EVERYTHING THAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THE TESLA CYBERTRUCK FOUNDATION SERIES

When Tesla announced the Cybertruck, it revealed a launch edition trim called the Foundation Series. It allocated these models to the first 1,000 reservation holders, with a significant premium attached. In return, these holders would get a Cybertruck in Dual-Motor or Cyberbeast-guise, with some special details and features. Launch editions are a common practice among most manufacturers as a way to celebrate brand-new models and give customers the opportunity to own something a bit more special.

Launch edition models typically cost more than their standard trims, but you get access to special paints, interior materials, badging, and most of the optional extras. These types of trims have become a lot more common in the age of electrification, as brands try to increase their appeal to the already limited demand. The Tesla Cybertruck definitely isn't a car that needed to attract more potential customers, as its reservations filled up almost immediately after the brand announced it. These customers maintained their dedication, despite continuous delays, slight specification changes, and certain production quality flaws.

Tesla Charges A Premium Of $20,000 For Foundation Series Launch Edition

Tesla priced the Foundation Series option at $20,000 above the $60,990 starting price. The Cybertruck's pricing has been a controversial topic since the day the brand revealed it to us, but this is similar to a lot of competing EV trucks. Initial pricing in 2019 suggested that the Cybertruck range would start at around $39,900 for a work truck with a single-motor rear-wheel drive specification. Ford and Chevrolet announced similar trims for their respective electric trucks, but these never came to fruition either, for the exact same reasons.

Tesla Cybertruck Trims And Pricing

The Cybertruck in particular was subject to extensive production delays. Changes in the financial sector also led to speculation about price adjustments, and by 2023, inflation and rising material costs forced the entire automotive industry's hand to raise prices. Additionally, Tesla announced that the Dual-Motor all-wheel-drive version would cost $49,900, while the top-tier triple-motor all-wheel-drive model came in at $69,900.

We know that these are now heavily understated prices, as a Dual-Motor now costs $79,990 MSRP, after a recent price hike. It launched at $76,390 just a few months ago. The flagship Cyberbeast now costs $99,990, making it one of the most expensive electric trucks you can buy in the U.S., today.

Foundation Series Owners Get Early Delivery

The 1,000 customers who specified the Foundation Series package enjoy an earlier delivery. This was initially slated for a 2021 release, but Tesla eventually managed to get these to customers at the end of last year. Multiple delays famously plagued the Cybertruck's production.

Tesla introduced an all-new production and manufacturing process for the truck's unique stainless steel exoskeleton, which contributed to the delay, as it expressed there was some difficulty in getting this off the ground. There was also an issue surrounding the integration of more advanced features, such as the infamous armored glass panels. Covid-19 added another layer of complexities in 2020, which forced Tesla to halt production. The subsequent supply chain disruptions further impacted global manufacturing schedules which piled onto the brand's exacerbating delays.

Tesla announced that it would have to push its production cycle back to 2022 after these occasions, but delays continued as the brand focused on ramping up production of its other vehicles and completing the Texas-based Gigafactory. The Model Y and 3's impressive market success became a priority, as they are far more profitable products. Company CEO Elon Musk also noted difficulties surrounding the high-tech components and battery constraints needed to meet the Cybertruck's proposed specifications, resulting in additional delays.

In mid-2022, Tesla confirmed that production would not begin until 2023, which was the final delay announced, as deliveries took place just a few months later. As far as deliveries go, this wasn't the smoothest of ones, with the model already being subject to some recalls.

Special Badging And Bespoke Interior

The patient few who opted for the Foundation Series package eventually received a Cybertruck with special laser-etched Foundation Series badges and cabin graphics, bespoke white decor and upholstery, and 3D all-weather interior liners. Other than this, the Cybertruck's interior aesthetic remains pretty much unchanged. This groundbreaking but controversial electric truck takes a minimalist and futuristic approach with its cabin design, which emphasizes both functionality and space. Tesla fits the cabin with a sleek and geometric, angular dashboard with an equally attention-grabbing 17-inch central touchscreen. Like its other passenger cars, Tesla opts to forgo any physical controls.

Tesla Cybertruck Interior Dimensions

The steering wheel draws some inspiration from the brand's controversial yoke design to further promote a modern design and improve visibility from the driver's seat. The cockpit provides enough seating for six people, thanks to a spacious front bench and a fold-down center console that you can use as an armrest or for additional storage.

Where materials are concerned, the brand opts for a combination of durable and premium finishes to translate into a rugged and luxurious ambiance. Being a new electric car, the interior wouldn't be complete without a multicolor ambient lighting suite.

Standard Features On The Foundation Series

If you paid an extra $20,000 for the Foundation Series edition, your Cybertruck also includes gear locker dividers, a glass roof sunshade, D-rings, L-track hooks, an L-track bottle opener, and a center console tray. You also get the futuristic off-road light bar, but this piece of equipment is only making its way to owners sometime later this year. This piece of equipment sits at the top of the Cybertruck's windscreen and is intended to improve visibility while off-roading in darker conditions.

Additional Foundation Series features include Teslas' Powershare vehicle-to-load home back-up capability, the Powershare mobile connector, a universal wall connector, and the full self-driving capability suite. Naturally, you can specify most of these options via Tesla's configurator or its extensive accessories catalog.

Is The Foundation Series Worth The Premium?

To answer this question, we have to calculate what all the aforementioned options equate to via the brand's official options and accessories catalog. All-weather interior liners cost $295, while the roof sunshade adds $115 to your total amount. You can also get the L-track hooks and bottle opener for $25 each. The D-ring set costs $40, as does the center console tray. Gear lock dividers cost $45. Unfortunately, Tesla doesn't have a conventional configurator live on its site, so we don't know how much the other features cost. Based on its other models, we can ascertain that the Full Self-Driving package costs $8,000, and the white interior theme, $2,000.

These alone comprise half of the Foundation Series' fee. All Cybertrucks come standard with Tesla's Powershare functionality, but you have to pay $1,800 to access the software. The home charger costs $595, while the mobile connector increases the price by $230.

Regardless of whether you specified the Foundation Series or not, you have to pay anywhere between $2,000 and $3,500 for household installation, depending on your location. The good news is that Foundation Series holders get a $2,500 voucher to cover this cost. Couple this in with the unique interior and exterior details, and all of these inclusions somewhat justify the edition's premium.

The Tesla Cybertruck Produces 845 Horsepower

Tesla certainly doesn't compromise on the Cybertruck's performance output, despite it being a lofty electric truck that weighs in at 6,800 pounds. The flagship Cyberbeast features a selection of three electric motors powering all four wheels with 845 horsepower and 10,296 pound-feet of torque to the wheels. This gets it from 0-60 MPH in 2.6 seconds with a one-foot rollout subtracted. Tesla limits this model's top speed to 130 MPH, which is probably wise, considering its size and proportions. Reviews for the Cyberbeast are far and few, but some independent testers were able to match the 2.6-second time without subtracting a one-foot rollout.

Tesla Cybertruck Performance Specifications

If this is too much power for you, you can consider the mid-trim dual-motor option, producing 600 horsepower and 7,435 pound-feet of wheel torque, affording it a 4.1-second 0-60 MPH time and 112 MPH top speed. The upcoming rear-wheel drive variation will arrive sometime next year, featuring a single electric motor. Power outputs are still pending, but Tesla confirms it will sprint from 0-60 MPH in 6.5 seconds and reach a 112 MPH top speed.

2024-06-16T02:15:07Z dg43tfdfdgfd