Tesla Utility Vehicle Cars

With the pandemic still looming over our heads, 2021 was a pretty action-packed year for the auto industry. Sure, you had challenges, with automakers having to contend with issues like chip shortages, causing delays to consumers. But regardless, the show had to go on and we got some pretty cool cars making their debut, predominantly towards the latter half of 2021.

Let’s get one thing out of the way, 2021 really was also the year, when the market as a whole began to embrace EV’s and you could see several automakers both the legacy as well as EV startups bring several new models to market. Having said that, we did see some pretty cool ICE cars, also make their debut. Now there were several cars that made headlines this year, it was very difficult to pick out the best ones, but the cars on this list definitely stood out. Here’s our list of some of the most highly anticipated and important cars that were unveiled in 2021.

Some time ago, Tesla unveiled their boldly-styled Cybertruck. The futuristic-looking EV puck-up truck was and still is talked about a lot. We also know that it will be on sale sometime in late 2021. Despite its official introduction, however, the Cybertruck remained a work in progress and now, more details about it came out.

Those of you that are familiar with Frank Stephenson’s ever-growing YouTube channel know the former designer’s blunt, straight-to-the-fact manner of giving the verdict on a particular design. Only this time around, he dissects the Tesla Cybertruck, one of the most polarizing cars to reach the public’s eye in recent times.

The Cybertruck was unveiled more than a year ago and in typical Musk fashion, it shook the internet then split it in two: those that loved the edgy pickup and those that loathed it. Care to know Franks’s Stephenson’s opinion?

We don’t have to tell you just how polarizing the Cybertruck has been in the wake of its controversial unveil back in November 2019. But the wave it sent to all online mediums has been of an unseen magnitude and that’s the best marketing strategy Tesla could ever wish for.

As a result, people came up with wicked renderings and some even started out building their own version of the Cybertruck. In this article, however, we’re going to be looking at whether a police Tesla Cybertruck would make sense in real life, given that some U.S. police departments are already acquiring and modifying Tesla Model 3s for patrol and other duties and we’ve also caught word of interest in the Cybertruck too, albeit from more exotic parts of the world.

Not a single week passes by without new

related talking points surfacing online. Whether it’s a Hot Wheels RC Tesla Cybertruck or actual details about the real thing, Tesla’s polarizing pickup truck still has a lot of fire in its belly to stay in the headlines for the time being.

Nobody thought we’d still be talking about the Tesla Cybertruck, but here we are. It looks like the controversial launch of the pickup truck and the car itself are still sending ripples throughout almost every online medium out there.

Take YouTube, for example, where a bunch of mechanical wizards set out to build a go-kart-sized replica of the Tesla Cybertruck. Their road from zero to hopefully hero is documented via three videos posted by the Hacksmith, so we’re urging you to go check them out because they’re totally worth it. In the meantime, let’s find out more about the project.

The Cybertruck’s glass-shattering saga will remain fresh in our minds for a very long time. It’s not because of what happened on stage, but because Musk and his team don’t want us to forget.

Tesla is channeling all the hype it has received through memes and internet jokes into merchandise sales. On that note, the company is launching a new T-shirt featuring the incident, along with other Cybertruck-themed apparels and accessories. This is modern marketing 101 right here. The only downside - it’ll set you back by $45.

We’ve been told that the reveal of the Tesla Cybertruck will be live-streamed at 11:00 PM EST (8 PM PST) but we’ve yet to see an official stream anywhere on the internet. Musk has refrained from using the official Tesla Youtube channel for live streams, so it probably won’t happen there, and your best bet is to see the official stream on social media or the Tesla homepage, which was the case last time.

However, there are a few independent youtube channels, at least a couple of which claim to actually be at the event. If things fall through, you might be able to get a good first look in the videos below.

The Tesla Cybertruck is scheduled to make its debut at 8pm PST \ 11pm EST on Friday November 21, 2019 and, since it’s less than 48 hours away, it’s time to look at our expectations of what is, arguably, the most anticipated debut of 2019. Let’s take a brief look at towing capacity, range, performance, and utility.

Tesla is known for breaking from tradition, and that includes the way in which it updates its various model lines. Rather than creating an entirely new “generation” every five years like the rest of the industry, the California-based brand prefers a steady stream of incremental updates to keep things fresh. However, that could change with the forthcoming Model S and Model X, as rumor has it Tesla has a substantial powertrain update in the works, with tech bits pulled from the Model 3 compact sedan.

Tesla is about to welcome its newest member to the family when the Model Y makes its long-awaited debut this week at the company’s L.A. design studio. The Model Y’s arrival adds another model to Tesla’s growing lineup of electric cars. The crossover is expected to slot between the entry-level Model 3 and the larger, more expensive Model S and Model X. Detailed specs will be revealed during the debut, but this early, there’s already growing buzz that the Model Y could turn into Tesla’s most popular model so far. That’s what happens when you’re a crossover that’s tipped to fetch a rather inexpensive price tag. For a number of reasons, the Tesla Model Y has the makings of a successful new offering for Tesla. Let’s take a look at some of those reasons.

Nikola Motor Company, a company that unveiled a hydrogen truck concept in 2016, has filed a lawsuit against Tesla in Arizona alleging that Elon Musk’s firm infringes on its patents with the all-electric Semi truck. The lawsuit claims Tesla willfully copied Nikola’s patents in creating its electric truck. The Utah-based company is seeking $2 billion in damages.

After years of rumors and speculation that Tesla might build a pickup truck or a Semi, the electric car manufacturer finally unveiled the latter in a press conference that also revealed the second-generation Roadster. And just as it happened in the past with the Model S, Model X, and Model 3, Elon Musk made some spectacular claims about the performances of both vehicles. Actually, I’d dare say he went farther than usual by calling the next Roadster the "quickest production car ever made. Period." He also described the semi truck as a vehicle that "accelerates like nothing else." Granted, both claims can become reality, but maybe Musk is talking a bit too much a bit too soon. And it seems to me that he’s considering the semi a sports car rather than truck that’s supposed to haul stuff the efficient way.

Sure, the fact that this truck won’t use expensive diesel to move about enables Tesla to think about other factors, including performance, but I still don’t get why a truck must accelerate like "nothing else." Should it be about a truck that brakes like nothing else or an electric hauler that allows you to cover at least the same distance as a diesel truck on a tank of fuel? Musk also seems to be concerned about that fact that truckers must wait for 15 minutes while the tank gets filled at the gas station. Seriously now, have you heard of a trucker who fell asleep at the pump while his tank was gulping diesel? Trucks are high maintenance; I’m pretty sure a semi driver has plenty of chores to do at the gas stations.

More importantly, Musk ignored a few important facts about trucks in his speech.

Continue reading to find out what.

Elon Musk and Tesla have defied the odds by finally debuting the automaker’s first stab at the commercial trucking industry. It’s called simply the Tesla Semi and it finally broke cover at a media event on November 16, 2017, after years of teasing. Debuting alongside the hot 2020 Tesla Roadster, the Semi is designed to reinvent the way trucking is done. Tesla says its all-electric drivetrain will give more than 500 miles of range on a single charge while towing 80,000 pounds, be far less difficult to maintain, and outperform convention semi trucks in both performance and safety – all at a lower operating cost. That’s a tall order. Oh, and it’ll hit 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds when unloaded.

Along with the Semi, Tesla will be releasing a new charging system. It’s called the Megacharger and it’s a high-speed DC charging station capable of adding roughly 400 miles of range in only 30 minutes. Tesla says the Megachargers can be installed by fleet operators anywhere along their routes and will be common at truck stops in heavily trafficked areas.

Continue reading for more information.

Tesla Motors’ well-known CEO, Elon Musk, was recently interviewed at the StartmeupHK Venture Forum in Hong Kong. On the list of topics was Tesla and its current lineup of vehicles, including the new Model X. Probing for information, the on-stage interviewer asked Musk about Tesla offering a pickup truck. The point-blank question was met with positive remarks.

“Yeah, I think it’s quiet likely we’ll do a truck in the future,” Musk replied. When asked for more details, Musk laughingly responded with, “No, [but] I think it’s sort of a logical thing for us to do in the future.” (Musk’s comments start at the 24:55 minute mark in the video.)

Huh, a Tesla truck; that’s an interesting thought. The fledgling automaker will have some serious issues to overcome should it move forward with the idea. First, trucks are generally more abused – or at least saddled with harder work – more so than sedans or crossover SUVs. They’re designed to tow, haul, and tackle moderately rough terrain. Then there’s the issue of aerodynamics. Trucks inherently behave like a brick in a wind tunnel, with their cargo beds and flat fronts pushing through the air.

Perhaps Tesla will rethink the idea of what a truck is. Perhaps they will introduce a sort of El Camino or Ridgeline-like vehicle based on the Model X, designed only to haul the occasional wet dog, Ikea box, or smelly gym bag. Labeling it a truck would likely spur sales thanks to the hot pickup and SUV market these days.

However, there are major concerns about such a vehicle. Keep reading for more.

Continue reading for more information

The Tesla Model X isn’t in production yet, nor has a production model even been revealed, but the all-electric SUV continues to be the focal point of many discussions. One of the latest comes from seekingalpha, a research website for investors (that requires an email subscription), in which a recent article suggests that Audi’s launch of the 2016 Q7 e-tron quattro plug-In hybrid could put Tesla’s third production vehicle in a hole.

This argument is centered on the waiting list where an estimated 23,000 potential buyers have laid down their refundable $5,000 deposits. The author seems to think that if the Q7 and its combination of a diesel engine and a plug-in hybrid powertrain arrive before the Model X, people will opt for the seven-passenger hybrid over the seven-passenger electric vehicle. More so, he believes that the price difference between the two vehicles, which he estimates to be around $35,000, people will buy the Q7 PHEV now as well as the proposed $35,000 Tesla Model III that is scheduled to debut in 2017.

Only time will tell if this theory plays out, but our best guess is this will not be the case. Sure, there might be a handful of customers who put their name on the list just looking for an efficient, three-row SUV, but at the same time, most of these people are probably looking for a fully electric vehicle rather than just the 35 miles of electric range the Q7 diesel PHEV is expected to deliver. On top of that, it would seem that Tesla buyers are willing to stay on their “invisible leash” (aka Tesla’s Supercharger) in order to enjoy zero-emission driving.

Regardless of which scenario plays out for the Tesla Model X, this is definitely an exciting time for SUV drivers where a variety of advanced plug-in utility vehicles are preparing to hit the market.

Click past the jump to read more about Audi’s future Q7 Plug-in Hybrid.

So, we have been very patient with what may be one of the best crossover SUVs ever built: the Tesla Model X.
We were expecting to see the Model X released in late-2013 for the 2014 model year, but things are changing, as they usually do. According to a report by Los Angeles Times, the Model X’s production has been pushed to late-2014 with deliveries happening in 2015.

The reasoning for the delay is that Tesla has been so focused on improving the Model S that it chose to push the Model X back, as opposed to rushing through it. We’ll take that excuse at its face value, but that seems almost like a cop-out, as we haven’t seen any changes to the Model S since it was released, sans a significant price hike. Maybe there is a change to the Model S around the corner that we are not yet aware of.

So, those of you that are excited to get your hands on this crossover SUV that hits 60 mph in under 5 seconds while looking pretty sexy, you’re just going to have to wait a little longer.

We’ll keep you updated.

Two years ago, we were announcing that Toyota and Tesla Motors had entered an agreement that would net Tesla $60 million to design and manufacture an all-electric powertrain for the RAV4 SUV. Finally, after all of this time we have a debut date set. Unfortunately, it isn’t a showroom debut, but rather a showing of the final product.
Toyota has just has unveiled this new Tesla and Toyota collaboration to the U.S. at the International Electric Vehicle Symposium in LA on the May 7th at noon. The new RAV4 EV is powered by a 154 HP electric powertrain and has a driving range rating of approximately 100 miles and charging time of approximately six hours on a 240V/40A charger. It comes with two driving modes: Sport and Normal. In Sport version the car will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds and will go up to 100 mph, while in Normal mode it will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds with a maximum speed of 85 mph.

Compared to the standard RAV4, the new EV version will get a re-styled the front bumper, upper and lower grill, side mirrors, rear spoiler, and under body design to maximize air flow around the vehicle. The model will be offered in three exterior colors: Blizzard White Pearl, Shoreline Blue Pearl and Classic Silver Metallic combined with a unique "Neutron" fabric for the interior.

UPDATE 05/08/2012: The new Toyota RAV4 EV will go on sale in late Summer 2012 through select dealers at a starting price of $49,800.