Tesla’s Cybertruck, which has become on the most anticipated vehicles of recent since its showy press unveiling in Southern California last November, is being shown publicly for the first time.
The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, which reopens to the masses Friday, will display the Tesla Cybertruck for one week, June 20-26, giving the public a chance to see the much-discussed truck, which already pushed General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler to re-think or at least accelerate their product plans.
Guests of the museum will have a chance to view a prototype of the battery-electric pickup during its first stationary public display since being revealed at a private event in Los Angeles last year, museum officials said.
(Tesla’s Cybertruck will face off with an array of all-electric pickups.)
The battery-electric Cybertruck, with sharp-edged, flat-paneled exoskeleton, has become one of the most talked about vehicles in years. It also represents, at theory at least, the first serious challenge in years to the tight grip of the Detroit’s automakers on the critical and iconic pick-up truck market.
Elon Musk maintains the Cybertruck to offer more utility than most pickup trucks and more performance than many sports cars. In its Tri Motor all-wheel drive configuration, the Cybertruck can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds, tow up to 14,000 pounds and travel 500-plus miles on a single charge, according to Tesla. Production is expected to begin in late 2021.
Since then, Ford revealed its plans to produce a battery-electric version of the F-150. While no real performance specs have been floated out there, the company did offer up a video of the truck pulling a train with 1 million pounds attached. GM also announced its plans to bring back the Hummer as a GMC truck product, which the company says churns out a combined 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 pound-feet of torque and posts a promised 0-to-60 time of 3 seconds flat.
(GM provides next peek at new GMC Hummer.)
“Tesla has been a trailblazer in the widespread acceptance of electric vehicles since introducing the Model S prototype,” said Petersen Executive Director Terry Karges. “The Cybertruck paves the way for the utility vehicle of the future, and we can’t wait to display it proudly in our lobby, as we reopen to the public.”
Karges said Petersen was proud to continue its partnership with Tesla and is currently showcasing two other Tesla vehicles, the Model S prototype and roadster, in the “Alternating Currents” exhibit on the museum’s second floor.
In order to view the Cybertruck, staff members and visitors are required to wear protective face coverings, and single-use face masks will be provided to those who do not have one. Social distancing guidelines of at least six feet will be enforced with designated entrance and exit signs as well as navigation paths for each exhibit.
(Ford planning mid-2022 launch for F-150 EV.)
As it re-opens, the museum will also increase the frequency of routine cleaning and offer hand sanitizing stations on each floor. Interactive exhibits including the Forza racing simulators and Discovery Center will remain closed. The museum is enforcing social distancing guidelines, including requiring attendees to wear masks.
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