Original Tesla Cybertruck concept art compared to real thing shows off very different vehicles

Published on Oct 05, 2023 at 3:23 PM (UTC+4)
by Andie Reeves

Last updated on Oct 06, 2023 at 5:58 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

Some say Tesla’s Cybertruck isn’t quite matching up to its expectations.

Since it was first revealed in 2019, what we know about the appearance of the Cybertruck has changed as often as its delivery date.

And that’s not an insignificant amount.

READ MORE: Tesla employee reveals weird household item they’ve been cleaning Cybertrucks with

At least 1.5 million people have so far preordered the Cybertruck.

And as Tesla prepares to fulfil those orders, fans are starting to point out some pretty serious differences between what was promised and what they see now.

Dozens of Cybertrucks have been spotted in the wild, on delivery trucks and out performance testing.

And photos show the real thing looking subtly but significantly different from the original renderings released by Tesla.

For starters, a side-by-side comparison shows the finished product is much less sleek and polished than expected.

The real Cybertruck also looks more chunky and boxy, not quite the streamlined racer we were envisioning.

The panels have also come under fire multiple times thanks to visible gaps and inconsistencies.

Another one of the most noticeable issues is the exterior.

Crafted using stainless steel, the truck looks futuristic and shiny in the concept art.

But in reality, the material is a magnet for fingerprints, smudges and grime.

Elon Musk himself has acknowledged this.

“Due to the nature of the Cybertruck, which is made of bright metal with mostly straight edges, any dimensional variation shows up like a sore thumb,” he said.

Some commenters have compared the messy look to a refrigerator handle or a funhouse mirror.

But others think always having a microfiber cloth on hand is a small price to pay for driving such a showstopping truck.

And Tesla maintains that stainless steel is the best possible material to use.

“If there was something better, we’d use it.”

The design of the truck is already controversial.

So naturally these flaws have sent some people over the edge.

“It reminds me of those handmade painted cardboard boats in races to see which one can float the longest,” one said.

“It looks like they upgraded the dumpster,” another said.

Many, however, remain unbothered by the imperfections and are counting down the days until the EV is released.

“It’s a truck, not a purse,” one commenter said.

“I just want the Cybertruck, I can deal with the rest,” another said.

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Andie is a content writer from South Africa with a background in broadcasting and journalism. Starting her career in the glossy pages of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, Andie has a broad portfolio, covering everything from sustainability solutions to celebrity car collections. When not at her laptop Andie can be found sewing, recording her podcast, taking board games too seriously or road-tripping in her bright green Kia.