Long Range RWD Cybertruck launched! 362 miles range w/ soft tonneau ($62,490 w/ tax credit)

[TheLastStarfighter]

My initial reaction to this announcement was something like "Oh neat, the RWD has finally come, let's welcome them to the family with a hug!"

RWD CT:

But then, I thought about it more. We have to remember that a lot of us on this site are car/Cybertruck enthusiasts. Many have been fixated on this truck for 5 years years before it was released, analyzing every last detail and feature. We see so much "value" being lost for the RWD because we love all those features, but many people don't know about them and don't care. My parents, for example, have never bought a car with leather (or plastic like Teslas), a big stereo, LED accents, 600hp, AWD or anything else removed for the new model.

And a lot of the CT features definitely fall into the luxury/enthusiast/James Bond category. They are amazing for those of us that love them and appreciate them, but 90% of cars don't have them. Most trucks sold aren't Raptors or Limiteds, nor are they electric. Few have air suspensions or raised suspensions or 35s. Many people prefer cloth seats.

For $60+k you can now get a truck that is significantly better in many ways than products offered for $40-50k by competitors. But you don't have to pay for gas, which for me would make it dead even after 4-5 years. So really it's still a cool car and a good value. Tesla needs to expand the market to justify production, and really this is the only way to do it. The AWD and Beast are luxury trucks with a crazy long list of enthusiast features. They will always be too costly for mass market, at least for some time. Reduced battery cost could see them cheaper eventually.

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[WHIZZARD OF OZ]

Ninja Turltle head?

I see a CYBERBYRD...... 'Pterodactyl' precisely; to go head to head with The Raptor, maybe ?
Let face it, this CT can 'Fly' ( 362 miles if you 'S Q U E E Z E' the juice pedal.

 

[HaulingAss]

That is a lot of sacrifice for a 10K difference, imo.
No cover may not be an issue as folks may need to add a truck bed system with its own cover.

It really highlights how much value the Dual Motor Cybertruck offers for such a low price.

Most truck buyers plan on buying a bunch of expensive accessories to outfit their new truck (often including bigger wheels and tires). A Dual Motor comes witth the best motorized tonneau cover in the industry (that completely disappears in the bowels of the truck when it's open) and the bed of the Cybertruck doesn't cry out for a bedliner either.

At only $79,990 before the $7500 tax credit the Dual Motor is a screaming deal. Show me another truck, even one without a damage resistant body and glass, that compares favorably on specs, comfort and features, safety, convenience, running costs or driving experience. You're not going to find one.

 

[HaulingAss]

The RWD will probably be the most reliable out of the line up because of less components.

I’ve taken my awd for tonneau cover service 3 times,
Seals coming out, wouldn’t close all the way, and visible gaps on the top. After the warranty is up these are going to be expensive repairs.

I think you will find most truck owners fix little stuff like that themselves, at little to no cost, after the warranty runs out.

My tonneau has been functioning flawlessly for over a year and I park it outside in the rain, snow and sun 100% of the time. I use the tonneau often, it's been frozen and baked, soaked and stomped on, and it just keeps on making that wonderful "clickety-clack" sound that I love. I don't see it as a problem, it's actually a huge benefit over what other pickups offer, including all the aftermarket stuff that's available (for a high price).

 

[HaulingAss]

It does, and since 90% of people don't ever use there truck for hauling. They also prioritized comfort. And if you need more capacity, you get the AWD/CB version.

It's the same for all trucks. Entry level F-150 hauls 8200lbs, highest level hauls 13,500lbs

In the truck world, "hauling" always refers to cargo capacity. Your figures refer to towing capacity.

 

[Gigahorse]

Well, that's why I said "FSD will be". I know Elon's been promising it for years, but (I believe) v12 was the first version to incorporate the neural networks, and v13 was the first to do it 'end to end'. So, looking at it that way, they've only been at this approach for ~2 years. Since I use FSD every day (not blindfolded yet, though, agreed), I'm optimistic it'll keep improving.

In the meantime, I literally did the two handed McDonald's thing this morning on the way back from Home Depot to my house.

It is nice to be able to eat, drink, text (no you shouldnt) but after so many years of paying for FSD throughpurchases it just seems like it should be here already. Elon is always optimistic on timeframe but we are 9 years into FSD and (about a year away x9)

 

[HaulingAss]

If they made that truck they would have to sell it without a tow hitch, because if someone hooked up a trailer they would not make it from one supercharger to the next.
I think this will be the lowest model/trim of the CT, hopefully they can drop the price with scale, but to get to scale they need to SELL more trucks.

Don't be silly, even a 250-mile range Cybertruck would still have been equipped with a tow receiver (had Tesla decided to go that route). The single motor is a work truck, and most towing is local. Building materials, ditch witches, riding lawn mowers, hot tubs, tool trailers, mobile offices, boats to the lake, etc.

Plus, the vast majority of Supercharger routes can be completed with less than 100 miles per leg, don't be a drama queen. Not all towing cuts range in half, and not everyone needs to drive at 70 mph when towing.

My point is, even if Tesla had decided to release a 250-mile RWD Cybertruck like they originally revealed, it most certainly would have had a tow reciever built into it, just like the upmarket trims. In fact, the reveal 250-mile RWD had a published towing capacity that was lower than the AWD and Beast, but still respectable.

 

[dalton108]

Just got this email. So it shows full front light bar?

Pretty sure that image is of a Cyberbeast. I can’t zoom in on your image from the email but you can and I’m certain that it’s the exact same image from the order page. That’s an unfortunate bait and switch by Tesla. Traditional marketing ploy and a dick move that I’m sorry they’re stooping to.

Show the top trim while you say “starting at.” The DLR bar is the “signature light” and the RWD will not have it and it’s sure shit doesn’t have the factory light bar. Don’t be fooled.

 

[HaulingAss]

What about a possible even lower budget option with less batteries or restrict the batteries with an upgrade. RWD 200-250miles. 5 years ago the RWD was only to have 250 miles range now it’s flipped.

Now that the Cybertruck has finished it's first year of production (and announced specs on the RWD) we can tally how their reveal range estimates fared relative to released range:

Single Motor 250+ miles: Big beat
Dual Motor 300+ miles: Solid beat
Tri-motor 500 miles: Big miss

The people who endlessly complained the Cybertruck didn't even come close to range estimates can now celebrate another range estimate beat, right?

Nope. All they can do is complain it's only $10K cheaper than the Dual Motor even though it has even more range than the Dual Motor (which also beat reveal estimates by solid margin).

But wait... wasn't the RWD always anticipated to be only $10K cheaper than the Dual Motor?

 

[HaulingAss]

It is nice to be able to eat, drink, text (no you shouldnt) but after so many years of paying for FSD throughpurchases it just seems like it should be here already. Elon is always optimistic on timeframe but we are 9 years into FSD and (about a year away x9)

Why don't you just buy FSD (or equivalent) from one of Tesla's competitors? Nobody is forcing you to buy Tesla's FSD.

 

[HaulingAss]

What makes you believe the front DU is installed and disabled?

Lack of critical thinking skills?

 

[HaulingAss]

Motorized tonneau is like a requirement. Missing that is a big loss

RWD will be hard to source, like the $35K RWD Standard Range Model 3 in 2018/2019. All manufacturers like to have a low price point offering to get people thinking about buying their product. Then, when they realize they can get all the goodies for only $10K more, they make the financial stretch. That's how sales work, the buyer has to start thinking it's affordable, then they want one, then they realize $10K is worth it for all the goodies.

The de-contented RWD is a smart move to sell more Dual Motors. Over the next two years, Tesla will sell lots of Dual Motors and very few Beasts and RWDs.

 

[HaulingAss]

Seems like they just downgraded some things to make the AWD look more attractive.

Exactly! A number of buyers don't like to buy the lowest model. This fills that need so they can buy the mid-range.

 

[HaulingAss]

It’s not bad looking they did a good job with a retro fit replacement, but it can be easily cut. I think that’s why I appreciate the vault locker we have now. Not to mention it can be stood on. More of a party trick but still super cool from a motorized cover

I don't consider the stiff tonneau cover a party trick.

Not only is it very hard to break into, it's great for standing on to get another 5 feet of extension for your pole pruner or to clean out a gutter, etc.

 

[HaulingAss]

We all expect Tesla to be different but not cheap. US is not Mexico and the severe lack of customization features. It’s already prevalent with Tesla. while I recognize the core technological value, u want to feel good about your car bein telecom your personality and right now Tesla lacks on that.

Look at all the various car models that have held the title of "best-selling car in the world" for one or more years. None of them are that special, they are just boring, but good, cars.

For the last two years in a row, a Tesla has held that title. This is what high-volume automaking is all about, providing practical value to the buyer.

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