Latest Cybertruck Beta Prototype Spotted with More Surprises

It’s like spotting Bigfoot. Every time Tesla’s Cybertruck appears in the wild (video), it generates millions of views and a lot of conversation. The proof photo also offers some surprises. This shouldn’t come as a shock considering Tesla’s chief designer Franz von Holzhausen has said that some elements of the Cybertruck have yet to be revealed.

A current picture Posted by @greggertruck gave us a good look at the front of the much-anticipated, futuristic-looking vehicle. While Tesla is nearing production, there are still some tweaks to be made to the final product. You can expect one of those weeks to be the massive wiper. Elon Musk has said it would not be part of the final production but the giant blade is still in place as seen in the photo.

Musk isn’t a fan of the wiper that spans the entire windshield. about a a year ago he tweeted: The wipers bother me the most. No easy solution. A retractable wiper that stows in the front trunk would be ideal, but complex.

Front bumper and front lightbar

The Cybertruck appears to have a slightly different front bumper design in this photo compared to previous prototypes. The light bar above the windshield also remains a mystery. Early Alpha prototypes included a full-width light above the windshield. However, many states do not allow lights above the windshield to be used on public roads. Tesla might face some challenges in maintaining this lightbar in the production version of the vehicle.

all-wheel steering

Four wheel steering Cybertruck is sick! ? pic.twitter.com/WAlCTIBxWi

— Tokyotesla (@Tokyotesla1) February 4, 2023

In the meantime a last video posted on TokyoTesla’s Twitter has been viewed over 8 million times. At first glance, it looks like the Cybertruck will skid, but upon closer inspection you can see that the rear wheels turn in unison with the front wheels, suggesting that the Cybertruck will have four-wheel steering.

Although four-wheel steering is not a new technology, it was not well received in the automotive world in the 1980s when it was introduced by various brands including BMW, Porsche, Acura, Nissan and Renault. However, competitors are now introducing four-wheel steering in their electric vehicles, such as the Hummer, which is said to offer a better off-road experience, and Hyundai’s Silverado, as well as Hyundai’s IONIQ 5.

air suspension

In addition to four-wheel steering, the Cybertruck will also feature advanced air suspension, similar to the Model X. The Model X can have ground clearance as low as 5.4 inches or as high as 8.1 inches. At the same time, the Cybertruck appears very low in the video with all-wheel steering, but other videos and images show it much higher.

Full length taillights

Eventually, the taillights will be a full red bar running the length of the tailgate, Elon Musk confirmed on Twitter, although previous videos only showed two lights at the ends.

The limited amount of Cybertrucks is expected to hit the market later this year, with ramp-up production not happening until 2024.

Tesla’s highly anticipated FSD Hardware 4, also known as HW4, is being installed in new vehicles every day. The company received European approval to sell its latest FSD hardware in the Model S and Model X vehicles.

The timing of the deployment of the new computer that controls the world’s most technologically advanced vehicle has been a mystery. There has been some speculation that Tesla may delay launching the sophisticated system until Cybertruck is released. However, only a limited number of Cybertrucks are expected this year, with full production beginning in 2024.

Several changes are coming

According to the European certificate issued by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW on January 20, 2023, several other changes will be made to Teslas. The top speed for the Model S increases to 174 MPH (280 km/h) from the factory. But owners can add even more speed with the optional carbon-ceramic brake kit, which propels the car to the aforementioned 200 MPH (322 km/h). It sounds like the Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit option could be coming soon.

Hardware 4.0

Unfortunately, the European certificate doesn’t reveal any details about what’s included in Tesla’s 4th Gen Autopilot hardware. The system is expected to use 5-megapixel cameras, giving Autopilot a significant advantage in determining more distant objects. The new hardware will also feature a new FSD computer that is expected to be about four times more powerful than the FSD computer in Hardware 3 today. Additionally, HW4 is expected to include HD radar, which could greatly improve FSD. In the same line as the new FSD computer, Tesla also mentions a new GNSS antenna used for GPS. However, GNSS antennas also offer support for other systems such as GLONASS, Baidu and Galileo.

Other changes to the Model S and Model X

Other approved European updates include new Gen3 inverters and changes to the automatic headlights. In addition, Model X will feature a unified braking system and a new rearview mirror bracket. Finally, the cosmetic changes introduced in North America last month will also be implemented in Europe with the tail badging.

Tesla does not offer retrofits

It’s not yet known when the new hardware will debut, but Tesla won’t be upgrading the existing fleet. During the fourth-quarter earnings call, Elon Musk said that “the cost and difficulty of retrofitting hardware 3 to hardware 4 is quite high. Therefore, in my opinion, it would not be economically feasible to do so.”

This could be due to the new HD radar, new power or space requirements for the new computer or radar, or the complexity of wiring harnesses. It would also put a huge strain on Tesla Service, which would have to upgrade millions of vehicles. Even with Hardware 4.0 there could be more that has not yet been revealed.

Model 3 and Model Y

Unsurprisingly, Tesla decided to introduce Hardware 4.0 to the Model S and Model X first. These are lower volume vehicles and it makes sense to introduce these changes slowly. Parts may still be limited, or Tesla may want to reduce the cost of a recall if there are issues with the new hardware. We know the upcoming Cybertruck will also use Hardware 4.0, but that still leaves out the Model 3 and Model Y. However, we speculate that Tesla will try to update the Model 3 and Y as soon as possible. Once it is known that the Model S and Model X vehicles will be equipped with Hardware 4.0, many owners may choose to delay ordering or shipping a Model 3 or Model Y.

We’ll likely hear more about FSD hardware 4.0 very soon when these vehicles ship to customers.

Tesla is known for its luxurious, high-end electric vehicles with cutting-edge technology and impressive performance. However, the company may be planning a significant pivot to produce a more affordable car that would appeal to a wider audience. The move would undoubtedly shake up the auto industry, but a renowned industry expert thinks that while a cheap vehicle is doable, it’s not the right move for Tesla.

Sandy Munro recently shared his insights into the future of electric vehicles, particularly Tesla, with Tesla owners in Silicon Valley. Munro sees one way Tesla could approach this cheaper car. According to Munro, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries would have to be used, which are cheaper and still good enough for the majority of the population. Tesla currently only uses LFP batteries in some of its models.

Sandy Munro talks about Tesla

The risk with small, cheap cars

Munro says nobody makes a lot of money off small cars, especially in North America. Additionally, Tesla would need to be more economical to create a more affordable vehicle. This approach means that the company would have to consider which functions are not essential. Munro suggests, for example, that cheaper drum brakes could be used instead of disc brakes, and that a Bose stereo might not be necessary for a less expensive car.

Munro says Tesla could drop to $24,000-$28,000. But he warns: “If you come out with the cheap car, what’s really in it for you? Not much because people are still willing to put their hand in their pocket and pull out 40 grand and say I want that. That’s the risk with small cars.” He also says small cars make a few hundred dollars per unit sold, significantly less than Tesla’s current margins.

However, Musk must see some merits in offering a more affordable car; He said at the B20 conference in November, “Musk confidently responded to the question, ‘I can’t say too much about the future of Tesla product development other than to say that we believe there’s a lot to be gained from making a much more affordable vehicle would make sense and we should do something.”

A risk-free offer with high profit potential

Nevertheless, there is a significant gap in the market that Tesla can not only fill but dominate: “If I were Elon Musk, I would consider building a minivan or something. He can still make a bunch of money and don’t take no chances. This is a risk-free proposal to build a minivan. Musk has floated the idea of ​​a “highly configurable vehicle” in the past, and Munro sees a gaping hole. “When Dodge and Chrysler left the minivan, there wasn’t a minivan out there. There’s one, Kia Carnival, and these guys can’t keep it in the showroom.”

Munro believes it was the marketing guys who killed the minivan, “everyone in marketing says, ‘oh, we don’t want to make a car like that because it emasculates men and gives women the soccer mom image.’ You know what? There are a lot of people out there who like this car because it was the best selling thing they had and on top of that there are a lot of soccer moms! So why not try to take advantage of that?”

A Tesla minivan would have all the amenities expected from the brand, but could also sell the safety factor. Teslas are repeatedly recognized for their rigorous design and commitment to safety. Given that minivans are synonymous with transporting young families, it would be a perfect match.

At Investor Day on March 1st, we will learn more about the next generation Tesla model.