Cybertruck Production Version: What’s New?

Author: Turbocharged Fatty

Since its global debut in 2019, Tesla has proven through practice how “unbreakable” the Cybertruck’s glass really is…

Two years later, we have finally heard some news about the Cybertruck production version. Through an aerial video of the Cybertruck in testing at Tesla’s Fremont factory published by foreign media, we can see that this “Martian Pick-Up Truck” has undergone major plastic surgery.

Before we start, let me say one thing: I am not a Tesla fanatic or a fan, but just someone who likes unique car models.

The Cybertruck, one of the rarest of the rare, became my choice of purchase when I bought a 1:64 Cybertruck trailer set earlier.

This model I bought is full of details. So today, let’s take a look at what changes have been made to the test vehicle captured in the footage.

Big Sword and Shield

The most obvious and controversial change in the test vehicle seen in the video is the “big sword” windshield wiper on the front windshield.

The huge windshield wiper reminds me of this picture…

In addition, it can also be seen that the front windshield glass has been changed from a vertical one to a curved one, which is of course expected.

During the initial development and design phase of automobiles, most models used vertical glass, which caused strong reflection when meeting other cars and had a negative impact on the driver’s normal driving. Later, curved windshields were introduced, which could refract and weaken reflections, and so this design has been used in cars ever since.

In other words, if there wasn’t technology to solve the drawbacks of reflecting flat glass, then the Cybertruck’s flat glass was never a realistic design, or rather, a regression in design for its time.

In photos from the factory workshop, we can also see how massive this piece of glass is, like a “giant shield”…

As a result of the new curved glass design, the originally placed front lights on the roof of the car should have been cancelled.

Details Adjustments and Regulatory Requirements

Apart from the windshield wipers and front windshield, Cybertruck also has some minor adjustments in details.

For example, the charging port that was originally located behind the left rear wheel eyebrow is missing from the model used in this test video.

Some people speculate that it has been fused with the wheel eyebrow, and there does appear to be a seam in the video where the previously seamless wheel eyebrow is now apparent.

Previously, the Cybertruck that debuted used a hidden door handle design, but in this test, Tesla seems to have truly “hidden” it.

It is highly likely that the Tesla Cybertruck will use a B-pillar unlock button like the Ford Mustang Mach-E. In the video, we can also see a “little white dot” at the bottom of the B-pillar next to a camera window.

Next, let’s talk about the headlights. Previously, the Cybertruck design featured a full-length light strip that included high and low beams and daytime running lights, with left and right turn signals located on the sides above the front bumper.

In this video, it appears that the turn signal design has been extended and features segmented lighting. However, there are some questions regarding the design because US regulations require turn signals to be amber, and the previously revealed Cybertruck models did feature a design with amber light sources. The Cybertruck seen in this video has white turn signals, with brightness levels similar to the headlights.

It’s possible that this segmented lighting design will only feature daytime running lights, with the high and low beams situated in the previous turn signal location. This “separated headlight” design is becoming increasingly common in many vehicle models.

Installing windshield wipers is a requirement under current regulations, and so are side mirrors. In this test vehicle, we get our first glimpse of the Cybertruck with side mirrors installed.

Elon Musk has already responded to these updates on social media:

According to regulations, manufacturers are required to ship cars with side mirrors, but owners are allowed to modify their cars. However, the wiper is the most troublesome issue, and there is no easy solution at the moment. An ideal solution would be a deployable wiper that stows in the front trunk, but it is too complex.

As for the so-called Deployable Wiper, Tesla has applied for two patents:

• One is a single-arm wiper that relies on an electromagnetic guide rail. The wiper can move along the electromagnetic guide rail above the front trunk and below the windshield to clean the windshield, and can be stored horizontally to be hidden away.
• The other is called “Pulsed Laser Cleaning of Debris Accumulated on Glass Articles in Vehicles and Photovoltaic Assemblies,” which uses two laser emitters hidden under the front hood to clean the windshield, especially the Autopilot camera.

However, these two designs are difficult to replace traditional wipers, especially in terms of daily maintenance and manufacturing costs.

Perhaps due to the elimination of the complex wiper design, the front of the Cybertruck has been shortened to a certain extent.

Regarding details, there is also speculation that the control button for the rear roller shutter of the trunk may have been canceled.

On the previously unveiled model, there were actually roller shutter control buttons on both sides of the tailgate, but in this video, it’s unclear whether due to picture quality and lighting, the buttons were not found from several angles.

Moreover, throughout the test video, the Cybertruck tailgate remained open, and it’s currently unknown whether the roller shutter has been retained or not.

Some Words on Yoke Steering Wheel

Tesla was the first to use the Yoke steering wheel on the Cybertruck and Model S/X Plaid versions. Many foreign media outlets previously expressed that this “semi” square-shaped steering wheel is hard to use, especially when turning.

First of all, I really admit that using this steering wheel may be difficult for me, and I may not be used to it at first.

However, considering the future trend, Tesla seems to want more people to adapt early and accept the trend of the era. This trend is that most steering wheels in the era of autonomous driving will become square-shaped when not manually driven.

The main reason is that in the era of autonomous driving in the future, the usage rate of the steering wheel will decrease, and the steering wheel needs to be stored when it’s not being used. A square-shaped steering wheel is obviously easier to store than a circular one.

The Yoke steering wheel’s design is actually somewhere between the present and the future, more like a transitional design that allows users to gradually adapt. Maybe like me, you can’t adapt to or accept this design right now, but trends are trends, and we are all difficult to avoid.

Traditional car company giants like Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, etc. (although they currently have not surpassed Tesla in market value…) have also used this design in multiple concept cars and pre-production models.

Even in the line-controlled chassis DEMO released by Great Wall Motors, a square steering wheel design is adopted.

In Conclusion

When Cybertruck was launched in 2019, it was undoubtedly a sensational model, and perhaps the most futuristic design in the pre-production cars to date. It may also represent Musk’s dream of Mars.

But the future and dreams will inevitably face reality.

From the large screen mounted on the Tesla Model S, to the cancellation of the instrument panel on the Model 3, and then to Cybertruck telling everyone that future cars may not be round…..

I believe that if there were no restrictions, Tesla could directly create the earliest prototype of the Cybertruck. We cannot blame our ideals for being too ambitious, only the harsh reality.

Even though Cybertruck may not currently be suitable for the Chinese market, it remains the most attractive pure electric pickup truck model.

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.