Top Gear: Cybertruck review

[Dr Mordrid]

Top Gear does Cybertruck

https://youtu.be/uefydJUbRhc?si=Cguy5kiK1qyO3FSD

[VJ]

I read the Topgear review on BBC.
I don't dislike the outside design; some criticize it is not that practical as a truck, but that is not the point. Time will tell how the choice of the steel panels will turn out, some sites write that fixing will expensive as it will imply replacement.
I don't like the interior: too little buttons, too minimalistic: a touchscreen is not always the best solution. Hyundai already started re-introduction buttons for HVAC in upcoming models...
And I also think that many of Musks claims are just pointless: bulletproof, sub-nanometer accuracy... There is no need for such "marketing", the car is distinctive enough.
But it won't come to Europe due to different safety regulations.... and it is too big for European cities.

[Dr Mordrid]

Being bulletproof for standard velocity handgun rounds is an emergent property of a stainless steel strong enough to be an exoskeleton. Some people here would find that useful, an example being in Detroit where we have had freeway shooters. Some 'Cybertrucks have been ordered as police vehicles, and Oracle is porting their police software to the Cybertruck.

A bit tongue in cheek, Tesla calls it an advance in post-apocalyptic technology.

[VJ]

While such gun-levels are still weird to me, I get your point. But the demonstration with a sub-machine actually make it look too much of a show. Same for the "sub-nanometer accuracy" of the panels: no-one asks for that and it is just impossible. Or the glass that should hold up in that steel-ball demonstration: it does not matter that the glass breaks as long as it withstands the ball (which it did). To me, that was not a failure, but trying to oversell it is. So why try to oversell it with such claims? If it is good, the car will sell itself. The claims just make it look worse.

The crash-test looks interesting. Full frontal impact does seem very rigid (less of a crumple zone effect), so perhaps there may be a bigger impact on the occupants, but it seems still ok. The website where I saw it compare the full-frontal impact of the cybertruck with the half-frontal impact of the Rivian, which is a completely pointless comparison.
The drag-race that went a bit viral is also impressive: out-accelerating a Porsche while towing that same Porsche is downright impressive - it does not matter that it is a lower-specced Porsche. There are of course other aspects besides acceleration, but for that demo it was nice.

[Dr Mordrid]

The accuracy of the metal was actually an issue, misalignment could cause snagging on passing items. Tesla actually developed a technology for getting that accuracy during air-bending but on steroids.

They've also enhanced its ability to cross water and streams; you put it in Wade Mode which causes the battery to pressurize (prevents water ingress) and raises the ride height to maximum.