Let’s get this out of the way in which first: by now, if you have not seen WhistlinDiesel’s YouTube “Sturdiness Take a look at” of the brand new Tesla Cybertruck, you… definitely can, if you wish to. It is definitely not for everybody, and it is so excessive in its brutal remedy of each the Cybertruck and a quad-cab Ford F-150 XLT that it is powerful to realize any deeper, extra sensible understanding of the idea of “construct high quality” right here.
I imply, the blokes strap a pound of C4 onto the tailgates of each vehicles. And that is simply not more likely to occur to you once you’re on the grocery retailer or no matter.
However at its greatest, the WhistlinDiesel check apes Jackass in its most hilarious moments (one other factor that is not for everybody.) And I am going out on a limb right here to say that the Cybertruck truly acquits itself higher than you may suppose; it takes a fully large beating right here with high-speed runs up and down a stack of logs, enduring varied states of disassembly, taking sledgehammers, launching over a hill Dukes of Hazzard-style, getting its air suspension trashed, having its charging port get blasted with a water strain machine, and far, rather more.
Furthermore, the F-150 handles a few of these exams higher than others, however definitely not all. And whereas it will get the “win” right here, it nonetheless wanted a driveline alternative proper on the outset and finally ends up completely annihilated on the finish. It is such an absurd, over-the-top check that it goes past something empirical or scientific, so simply maintain that in thoughts as you sit again and revel in it.
However to me, the most important issues with the Cybertruck are the standard fundamentals—the stuff that Tesla has at all times struggled with on its newer fashions, and issues that simply don’t occur with different automakers.
Let’s discuss concerning the massive one: the body. It snaps aside throughout a truck pull in opposition to the F-150 early on. “Our entire body simply snapped,” host Cody Detwiler screams about six minutes in. “The hitch is attached to… what? It simply got here off.”
He provides, “What good does the hitch do if it is barely on aluminum? Your trailer would’ve simply fallen off.” Detwiler notes that nearly “another truck” would not behave that approach as a result of the hitch and bumper would’ve been sealed and connected higher. That is all as a result of the Cybertruck has a way more distinctive, virtually unibody-like building, in contrast to the extra confirmed body-on-frame setup of the F-150—though the few different unibody vehicles just like the Honda Ridgeline seldom have bother towing and hauling powerful masses.
So whereas most Cybertruck house owners will not truly cope with gunfire and explosions every day, they’re shopping for a truck that is rated to tow as much as 11,000 kilos; and whereas we all know it cannot actually maintain a candle to an enormous diesel truck for towing, it should not endure that form of harm.
However that is not all. In searching for the Cybertruck’s apparently lifeless 12-volt battery, they uncover “two stacked washers on high of a bit of duct tape with a lacking bolt.” Later, they discover items held on by what seems to be velcro. The mirrors pop off after being kicked just a few instances. Detwiler describes a few of what he finds as “home components.”
Lastly, there’s one more “frunk check” right here, and at this level, I am going to simply beg folks to cease doing this. Everyone knows the way it ends: poorly.
All of that is, because the man up high at Tesla may say, “extraordinarily regarding.” And when you do not consider me, try the take from our buddy David Tracy over at The Autopian; he is an precise automotive engineer, and he is as baffled by some of these things as I’m.
I would say it is disappointing that some 20 years into its existence, Tesla nonetheless struggles with these sorts of high quality points on new mannequin launches—and with new mannequin launches basically, actually. And all of that detracts from a truck that in any other case, handles itself fairly properly on this insane check. The Cybertruck takes a ton of punishment right here and largely retains driving proper till the tip! It takes the C4 explosion approach higher than the F-150 does; that truck will get a gap punched in its aluminum tailgate by the blast. I am no nice fan of the Cybertruck’s design, however actually, I simply felt dangerous for the rattling factor by the tip.
And that is the place Detwiler and crew drop off the Cybertruck at a Tesla restore heart, saying it “wants a windshield and another stuff,” which is the understatement of the century. They bemoan not with the ability to do extra testing to the truck earlier than it obtained “bricked,” saying “it is not their fault” they can not. I’d argue that it actually was their fault for torturing it a lot, however I am not conscious of any autos that will survive all they did right here. Certain, the F-150 survives, however it’s totaled as properly.
So what will we study from all of this? To me, it is that sure, the Cybertruck can take a beating in a whole lot of methods. However the casting points with the bumper, the washers and the velcro stuff make me suppose that because it did with the Mannequin 3 and others, Tesla has some under-the-skin high quality points I hope it irons out quickly.
And simply in case it must be mentioned: don’t do this at dwelling.
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