After Tesla delivered the first 12 units of its much-anticipated Cybertruck this week, an automotive reviewer took the truck to the track to drag race it against two rivals in the electric pickup segment.
The “Cyberbeast” version of the Tesla Cybertruck got the full review and drag racing treatment from Hagerty this week after the automaker delivered the first units of the vehicle on Thursday. In the video, auto journalist Jason Cammisa pits the Cybertruck against rival electric pickups, the Rivian R1T and the GMC Hummer electric vehicle (EV).
In addition to notable features such as the Cybertruck’s steer-by-wire handling, 800-volt architecture, Powershare and range-extender option, Cammisa begins with the R1T and Hummer drag races, highlighting the truck’s impressive acceleration.
As Cammisa points out, the Cybertruck has been designed to have the driving dynamics of a Porsche 911, while offering more utility than a traditional pickup. Although Cammisa says it doesn’t quite drive like a 911, he says it can be faster than one, later noting that the Beast Mode Cybertruck is the fastest accelerating pickup in history – both in its 0-60mph and 1/4-mile times (landing at 2.6 seconds and 11 seconds respectively).
Cammisa also points out that only one of the motors in the Cybertruck uses permanent magnets, unlike the four in the R1T. Instead, the Cybertruck has two induction motors at the rear, which significantly reduces the amount of rare earth metals required. Tesla and other carmakers have already announced plans to reduce the use of rare earths in future EVs.
Although the Porsche Taycan will add an 800V architecture in 2019, Cammisa brings in Engineering Explained host Jason Fenske to discuss how the high voltage will help Tesla save money on materials for the Cybertruck. In addition, Cammisa notes that Tesla has also quadrupled the Cybertruck’s low voltage from 12v to 48v, which reduces the need for materials and marks the first time in history that an automaker has increased the low voltage capacity of an EV.
As the industry has struggled to make the transition to 48V architecture, Tesla has also sent out a cheeky manual to other OEMs entitled “How To Design a 48-Volt Vehicle”.
Cammisa goes on to discuss several other features of the Cybertruck, including its steer-by-wire handling and turning radius, the vehicle’s safety and crashworthiness, and a handful of interior details.
In the steer-by-wire section of the video, Cammisa talks about how the Cybertruck is the first production vehicle to have no physical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels. On Saturday, the video section was also reposted on X by CEO Elon Musk.
