Elon Announces 1200hp Quad Motor Cybertruck

[YDR37]

I desperately want to order this fake truck.

Tesla has definitely considered offering it. In December 2021, Elon claimed that initial Cybertruck production would start with a quad-motor version, which would have "independent, ultra fast response torque control of each wheel." But obviously it didn't happen.

If you really want a quad-motor pickup, Rivian is taking reservations for the second-generation R1T Quad, which is supposedly "coming 2025". They are currently advertising the following specs:

1,025 hp
1,198 ft-lb torque
10.5 sec quarter mile
<2.5 sec 0-60 mph

Not an April Fools joke -- Rivian calls it "silly fast". If the Rivian outperforms the Cyberbeast (which seems possible), maybe that will be the incentive that Tesla needs to offer a quad-motor CT.

Sponsored

 

[HaulingAss]

If you really want a quad-motor pickup, Rivian is taking reservations...

Sure, the R1T Quad will be fast but, with a bed length of only 4.5 feet long and a bed depth of only 18", do you really consider it a pickup truck?

The whole point of having a pickup (for me, at least), is to be able to move large items and bulk materials. Sure, a trailer can do that too, but then what is the point in having a pickup? You don't need a pickup just because you want to use a trailer to move stuff!

Personally, I don't consider the R1T a pickup truck. Even the tiniest imported mini-pickups from the 1970's had bigger truck beds. I've had sedans that had bigger trunks, the R1T bed is like a car trunk that's open to the weather. I just don't see the appeal.

 

[YDR37]

Sure, the R1T Quad will be fast but, with a bed length of only 4.5 feet long and a bed depth of only 18", do you really consider it a pickup truck?

The whole point of having a pickup (for me, at least), is to be able to move large items and bulk materials. Sure, a trailer can do that too, but then what is the point in having a pickup? You don't need a pickup just because you want to use a trailer to move stuff!

Personally, I don't consider the R1T a pickup truck. Even the tiniest imported mini-pickups from the 1970's had bigger truck beds. I've had sedans that had bigger trunks, the R1T bed is like a car trunk that's open to the weather. I just don't see the appeal.

The R1T is a pickup, but one with an unusually short bed that compromises its utility. For that matter, the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are also pickups, even though their beds are even shorter than the bed of the R1T.

I agree that the short bed limits the R1T's appeal, and it doesn't surprise me that sales are low. For 2024, Tesla sold approximately 39,000 Cybertrucks (according to Cox estimates) and that was widely perceived as a disappointing number. Well, Rivian only sold about 11,000 R1Ts.

My impression is that people go to Rivian stores to look at the R1T -- but they end up buying the R1S (the SUV partner of the R1T) instead. The R1S just seems like a more practical design. If you need to carry people, the R1S can be configured to carry seven passengers (the R1T can only carry five). Or if you need to carry large items, the R1S can be configured with 6.75 ft of flat-bottomed, totally waterproof, climate-controlled cargo space (the R1T, as you point out, only has a 4.5 ft bed with 18" sides). You can sleep comfortably in the back of an R1S if you want to, which is not feasible in an R1T. And Rivian is planning an R1S Quad, with similar specs to the R1T Quad.

So the R1S sells better than the R1T. In fact, as of February 2025, the R1S appears to be selling better than the comparably-priced Cybertruck (even though Rivians don't qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit).

I suspect that some kind of "CyberSUV" would sell well for Tesla. It's certainly true that pickups are better than SUVs for moving messy bulk materials (like gravel or hay), but how many Cybertruck owners actually do that? I would bet that many CT owners have never hauled anything that couldn't be hauled in a large SUV. And I would also bet that many CT owners would love to have a spacious, waterproof, climate-controlled cargo area that you could sleep in.

 

[65SoYoLO]

Personally, we do not need 1200hp quad motor cybertruck! I would love to see either a mid-size truck or a full size / proper 7-seater SUV from Tesla.

say what???

 

[65SoYoLO]

I desperately want to order this fake truck.

me too. That would be insane.

 

[NotMyTruck]

Sure, the R1T Quad will be fast but, with a bed length of only 4.5 feet long and a bed depth of only 18", do you really consider it a pickup truck?

The whole point of having a pickup (for me, at least), is to be able to move large items and bulk materials. Sure, a trailer can do that too, but then what is the point in having a pickup? You don't need a pickup just because you want to use a trailer to move stuff!

Personally, I don't consider the R1T a pickup truck. Even the tiniest imported mini-pickups from the 1970's had bigger truck beds. I've had sedans that had bigger trunks, the R1T bed is like a car trunk that's open to the weather. I just don't see the appeal.

Shots fired.

For the record. I agree. Rear seats are useless due to the gear tunnel.

 

[LarryASilva]

Just announced by Elon at the GEV conference (link below)

"Today, we’re taking the Cybertruck to a whole new level of performance and innovation. With a 1200-horsepower quad-motor setup, this is no longer just a truck – it’s a game-changer. Incredible power, unmatched durability, and the kind of acceleration that’s almost hard to believe. The future of electric vehicles is here, and it’s more powerful, more capable, and more exciting than ever. This is the Cybertruck like you’ve never seen it before."

Announcement video:

I was SO HOPING for a six wheel, 1600 mile range variant to be announced on 04/0125. There is always next year.

 

[TomCyber]

Just announced by Elon at the GEV conference (link below)

"Today, we’re taking the Cybertruck to a whole new level of performance and innovation. With a 1200-horsepower quad-motor setup, this is no longer just a truck – it’s a game-changer. Incredible power, unmatched durability, and the kind of acceleration that’s almost hard to believe. The future of electric vehicles is here, and it’s more powerful, more capable, and more exciting than ever. This is the Cybertruck like you’ve never seen it before."

Announcement video:

If this was real one would need killer unattainable extension cord to run it.

 

[HaulingAss]

The R1T is a pickup, but one with an unusually short bed that compromises its utility. For that matter, the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are also pickups, even though their beds are even shorter than the bed of the R1T.

By comparing the R1T to the Hyundai Santa Cruz, you are making my case for me; that the R1T is not a pickup truck! The biggest issue with the size of the R1T cargo bed is it's only 18" tall. That's very shallow. And the Ford Maverick's bed is not any shorter, it's 54" long, just like the R1T's bed length. But the Maverick is 2" deeper. The Rivian R1T bed is even shallower than the Hyundai Santa Cruz (which is not a pickup truck either). But if you want to call this a "pickup truck", be my guest:

This simply would not even work for 90% of what I use a truck for. Because it's not a pickup truck (any more than a 1970's Subaru Brat was a pickup truck). Both the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Subaru Brat from the 1970's had more depth to their rear cargo areas than an R1T (and neither were real truck beds). When you compare the R1T to this class of vehicle, it makes it painfully obvious that the designers of the R1T were not trying to make a pickup truck or they would have given it more than 18" of bed depth (even the Brat, the Hyundai Sante Fe and the Ranger all have more bed depth).

On the other hand, the Cybertruck is a real pickup truck (and it functions as one). Imagine that! The bed volume is greater than that of my F-150 XLT (and this is very useful when loading yard waste, firewood, tree trimmings, bicycles, motorcycles, dog agility equipment, yachting equipment, camp gear, or just moving the worldly possessions of a student).

I suspect that some kind of "CyberSUV" would sell well for Tesla. It's certainly true that pickups are better than SUVs for moving messy bulk materials (like gravel or hay), but how many Cybertruck owners actually do that? I would bet that many CT owners have never hauled anything that couldn't be hauled in a large SUV. And I would also bet that many CT owners would love to have a spacious, waterproof, climate-controlled cargo area that you could sleep in.

If I wanted an SUV, I would have bought an SUV, but I passionately dislike them. Like a big box on wheels. Station wagons were popular in the 1970's, I'm not a big fan of them either. The Cybertruck's bed is big and useful (and, yes, I use it all the time for stuff that wouldn't fit in an SUV or a station wagon). The R1T has too little bed volume to be considered a real pickup truck. Even the little light-duty Japanese pickup trucks from the 1970's-1980's had more bed volume, a lot more. The R1T is not a pickup truck (because it doesn't function like one).

 

[YDR37]

If this was real one would need killer unattainable extension cord to run it.

Probably not practical, even if you used one of those wireless extension cords.

 

[YDR37]

By comparing the R1T to the Hyundai Santa Cruz, you are making my case for me; that the R1T is not a pickup truck! ... This simply would not even work for 90% of what I use a truck for. ... If I wanted an SUV, I would have bought an SUV, but I passionately dislike them.

Those are all your perspectives; they do not necessarily reflect the prevailing opinion. For an unbiased take on these issues, I consulted with Grok-3, which according to Elon Musk is "the world's smartest AI".

Question: What type of vehicle is a "pickup"?

Grok: A pickup, commonly referred to as a pickup truck, is a type of motor vehicle characterized by an open cargo area at the rear, often called a bed, which is designed for hauling goods, equipment, or materials.

Question: Is a 4 to 5 foot pickup bed useless?

Grok: A 4 to 5-foot pickup bed isn’t useless—it’s just tailored to specific needs ... For everyday tasks—groceries, tools, bikes, or camping gear—it’s plenty practical. A lot of compact or mid-size pickups, like the Hyundai Santa Cruz (4.3 feet) or Ford Maverick (4.5 feet), target folks who want utility without the bulk of a bigger truck.

Question: Is a large SUV a viable alternative to a pickup?

Grok: A large SUV can absolutely be a viable alternative to a pickup, depending on your needs—it’s all about what you prioritize.

So Grok says that (1) if it has a bed, it's a pickup, (2) even a 4-5 foot pickup bed, like on a Santa Cruz, is useful for some folks, and (3) large SUVs can absolutely serve as pickup alternatives for some folks. Don't agree? Take it up with Grok.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

My dad bought a Santa Cruz. He brings his riding mower from place to place. Using a ramp he can drive it into the Santa Cruz and with the tailgate down and straps on the back, it's big enough to transport a riding mower. It's surprisingly useful.

 

[Gaximus]

The video doesn't work, anyone have a working link?

 

[TeslaKen]

I almost ordered the quad motor version but then I heard that there is a performance 5 motor version called the Mighty Quin for the quintuple motor setup. So I placed my order for that one and got a delivery date of 4/20 !

 

[YDR37]

The video doesn't work, anyone have a working link?

No. The post was an April Fool's joke.

Sponsored