also, it will be on display at Pavilion Damansara Heights and Cyberjaya in May.

Exciting right but hold your breath as this particular Tesla has much in stock to impress you beyond imagination.

Let’s get started and find out what factors make the Tesla Cybertruck so special.

Enormous size

The Cybertruck is huge, for reference, it’s one size bigger than the ongoing Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota Hilux, and Ford Ranger.

Figuratively speaking, the Cybertruck is 5,683 mm long, 2,032 mm wide, and 1,796 mm tall. Its wheelbase is humongous too at 3,635 mm. Compared to the Hilux, it’s 358 mm long and 132 mm wide. Giving you an even better sense of its size, when compared to the Rolls Royce Ghost, the EV came out to be 130 mm long.

Amazing cargo capacity

Speaking of size, it’s hard to miss the huge bed hiding behind the tailgate. It measures 1,852 mm long and 1,295 mm wide, thus allowing the owner to fit 4×8 feet of construction materials with the tailgate down. Open the tailgate and one can fit 1,591-liters of cargo.

Wait there’s more. The EV has an underfloor storage space of 91-liters and 200-liter front boot. The overall cargo capacity rests at 3,421 liters including a lockable storage space of 1,888 liters.

Unique design

One thing that stands out about the Cybertruck is its tough stainless steel exterior which the company claims makes the EV bulletproof. These steel panels give the vehicle an extremely angular design that still drops the jaws of the onlookers.

Further, the stainless-steel exoskeleton claims to reduce dents, long-term corrosion, and damage. As for repair, getting the Cybertruck back in shape is quite easy (simple and quick).

The front profile showcases a full-width light bar with actual headlights mounted low on the bumper, a flat windscreen, a giant single wiper, and a short bonnet.

The EV also showcases an interesting side profile with the peak at the top, and the windscreen sloping dramatically down into the rear deck. The latter houses a powered roller tonneau cover that when up completely obscures the rear visibility.

Other eye-catching bits on the outside include 20-inch tyres wrapped in custom-made 285/65-section Goodyear Wrangler Territory RT tyres, squared-off over-fenders, full-width tail lights, flat sides, and instead on door handles the EV features a button on the B- and C-pillars.

Another interesting bit about the car is the armored glass that is said to resist the impact of a baseball at 112 km/h or class 4 hail.

Quite and comfortable cabin

The EV features acoustic glass that helps make the cabin super quiet (like outer space says Tesla). Moving on to aesthetics, just like every other Tesla, the Cybertruck showcases a typical minimalist interior with bits like - a yoke-like steering wheel, a massive 18.5-inch center touchscreen, a floating center console, and a rear 9.4-inch touchscreen between two front seats.

Further, the Cybertruck features usual Tesla features including -

• Twin wireless chargers
• HEPA air filter with a “bioweapon defense mode”
• Large glass roof
• 15-speaker sound system with twin subwoofers

The EV comes with a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function via 120- and 240-volt sockets in the bed, outputting up to 11.5kW of power.

Powertrain setup

Globally, the Tesla Cybertruck is offered in three variant options namely, entry-level Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), mid-spe All-Wheel Drive, and range-topping Cyberbeast.

The Cyberbeast is powered by a tri-motor AWD setup making a maximum power output of 845 hp along with a peak torque of 959 Nm. The mid-spec model gets a 600 hp/671 Nm dual-motor AWD unit and entry-level Cybertruck RWD with a single motor.
Powerful performance figures

The above-mentioned Tesla Cybertruck powertrain setup allows the EV to attain the following acceleration and top speed figures.

Specs/Variants	Cybertruck RWD	Cybertruck AWD	Cybertruck Cyberbeast
0-100 kmph Acceleration	2.7 seconds	4.3 seconds	6.7 seconds
Top speed	209 kmph	180 kmph	180 kmph
All-electric Range	515 km	547 km	402 km

Interesting bits & pieces

While we have discussed all the major pointers, here are a few more interesting facts about the all-electric Cybertruck.

• It is the first Tesla to feature an 800-volt architecture allowing for higher sustained charging speeds
• First production vehicle with a 48-volt electrical architecture allowing for thinner wires and lower amperage
• Steer-by-wire leading to a reduced amount of turns lock-to-lock
  Rear-wheel steering
• Air suspension offering 305 mm and 443 mm of ground clearance in Normal and Extract mode

Availability in Malaysia

The Tesla Cybertruck isn’t likely to go on sale outside North America for several reasons including -
Won’t be converted to RHD
The “ultra-strong” stainless steel exterior panels and razor-sharp front end will face difficulty in passing global pedestrian protection legislation
Difficulty in fitting relatively tiny roads and parking spaces
Difficulty in meeting increased production requirements

Bottom line

Without a doubt, the Tesla Cybertruck is a wonderful piece of mobility (art, won’t be wrong as well). It packs extraordinary design, technology, and power making it a moving marvel on the road.

Also Read: Tesla Malaysia introduces exciting new colour options for Model Y