Don't want to spend k on a Tesla Cybertruck? Try this one for 5 then

Don’t want to spend $80k on a Tesla Cybertruck? Try this one for $225 then

Published

12 months ago

December 2, 2023

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After this week’s Cybertruck delivery event, there’s been a lot of talk about disappointment on pricing, with the introductory model costing $80k as compared to the originally-promised $40k. But now there’s a way you can get one for just $225… sort of.

Back in 2019 when the Cybertruck was unveiled, Tesla said that the cheapest model would be available first and cost $39,900. But after Thursday’s delivery event, we now know that the $61k cheapest model won’t be out until 2025, and the first-available model starts at $80k.

But there’s now a way to own Cybertruck’s polarizing design for a lot cheaper – and this one fits on your shelf too.

Tesla has released a 1:18 scale diecast model of the Cybertruck for $225 which it says is based off “the same 3D CAD data used to manufacture the actual Cybertruck vehicle” and “every detail, curve and surface” has been replicated (though we’re still looking for any “curves” on the truck’s surface…).

It has posted a number of photos on its website, and the details look quite cool.

Here are the details, according to Tesla:

THE 1:18 SCALE CYBERTRUCK DIECAST WAS SPECIALLY DESIGNED BY THE TESLA DESIGN STUDIO. EVERY DETAIL, CURVE AND SURFACE IS REPLICATED FROM THE SAME 3D CAD DATA USED TO MANUFACTURE ACTUAL CYBERTRUCK VEHICLES.

INCLUDES:

180+ METAL AND PLASTIC PARTS

DETAILED INTERIOR, INCLUDING A MAP OF CYBERTRUCK’S HOME BASE DISPLAYED ON THE TOUCHSCREEN

FUNCTIONING DOORS AND MAGNETIC REAR LIFT GATE

REMOVABLE TONNEAU COVER

PANORAMIC GLASS ROOF

RUBBER TIRES

STEERABLE WHEELS

CARPETED INTERIOR

FABRIC SEAT BELTS WITH BUCKLE DETAILS

DIMENSIONS: 328MM LONG X 125MM WIDE X 103MM HIGH

WEIGHT: 3.348 LBS (1.519KG)

By “Cybertruck’s home base,” Tesla means that the tiny screen shows a map of Austin, Texas, site of Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas where the Cybertruck is being built.

But looking closer, you can see that the model isn’t based off the production Cybertruck, but rather the prototype. For example, the bed liner is metal, rather than the rubberized surface on the production vehicle. And the steering wheel is a yoke rather than the “squircle” design on the production trucks.

This also means that the 1:18 scale seems to be based on the prototype model, which has been reported as being 5% bigger in all dimensions than the production model. Tesla lists the diecast model’s dimensions as 328mm long. Multiply that by 18 and you get 5,904, then compare that to the actual 5,682mm length of the production Cybertruck. So it’s more like a 17.3:1-scale compared to the production model.

Tesla has launched other diecasts before, for almost all of its models. It recently introduced a Model Y for $195, and there are also diecasts of the Model 3 (which started at $250, but seems to have been affected by Tesla’s price drops and is now available for the low low price of $175), and even the low-production Tesla Semi (though even the diecast model is out of stock…) and constantly-delayed Tesla Roadster, also at $175. The Model S and X are nowhere to be found on the US shop, but overseas they seem to still be available for the even lower price of £86 (about $105).

These prices make the Cybertruck the most expensive diecast model that Tesla currently sells, though not the most expensive ever, as the Model 3 launched at $250.

And unlike the other diecasts Tesla sells, the Cybertruck diecast only comes in one color – nothing. The full-size Cybertruck also doesn’t come in multiple paint colors, but you can change that with a $6,500 wrap.

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What makes a Honda a Honda? Prologue engineers help us find out!

Published

8 hours ago

November 16, 2024

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What makes a Honda a Honda? Prologue engineers help us find out!

On today’s informative episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got Honda engineers Jason Hwang and Emilio Sanchez to talk us through some of the things that make the GM Ultium-based Honda Prologue EV feel like a real Honda, and why that matters.

Jason and Emilio talk about some of the choices they made to make the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX feel different from its GM-branded cousins, and explain why this was much more than a case of badge-engineering. Give it a listen, then let us know what you think of the Prologue and ZDX in the comments.

Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Learn more by clicking here.

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Environment

The Eastern US’s first CFI-funded EV charging hub comes online

Published

11 hours ago

November 15, 2024

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The Eastern US's first CFI-funded EV charging hub comes online

CF EV charging — Photo: Joint Office of Energy and Transportation

The first EV charging hub funded by the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program in the Eastern US is now online in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

The town installed the region’s first DC fast chargers (four ports), along with four Level 2 chargers, at 59 North Main Street in South Deerfield.

These new charging stations, funded with $2.46 million from the CFI program, are conveniently located near Interstate 91 in Franklin County, the most rural county in Massachusetts, which serves drivers from Connecticut up to the Canadian border.

The hub also features local and regional bus stops and designated bike lanes with secure onsite bike racks. The chargers are meant to cater to everyone: from local residents and visitors to municipal EVs and commercial vehicles that service the region’s businesses, like those in food and beverage manufacturing.

Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, sees this as a model for future projects:

Multi-modal charging hubs in communities are key to giving more people the choice to ride and drive electric. The Town of Deerfield is showing leadership in building out convenient charging infrastructure that brings new transportation choices to rural and disadvantaged communities while supporting local commerce.

In recent years, Deerfield has experienced increased climate change-driven flooding from nearby rivers, including the Deerfield River, the Connecticut River, and the Bloody Brook. The project incorporates environmental engineering designed to mitigate and adapt to the effects of flooding and climate, including the installation of permeable asphalt and rain gardens, planting of native trees, grasses, and shrubs, and the creation of new greenspace in the center of Deerfield.

The Biden-Harris administration’s CFI Grant Program is expanding EV infrastructure nationwide. It offers grants for projects that complement and expand upon the initiatives of the NEVI program in urban, rural, and disadvantaged and low-income communities. So far, the CFI Grant Program has allocated over $1 billion to nearly 100 projects across the US, encouraging private investments and expanding the EV charging network to make EV ownership more practical and convenient.

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Environment

Kia’s new low-cost EV4 was just spotted in the US for the first time

Published

12 hours ago

November 15, 2024

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Kia's new low-cost EV4 was just spotted in the US for the first time

Kia’s upcoming EV4 electric sedan was just spotted testing in the US for the first time. The low-cost EV is expected to make its big debut by the end of the year. Here’s a look at the new model.

The EV4 will round out Kia’s new “EVs for all” master plan launched last year. Kia showcased three new models, the EV3, EV4, and EV5, during its first annual EV Day in October 2023.

During the event, Kia outlined its new global strategy to “lead and accelerate the EV revolution” with a wide range of models priced from $30,000 to $80,000.

Kia plans to rapidly expand its lineup with a series of smaller, lower-priced models. It launched the EV9, its first three-row electric SUV, which is already proving to be a hot seller in the US. Starting at under $55,000, the EV9 is still a great deal compared to others in its class, but Kia plans to go even lower.

The EV3 and EV4 are expected to be among the most affordable electric vehicles when they arrive in the US.

Kia’s new EV4 is now testing in the US

Ahead of its official debut, Kia’s new EV4 sedan was recently caught driving on US streets for the first time.

The latest image from KindelAuto doesn’t reveal much more than what’s been shown in the past, but the fact that it’s now testing in the US is significant.

Kia EV4 caught on US streets for the first time (Source: KindelAuto)

Kia’s EV3 is already on sale in Korea, starting at around $30,000 (42.08 million won). Earlier this week, the company said its new compact SUV is now available across Europe, starting at around $38,000 (36,000 euros) with a “segment-leading range” of up to 375 miles (WLTP).

Next up will be the EV4. Kia is expected to officially reveal the new EV by the end of the year, with deliveries starting in 2025. It could be as soon as next week at the 2024 LA Auto Show.

The interior will feature Kia’s advanced new ccNC infotainment system with dual 12.3″ navigation and driver display screens. An otherwise minalimalistic design is expected inside.

Kia’s EV4 will also be available in a hatchback variant. Although the hatch is likely aimed at European buyers, it was also recently spotted testing in the US for the first time.