900 – All about car

The Tesla Cybertruck has arrived and it is, as promised, very, uh, different than the other pickups currently on the market. The brand’s mildly enigmatic CEO Elon Musk introduced the highly enigmatic battery-powered truck at an event in Los Angeles on Thursday evening streamed live online. He was accompanied on-stage by a merry band of softcore Mad-Max-types dressed all in black, on hand to demonstrate (rather ineffectively at times) the truck’s toughness. The biggest news is the sheer audacity of this thing’s design, which, in fairness, Tesla did warn us about, in the form of nods to Blade Runner and a certain underwater James Bond car and straight disclaimers it would alienate many. Still, it — it looks like a six-year-old’s interpretation of a future truck. We honestly thought it was a joke when it first drove on stage. Also: pedestrian safety regulations are still a thing, right?The Cybertruck measures in at smaller than a Ford F-150; comes standard with adaptive air suspension; and allegedly starts at US$39,900 before any EV rebates. It will be available in three range options, measured here in miles: 250+, 300+ or 500+. The electric engine will ship the new-age pickup from zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) in a blistering 2.9 seconds in top trim, and provide enough torque to tow 14,000 lbs. This was showcased in a video of the Cybertruck literally running away with an F-150 in a tug-of-war. “You want a truck that’s really tough, not fake tough?” quipped Musk. A sledgehammer-wielding assistant showcased the toughness of the truck’s stainless steel alloy (the same material used on Tesla’s Starship rocket) by whacking away at a regular truck door, followed by the Cybertruck’s. They also shot the vehicles with a 9mm pistol. You can guess the results. But when it came time to demonstrate the durability of the transparent metal glass, the thrown object that was meant to bounce off the passenger window ended up shattering it. And the rear door window, too. Musk soldiered on through the reveal with the two shattered windows. In related truck news, GM vied for its piece of the electric pickup truck buzz on Tesla’s big day by revealing its e-truck release-date just hours before Elon went live. GM’s electric pickup will be on sale sometime in late 2021, roughly the same time Tesla estimates its truck will make its first deliveries. However, you can make a US$100 deposit on Tesla’s Cybertruck right now at Tesla.com.LISTEN: What do car dealers think about electric vehicles? Are they keen to have them in their showrooms? We talk to Vancouver GM dealer Blair Upton about this and much more during this week’s episode of Plugged In. Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.Is the player not working? Click
Origin: Tesla unveils otherworldly Cybertruck, starting at US$39,900

The Tesla Model 3 saloon is now available to order in the UK. The company’s most mainstream EV to date will see right-hand-drive deliveries from June, with customers who reserved a build slot first in line to receive their cars. Prices start from £38,900 for the entry-level Standard Range Plus model, which has a WLTP-estimated range of 258 miles. The dual-motor Long Range model starts from £47,900 and can reach 348 miles on a single charge, meaning it takes the lead in Europe as the EV with the longest official range. Both models come with aerodynamically optimised 18in alloy wheels as standard, with 19in alloys available as an option. Prices include the UK government plug-in car grant. The top-end Performance version, which has a 162mph top speed and can manage 0-62mph in 3.2sec, starts at £56,900. It rides on 20in alloy wheels and includes a Premium interior package, which includes satellite-view navigation with live traffic, a premium 14-speaker audio system and in-car music and media streaming. Tesla’s ‘full self-driving’ autonomous functionality, which is due to roll out later this year, can be added for an additional £4900. The system can be installed post-purchase for £6800. Tesla CEO Elon Musk previously confirmed that UK orders would go live in a tweet, allowing UK customers to place an order before Tesla raises the price of its ‘full self-driving’ autonomous functionality. From 10 May, those placing orders in the US will need to pay an additional $1000 for the feature. The car maker launched its configurator in December for European customers who had already put down a deposit for a Model 3 saloon, which in the process revealed previously unconfirmed pricing and range details. The Model 3 went on show in UK dealerships for the first time at the beginning of the year, with demonstration models on display at Tesla’s London Park Royal and Manchester Stockport locations ahead of right-hand-drive models going on sale. Model 3 owners will not get free access to the Tesla Supercharger high-speed charging system, with the US company planning to charge for electricity as demand grows and it requires more investment to build up its charging network. Tesla’s latest results from the third quarter of 2018 showed that it hit production targets for the Model 3, building 53,239 units. This followed a tumultuous second quarter in which a temporary ‘tent’ was constructed outside the firm’s Californian plant containing another production line so as to increase output. Tesla revealed its Semi lorry in November last year, and this is expected to go into production in 2019. Its next model, the Model Y small SUV, was revealed in March. The highly anticipated Roadster, a sports car that is promised to hit 0-60mph in 1.9sec, is pegged to arrive in
Origin: Tesla Model 3 on sale in the UK from £38,900