Images and video have surfaced of what all signs point to being a near-production look at the 2023 Tesla Cybertruck electric ute – but those not keen on the angular, stainless steel design will be disappointed to hear it has remained faithful to the controversial 2019 concept.
Two photos and a walkaround video posted to the Cybertruck Owners Club forum overnight showcases the changes that have been made to the controversial Tesla ute to meet US road regulations, including a windscreen wiper, new tail-light cluster, overhauled wheels and tyres, and more.
However, little has been done to tone down the sharp angles and bluff front end of the 2019 concept – meaning it’s still improbable the Cybertruck would comply with Australian pedestrian safety for sale locally, despite the electric car maker continuing to take $150 pre-orders.
While changes have been made compared to the concept Cybertruck – seemingly making it ready for mass production – the Tesla employee hosting the walkaround for the camera operator notes: “Well you gotta realise [the Cybertruck] ain’t done. It’s just [a] concept.”
It’s not clear if the near-production Cybertruck is any smaller than the 2019 concept – which measured 5885mm long, 2027mm wide and 1905mm high, making it larger than full-size US pick-ups from Ford, Ram and Chevrolet, which themselves are larger than Australia’s top-selling Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
An image of the updated vehicle alongside a group of what appear to be Tesla employees was published alongside the video – however, it’s not known how tall the people standing next to the Cybertruck are, making it difficult to extract any useful information.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk spoke in April 2020 about decreasing the production model’s size by three per cent – before backflipping a month later, stating that “Even 3% smaller is too small. Will be pretty much this size.”
Updates made compared to the 2019 concept include a large windscreen wiper across the left edge of the windscreen, folding black side mirrors, a new front bumper (with a larger intake), thicker side skirts, tweaked rear bumper, and a revised rear light cluster (with tail-lights set into the tailgate).
The vehicle’s lines appear to have been revised up front, with the angles across the front bumper seemingly smoothened out to improve pedestrian protection – though the difference is subtle, and the near-production pick-up’s front end remains true to the concept it draws cues from.
Smaller 12-spoke alloy wheels fill the arches, wrapped in all-terrain tyres – though it’s not clear if production cars will be fitted with aerodynamic wheel covers, as per the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range sedan, and the concept Cybertruck.
The Cybertruck concept’s pop-out door handles have been given the axe, with entry into the vehicle now controlled by touching a black key card – or the owner’s phone, when connected via the Tesla app – on the B-pillar (behind the front door), which pops the driver’s door open.
It’s not clear if a similar system will be offered for the other three doors – or whether the driver will need to enter the vehicle first, before the other doors can be opened.
The tailgate features a system allowing a quad bike, bicycle or motorcycle to be driven inside, using a built-in ramp.
The walkaround host explains: “If you have a four-wheeler [quad bike]… once you let the tailgate down, there’s a button inside. You hit the button and the whole truck goes down. Air goes out of the rear… it [the tailgate] turns into a ramp, and you just drive your four-wheeler up in it.”
While the camera operator holds their smartphone up to the vehicle’s window, it isn’t enough to get a good view inside the Cybertruck’s cabin, to determine whether changes have been made compared to the 2019 concept car.
More details of the production-ready 2023 Tesla Cybertruck are rumoured to be announced in March, according to new reports – rather than Tesla’s 2021 financial results presentation (or earnings call), due this Thursday – ahead of a market launch slated for early 2023.
Performance specifications were recently pulled from the Tesla website – suggesting the figures announced with the 2019 concept are in line for an overhaul.
Elon Musk has confirmed that the first Cybertruck models to roll off the assembly line in Texas will offer four electric motors, rather than the concept’s flagship tri-motor layout.
Rumours have also suggested a smaller Cybertruck sibling could be in the works, sized to compete with the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and their rivals but few firm details of this model have yet to surface.
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