Tesla Cybertruck delayed – 2023 production possible: price, specs and release date
January 27, 2022 by
Elon Musk has confirmed Telsa Cybertruck production won’t start in 2022 in the same week images surface showing what could be a production-ready version of the eye-popping electric pickup truck.
- Tesla Cybertruck production pushed back past 2022
- Production-ready Cybertruck possibly leaked
- Minor changes compared with concept
- 500-mile range expected
- 0-60mph in less than 3.0 seconds
Elon Musk confirmed (during Tesla’s 2021 financial report) that the company won’t launch any new models in 2022.
This means the eagerly anticipated Tesla Cybertruck might not go into production until 2023. You can still reserve a Cybertyruck on Tesla’s UK site for a £100 deposit, however.
Unusually, this disappointment came just days after images were uploaded to the Cybertruck Owners’ Club forum that appeared to show a production-ready version of this game-changing EV Pickup. Read on for full details of this Rivian R1T and Ford F150 Lightning alternative.
New Tesla Cybertruck design
Images of (what could be) the production-ready Cybertruck have surfaced on the Cybertruck Owners’ Club online forum.
The initial 2019 concept’s edgy design has carried over practically intact, though you’ll spot the introduction of a windscreen wiper here as well as the switch to a simpler alloy wheel design.
Musk had previously suggested the truck could’ve been shrunk to accommodate European roads, but later Tweeted: “Reviewed design with Franz [von Holzhausen, Tesla’s chief designer] last night. Even 3% smaller is too small. Will be pretty much this size.”
It’s hard to tell if any size changes have been made in these images, but the overall footprint of the Cybertruck looks about the same.
New Tesla Cybertruck motors and power
Initially, the top-spec Cybertruck was set to come with three electric motors. In December 2021 Elon Musk teased plans to develop a new four-motor Tesla Cybertruck with a ‘Crab Walk’ feature, just like the Hummer EV.
The Hummer EV uses its four-wheel steering to allow the truck to move diagonally (as a crab might) to dodge boulders and large rocks when driving off-road.
Musk also said that Tesla’s system would work ‘not just like a tank’, where the left and right-hand side wheels turn in opposite directions to spin the truck on the spot.
This seems to be a thinly veiled jab at fellow electric-car maker Rivian, who has fitted its R1T pickup truck (below) with exactly this feature.
Musk also suggested that you’d be able to upgrade to this new quad-motor model if you’d already put your name down for a single-, dual- or triple-motor Cybertruck.
It isn’t clear whether all these versions will still be available once Cybertruck production begins, however. After all, Tesla famously cancelled all orders for the Plaid+ model not long after Plaid production had started with Elon Musk saying “Plaid+ is canceled. No need, as Plaid is just so good.”
Tesla has confirmed the all-wheel-drive tri-motor Cybertruck will accelerate from 0-60mph in under three seconds.
A dual-motor all-wheel-drive model does the same sprint in under 4.5 seconds, while the entry-level single-motor with rear-wheel drive will take 6.5 seconds to go from 0-60mph.
Tesla Cybertruck batteries and range
Tesla says its tri-motor Cybertruck can manage 500 miles between charges. The mid-spec dual-motor model, meanwhile, lasts 300 miles, but the entry-level rear-drive Cybertruck will only do 250 miles between electrical charge-ups.
Tesla Cybertruck interior and practicality
Inside, the angular design theme continues, with geometric seatbacks and a flat, shelf-like dashboard. Familiar to owners of pick-up trucks will be the six-seat layout, which includes a small jump seat in the front row.
What’s less normal for a pick-up is the massive 17-inch touchscreen and the yoke-shaped steering wheel that also found its way to the new Tesla Model S Plaid and Model X Plaid.
Tesla reckons the Cybertruck has 2,830 litres of lockable cargo capacity. This includes the load bed (which Tesla calls the vault) the frunk, and even more storage behind the side windows.
The Cybertruck has integrated 120-volt and 240-volt powerpoints, turning it into a kind of mobile mini power station. It also features an on-board air compressor, which will make it much easier to use on camping trips or building sites.
Tesla Cybertruck price and release date
The Tesla Cybertruck was set to cost from $40,000 for a single motor, two-wheel-drive model, while the blindingly quick tri-motor version would set you back more like $70,000. Prices have since been removed from the configurator though, suggesting changes could be afoot.
You can secure one now with a £100 deposit. The quad-motor version isn’t available to pre-order, but Musk has said you’ll be able to upgrade to this new range-topper if you’ve already placed a deposit on a single-, double- or triple-motor version of the Cybertruck.
Deposits can be placed in the UK despite questions hanging over its European legality. If it does arrive here, the Tesla Cybertruck will cost significantly more than £32,000, meaning it won’t qualify for the Government’s £1,500 plug-in car grant.
Can’t wait for the new Tesla Cybertruck? Check out the latest Tesla news or compare the Tesla Model 3 lease deals and best electric car offers available through carwow.