During an interview with Joe Rogan, Elon Musk provided more details about Tesla’s eagerly anticipated Cybertruck. The electric pickup truck is expected to weigh between 6,000 and 7,000 pounds, depending on the chosen version. This weight is typical for electric vehicles (EVs) due to the substantial mass of their battery packs. In comparison, the Ford Lightning weighs over 6,000 pounds, and the Rivian R1T surpasses 8,000 pounds, as per their respective owner’s manuals.
Musk also teased a “beast mode” version of the Cybertruck, although he didn’t specify the enhancements it would offer. He had previously hinted at a “performance Cybertruck” that he described as impressive.
One distinctive feature of the Cybertruck is its bulletproof steel panels. Musk mentioned that customers will even have the option to purchase bulletproof glass, though it may come with usability trade-offs.
“You can make anything bulletproof if you want, but the glass has to be very thick for be bulletproof, so it can’t go up and down,” Musk said, adding that the bulletproof windows will be immobile.
During the interview, Rogan put the truck’s toughness to the test by shooting an arrow at its stainless steel body, resulting in a small dent. Musk plans to conduct three demonstrations to showcase the truck’s bulletproof capabilities, including shooting it with a Tommy gun, a 45-millimeter shotgun, and a 9-millimeter gun. Musk emphasized that trucks should be tough and resilient.
In a flashback to the Cybertruck’s initial unveiling in 2019, Musk acknowledged a mishap involving the “armour glass” demonstration. The glass had shattered when a metal ball was thrown at it. Musk later explained that a prior test had compromised the window’s integrity.
“Sledgehammer impact on door cracked base of glass, which is why steel ball didn’t bounce off,” Musk wrote on X. “Should have done steel ball on window, then sledgehammer the door.”
While bulletproof windows are an unusual feature for civilian vehicles, they come with significant weight, which can affect the vehicle’s overall performance. For instance, the 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine, used by former President Barack Obama during his inauguration, had five-inch windows and eight-inch walls designed to protect against various threats. It weighed approximately 10 tons.
Musk also expressed his hopes for the “Beast Mode” version of the Cybertruck, aiming for it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds.
Tesla has announced a Cybertruck delivery event scheduled for November 30. However, Musk has cautioned that scaling up production for this unique vehicle could pose challenges.
“It looks so odd. You have to see it in the flesh,” Rogan said. “It’s the coolest looking fucking production car that’s ever been made.”
“The ramp is going to be extremely difficult. There’s no way around that,” Musk said during Tesla’s earnings call last month. “If you want to do something radical and innovative and somethings really special like the Cybertruck, it is extremely difficult because there is nothing to copy.”