Tesla Cybertruck

To call the Cybertruck controversial would be a wee bit of an understatement. When it was announced, way back when in November of 2019, Tesla's futuristic electric pickup truck caused a global sensation. Combining seriously wild styling, claims of impressive capability, fantastic range and some frankly ridiculous features (we're looking at you, bullet-resistant bodywork), the Cybertruck seemed almost too good to be true.

There are no external mirrors, which are required under current regulations. There aren't even camera pods. The wheel spokes extend over the tire sidewalls too, which doesn't work outside the confines of a design studio — especially on a truck where such spokes can literally ground out. And since no one, and we mean no one, has been able to grab a spy photo of a Cybertruck undergoing testing, it's hard to imagine any of these design '"features" will even make it to production.

Since it's been a while without any concrete updates on Elon Musk's future truck, let's go over what we know.

Three versions of the Cybertruck will be offered: base single-motor rear-wheel-drive, dual-motor all-wheel-drive and tri-motor all-wheel-drive models. The single-motor base model won't be available until after the launch, but Tesla says it will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and cover about 250 miles between charges. Next up is the dual-motor all-wheel-drive Tesla truck, which will reportedly accelerate to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and provide a range of 300 miles. The top-level tri-motor all-wheel-drive model provides a claimed 500 miles of range. And it wouldn't be a Tesla without head-spinning acceleration; the three-motor variant is said to hit 60 in under 3 seconds.

As wild as the exterior, the interior of the Cybertruck is full of unconventional design cues and unique touches. The cabin is large, with seating for six below a massive panoramic sunroof. There's a minimalist design language with few buttons and knobs, and a low dashboard allows for expansive visibility. As we've come to expect from Tesla, a large infotainment screen sits front and center and will likely control many of the vehicle's functions, including climate control and navigation. The steering wheel shown in the initial unveil, though, looks more like a bad video game controller.

Claimed tow ratings range from 7,500 pounds for the single-motor model all the way to 14,000 pounds for the tri-motor version. That's serious capability, and so is the touted payload capacity of 3,500 pounds.

Thing is, we're not convinced an all-electric pickup can actually do much towing in practice. Why? A Model X is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds, but we had trouble towing a featherweight trailer with our long-term test vehicle. To be clear, the physical act of pulling the load wasn't an issue at all; the trouble will likely be range and recharging. We can only imagine the range depletion that'll be brought on by towing 10,000 pounds or more in a Cybertruck.

As there's been no known testing to confirm Musk's claims for the Cybertruck, we can only report them as hopes and dreams for the time being. Hopefully those hopes and dreams don't weigh more than the claimed 3,500-pound payload rating. The Cybertruck already has enough to carry on its angular shoulders.

We wouldn't hold it against you for thinking the Cybertruck is simply all hype at this point. But with competition from Ford and GM looming on the horizon, as well as the hotly anticipated Rivian R1T just around the corner, Tesla's Cybertruck might have an uphill battle when it does come to market. If you have your heart, and your deposit, set on the Cybertruck, you might have to wait until the end of 2022 at the very least to get one.