General questions for you owners

[Ziggy Stardust]

My days of big power needs are gone and I am cruising in retirement but I do enjoy reading many of the post on the CyberTruck forum. Even though I own a CyberMavrick (ha ha) I got no ill will on you owners. My theory is if it makes you happy then go for it.

Question 1 - Does the number of motors really matter for general driving (not off road). I see you can get one, two, or three and does it make a difference in battery drain having say 3 motors vs 1 motor.

Question 2 - What happened to the "boat" mode that Musk announced a few years ago. I see on the web BYD has it in at least one vehicle that actually is water safe for say crossing a river or high water area. I figure it is true as there are several video's and announcements on it.

Question 3 - When I am driving my CyberMavrick at night or early morning that headlight across the front of your CyberTruck really blinds me both oncoming and even if you are behind me. Is there a high and low beam and if so does it adjust automatically? My Mavrick has that so when I am behind someone it switches to low beam by itself.

Lastly more of a statement, being in the Austin area I see a fair amount of the trucks and just notice these things. Nothing against any owner as I said at the beginning, if you like/love your CyberTruck that is what counts. So if you are in the Austin area and a Blue Mavrick waves to you it might be me saying hi!

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[misdemeanor]

Question 1 - Does the number of motors really matter for general driving (not off road). I see you can get one, two, or three and does it make a difference in battery drain having say 3 motors vs 1 motor.

For general driving—like cruising around town or on highways—the number of motors doesn’t make a huge difference in terms of how the truck feels day-to-day, but it does impact performance and efficiency slightly. The Cybertruck comes in three flavors: single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD), dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD), and tri-motor AWD (the Cyberbeast).

• Single-motor RWD: This is the base model, slated for production in 2025 (maybe...). It should have plenty of power for normal driving—think errands or highway trips—but it’s tuned more for efficiency than speed. Tesla hasn’t released exact specs yet, but it’s estimated at around 300-400 horsepower with a range of about 250 miles.
• Dual-motor AWD: This one’s got two motors (one front, one rear) for better traction and a combined 600 horsepower. Range is around 340 miles.
• Tri-motor Cyberbeast: Three motors (one front, two rear) crank out 834-845 horsepower and a range of about 320 miles. It’s overkill for general driving—built for towing or insane acceleration (0-60 in 2.6 seconds)—but most folks won’t need that on a grocery run.

Battery drain impact: More motors can increase battery drain slightly because they draw more power when active, especially under heavy acceleration or load. However, for general driving at moderate speeds, the difference is minimal since the truck’s software optimizes power delivery. The Cyberbeast’s extra motor might sip a bit more juice due to its higher performance potential, but Tesla’s induction motors (used in the rear of the tri-motor) can “switch off” when not needed, reducing drag and saving energy compared to permanent magnet motors. Real-world reports from owners suggest a phantom drain (when parked) of 1-4% per day regardless of motor count, so the number of motors doesn’t seem to be the main factor there—software and features like Sentry Mode play a bigger role.
In short, the single-motor would be plenty, and it might save you a tad on range compared to the tri-motor beast. But unless you’re pushing the truck hard, the motor count won’t drastically change your daily experience or drain.

Question 2 - What happened to the "boat" mode that Musk announced a few years ago. I see on the web BYD has it in at least one vehicle that actually is water safe for say crossing a river or high water area. I figure it is true as there are several video's and announcements on it.

Elon Musk did tease a “boat mode” back in 2019, hinting the Cybertruck could float or even cross rivers briefly. He doubled down in 2022, saying it could “serve briefly as a boat” to cross rivers or calm waters. The idea was tied to its sealed battery pack and wade mode, which pressurizes the battery to keep water out in depths up to 2.5 feet (0.76 meters). That’s still a feature—called “wade mode”—and it’s legit for off-roaders hitting shallow streams. It uses a “scuba pack” to maintain positive pressure, per the owner’s manual.
But the full-on “boat mode” where it floats like a pontoon? That’s quietly faded. No official updates from Tesla since those early tweets, and the production Cybertruck doesn’t advertise it. Compare that to BYD’s Yangwang U8, which has a legit “emergency floating mode” demoed in videos—swimming across pools and rivers with waterproofing and propulsion tweaks. Tesla likely realized making the 6,800-pound Cybertruck buoyant and water-safe for more than a quick wade was impractical or too costly. The stainless steel exoskeleton helps with sealing, but it’s not a hull.
So, current status: wade mode exists for shallow water (think high floods or river crossings), but don’t expect to pontoon across Lake Travis.

Question 3 - When I am driving my CyberMavrick at night or early morning that headlight across the front of your CyberTruck really blinds me both oncoming and even if you are behind me. Is there a high and low beam and if so does it adjust automatically? My Mavrick has that so when I am behind someone it switches to low beam by itself.

That front light bar sure is a head-turner—and an eye-blinder, apparently! Yes, the Cybertruck has both low and high beams, and they’re part of an LED matrix system. The owner’s manual confirms:

• Low beams: Standard for night driving, they light up with parking lights, side markers, and the tail light bar.
• High beams: Kick in manually (via a steering wheel button) or with Auto High Beam enabled. The matrix design splits the beam into smaller rays, letting it adjust dynamically.

Auto adjustment: The Cybertruck has an “Auto High Beam” feature, standard with Autopilot. It switches between high and low beams based on light detected ahead—like oncoming traffic (your CyberMaverick!) or a car in front.
That said, some owners and reviews have griped about the headlights being weak or blindingly bright to others. There’s no manual brightness tweak yet—just height adjustments via software—but Tesla could tweak this with an update if enough folks complain.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Thank you for your answers and appreciate not being mean. I think the Cybertruck is a neat vehicle and just wondered about a few things. Best of driving to you and again thanks for the detailed answers.

Be safe, Drive safe, and try and be kind to someone each day....

 

[TyPope]

Thank you for your answers and appreciate not being mean. I think the Cybertruck is a neat vehicle and just wondered about a few things. Best of driving to you and again thanks for the detailed answers.

Be safe, Drive safe, and try and be kind to someone each day....

It broke my heart having to let my Maverick go... I love my Cybertruck but I miss Maverick sometimes. I think Ford should have given it a little more powerful electric motor and maybe just a little 5 - 10 KwH plug-in hybrid battery... (rather than the 1.1 non-plug in that it has) I was getting about 52mph regularly already and liked trying to get that number up. Definitely a different style of electric truck driving but enjoyable all the same.

Yes, it would be nice if the hood accent light would dim a little at night for other drivers, but, alas, it does not... yet.

 

[mongo]

Question 3 - When I am driving my CyberMavrick at night or early morning that headlight across the front of your CyberTruck really blinds me both oncoming and even if you are behind me. Is there a high and low beam and if so does it adjust automatically? My Mavrick has that so when I am behind someone it switches to low beam by itself.

The full width light bar is just daytime running lights. The actual headlights are tucked in just above the bumper.

 

[UberNoob]

Question3,
The bar across the front is a DRL, day running light, it does not output powerful light, so much so if you turn off the headlights and attempt to drive at night greater then 5 mph you cannot see far enough ahead of you. Also FSD will not function with just the DRL / parking lights on. The actual headlights are just above the bumper. These lights are likely the ones blinding you. As they are positioned lower then even some cars, owners tend to adjust them up thinking they can see a tiny bit better. They will discover that in fog and they see the beams, they are just pointing to the treetops and not actually helping. I was guilty of this when I first got my CB. There just not as bright as say the lights on my M3P.

CT headlights are auto dim if the driver enables it, otherwise high beams can be locked on. These matrix lights are no joke. In the path of the beam they are crazy bright. Pending an approval Elon will enable adaptive lights will will disable individual LEDs reduce power etc so the car in front of you as well as oncoming traffic. I’m told the EU already uses this feature on say BMWs etc.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

Good answers from others.

1. I have the AWD and it is crazy powerful. The single-motor isn’t yet available.
2. See the posts just today out of Texas.
3. The Cybertruck has matrix headlights but they aren’t doing the matrix thing yet. Tesla is rolling out matrix capability this year. The hood light bar isn’t currently configurable/controllable but could be.

 

[mongo]

Good answers from others.

1. I have the AWD and it is crazy powerful. The single-motor isn’t yet available.
2. See the posts just today out of Texas.
3. The Cybertruck has matrix headlights but they aren’t doing the matrix thing yet. Tesla is rolling out matrix capability this year. The hood light bar isn’t currently configurable/controllable but could be.

Cybertruck does not have adaptive matrix headlights, not enough room for them

 

[REM]

Cybertruck does not have adaptive matrix headlights, not enough room for them

?

 

[btcrealm]

Cybertruck does not have adaptive matrix headlights, not enough room for them

Having replaced that headlight there is nothing 'thin' about it. LoL

 

[mongo]

Having replaced that headlight there is nothing 'thin' about it. LoL

Size is in the hand of the lamp holder ?

 

[BeFamousVideo]

Thank you for your answers and appreciate not being mean. I think the Cybertruck is a neat vehicle and just wondered about a few things. Best of driving to you and again thanks for the detailed answers.

Be safe, Drive safe, and try and be kind to someone each day....

Regarding the "boat mode". I think there was a discussion about Tesla selling specially made door seals that would prevent water getting through the doors while in boat mode.

 

[MetalBonsai]

Question 1 - Does the number of motors really matter for general driving (not off road).

I have the 2-motor version, and it's plenty powerful in "Standard" mode. You can also switch the vehicle into "Chill" mode and it relaxes the performance a bit while still being responsive and fun to drive.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts from a test drive!

 

[btcrealm]

I know these have been answered and my answers will be similar to others.
2¢

#1 Number of motors
This needs to be thought of as more than just motors. Technically off-roading the 2 motor is still better as it lockers front and rear (3 motor only locks front).
The AWD vs Cyberbeast is more a question of the "launch" (2.6sec 0-60), rapid acceleration, and maneuverability. The cyberbeast when in beast mode acts like a sports car (speed and turning). The AWD acts like a fast car in sport mode.

#2 Boat mode
There is no boat mode, someone mentioned Tela/Elon had talked about better seals for the doors. It does have 'wade mode' which positively pressurizes the battery pack for 40-50 minutes. It makes wading through high water safe.

#3 Blinding lights
I seriously doubt it is the frunk light bar blinding you. It doesn't have any distance and isn't that bright. Likely it is the headlights that sit right above the bumper (maybe they aren't turning off their high beams).

I like to tell people if you just drive to get from A to B and will likely have FSD drive you in the future get the AWD, it has better mileage as well. If you are one of those people that like the speed/launch and like to carve and play like a sports car the get the Cyberbeast. I think you will not be disappointed with either off the beaten path so likely irrelevant there.

 

[DJAlan2000]

I wouldn't trust the BYD in water... Saw the video and I would have a real issue with the front end being so low, especially considering they had passengers in the BACK seats (which would HELP balance it better).

Might be good if you get stuck in a flash flood, BUT they also state that once you use it, you must take it to a service center and have it serviced.

I'm also a bit thrown off that it has 4 motors (one for each wheel)... Why? What happens when/if just ONE motor stops working? Yep, whole car shuts down because it would be too dangerous if one 'wheel' isn't working...

Oh, and they are selling for $150,000 in China! That means it will likely be selling for about $200K or more in the USA (if it ever comes here).

Sorry, but I think I could spend the extra $100K on making my own 'boat package'... hehe...

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