Tesla Cybertruck’s ‘marble’ dashboard is actually made from paper and it’s genius

Joey Klender

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Posted on November 25, 2019

Tesla Cybertruck’s polarizing design caught the world by storm when it made its November 2019 debut in Los Angeles. Much like the stainless steel exterior, which has largely been the focal point of discussion, Cybertruck’s unique kitchen counter-like, marble dashboard is something that’s been on people’s minds. Except, it’s not marble.

The Cybertruck dashboard is fabricated from paper composite materials that have a resemblance to the popular marble look that is often found in today’s kitchens and bathrooms. Environmentally-friendly homes have often leveraged the use of sustainable materials, including kichen countertops made of paper, wood-based fibers, natural wood pigments, and non-petroleum based resins. These materials are then combined and baked at extremely high temperatures to create a durable and dense material that is water-resistant, environmentally sustainable, and very cost-effective. Something that sounds like it would be right out of Tesla’s playbook.

(Credit: Tesla)

Paper composite materials have been available for years, but they have been utilized in science labs, fabrication shops, and industrial kitchens. This would be the first known instance of a paper composite material being used in a mass-production vehicle and quite fitting for an automaker pushing toward sustainability. Tesla’s dash materials in past cars have been made from leather or synthetic leather. The company moved to a 100% vegan interior after pressure from animal-rights groups, and have since vowed to scrap the use of animal products in its vehicles.

While it is unknown what Tesla’s angle was behind the use of this material, and also whether this will be in Cybertruck’s final production version, we know that it is economically reasonable in terms of price, and may have been a factor in the company’s aim to keep the truck affordable. And having a dash material that’s as sustainable as the vehicle gives its target demographic another reason to consider buying a Tesla.

Outlined in Elon Musk’s Master Plan, the goal of Tesla was to find sustainable transportation for the everyday driver. As the company has evolved, its focus has remained on becoming conscious of its environmental impact through reduced emissions, but it has shifted toward using Earth-friendly materials within the car as well. The new dash in the Cybertruck is not only unique and eye-catching, but it also reminds the driver and passengers that they are riding in a machine that is contributing to Earth-friendly transportation, one mile at a time.

Tesla Cybertruck’s ‘marble’ dashboard is actually made from paper and it’s genius

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Tesla Cybertruck’s door handle design is a nod to the Model S

Simon Alvarez

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Posted on November 24, 2019

There are a ton of impressive innovations in the Tesla Cybertuck, from its origami-style design, its clever storage spaces, to its motorized tonneau cover. The daunting steel vehicle is also fitted with door handles that automatically pop out when they need to be used, similar to the first vehicle that the electric car maker has designed from the ground up: the Model S sedan. 

Footage of the Cybertruck’s motorized door handles were recorded by Teslarati during a test ride of the vehicle, which were conducted following the pickup’s brief unveiling. As could be seen in the clip, the Blade Runner truck’s handles pop out when the door is about to be opened, and they pop back in to remain flush when the vehicle is in motion. 

The whole door handle system of the Cybertruck is a dead ringer to the handles of the Model S, a vehicle that is also very special for CEO Elon Musk. The Model S’ automatic door handles were among the large premium sedan’s unique features when it was released, and it was one of its parts that truly established it as an all-electric car that is built around tech. 

That being said, the Cybertruck’s Model S-esque door handles were likely fitted on the vehicle due to its utility. Tesla’s vehicles like the Model 3, Model Y, and Tesla Semi all use a door handle setup that is designed to be opened with little physical effort. Such a system is probably not the best for the Cybertruck. 

This is likely due to the weight of the Cybertruck’s doors, which weigh about 60 to 80 lbs each. That’s a door that will need a serious grab-and-pull system to open, and one that definitely benefits from a fully-extended handle. This will result in some complexity in the Cybertruck’s door handle mechanism, but this is something that is likely a necessity considering the weight of the vehicle’s doors. 

Longtime owners of the Model S would remember a time when Tesla was still mastering the design of the vehicle’s automatic door handles. At some point, the motorized door handles in some vehicles were bogged down due to issues with their cables and motors. Tesla later fixed these issues with an updated design, and the handles have continued to evolve over the years as the Model S was improved time and time again. With this in mind, it would be safe to assume that the Cybertruck’s motorized door handles will be fitted with Tesla’s latest and best setup available. 

In a way, the fact that the door handles of the Cybertruck and the Model S are similar is representative of how far Tesla has gone over the years. When the company adopted the setup with the Model S, it was still learning the ropes and finding its groove. When it launched the Cybertruck, Tesla is already a company that has found its rhythm, and it is also a company that is finally ready to go bold and experiment with concepts that other carmakers would simply not have the guts to do.

The Cybertruck is Tesla’s most polarizing vehicle yet, though the pickup has started to gain some serious ground as consumers. Since launching the Cybertruck, the electric car maker has received around 187k reservations, as per a recent update from Elon Musk on Twitter.  

Watch the Tesla Cybertruck’s door handles in action in the video below. 

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Tesla Cybertruck’s door handle design is a nod to the Model S

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Tesla’s Cybertruck will set the trend for future pickup designs, like it or not

Simon Alvarez

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Posted on November 23, 2019

Just over 24 hours following Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s grand unveiling of Tesla’s all-electric, rough-and-tough Cybertruck, a shift in perception has begun and automakers in America’s largest market should lookout. What was widely regarded as a “love it or hate it” type of vehicle with a polarizing design that’s characterized by an unpainted steel Exoskeleton is now seeing its narrative shift towards “I must have this thing”, from “oh no, never.”

It is true that the moment the Tesla Cybertruck entered the stage was a big “WTF” moment for practically everyone in attendance at the unveiling and those watching the event online. But this moment may actually end up playing in Tesla’s favor, as the electric car maker has taken a bold step towards a future where pickup trucks are expected to not look like every other truck in the market. This puts pressure on veteran carmakers such as Ford and even upstarts such as Rivian to eventually come up with vehicles that abandon the traditional pickup truck template. 

(Credit: @rrosenbl/Twitter)

Tesla Cybertruck self-presenting door handles (Photo: Teslarati)

Tesla “CYBRTRK” on stage at unveiling event in Los Angeles. Nov. 21, 2019 (Photo: Teslarati)
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Tesla Cybertruck futuristic aero wheel makes debut in Los Angeles unveiling event on Nov. 21, 2019 (Photo: Teslarati)

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Tesla Cybertruck futuristic aero wheel makes debut in Los Angeles unveiling event on Nov. 21, 2019 (Photo: Teslarati)

Tesla’s Cybertruck is not for everyone; Musk has made that clear. But considering its aggressive pricing and trademark Tesla performance, the Cybertruck will likely be attractive for enough people that it will end up finding a pretty healthy consumer base, even among those who are traditionally averse to pickup trucks. And this, of course, results in demand for the Cybertruck. After all, it’s pretty silly to assume that a fleet operator or business or police department will shun a tough vehicle that can tow more than the average diesel truck, accelerate like a sports car, and cost very little to “fuel up” just because it looks unconventional. 

For these potential customers, the appearance of a vehicle may very well be secondary. What matters is if the truck works, if it will last long, and if its operating costs make business sense. The Cybertruck meets these requirements perfectly, and it does so in a way that is unashamedly electric. As such, detractors of the Cybertruck’s controversial design are best advised to be prepared, since more and more vehicles like it will likely show up on the road in the next few years, or at least within the coming decade. 

New designs and concepts, after all, have a tendency to be mocked when they are first introduced. Many may not remember, but the first-generation iPhone was mocked for lacking a physical keyboard. Apple’s Airpods also looked ridiculous when they were first introduced. Even the notches on bezel-less smartphones were criticized mercilessly. Yet today, all these things are the norm. That’s just what happens when something controversial is adopted by enough consumers. Eventually, what was once unsightly or ridiculous becomes accepted. 

Futurists, if any, appear to be embracing the Tesla Cybertuck, at least for its unapologetically sci-fi design. Legendary Blade Runner Art Director Syd Mead, for one, has praised the vehicle, stating that the Cybertruck “has completely changed the vocabulary of the personal truck market design.” The award-winning art director also called the vehicle “stylistically breathtaking,” further stating that it has exceeded his overall expectations. CEO Elon Musk has definitely appreciated these remarks, considering that Tesla did model the Cybertruck after the vehicles in the Blade Runner franchise. 

One of Syd Mead’s most famous quotes is that science fiction is “reality ahead of schedule.” With regards to his vehicle design and creations, this definitely appears to be the case, with the Cybertruck becoming a real vehicle that’s available for consumers today. Mead’s comments are, if any, validation that Tesla and Elon Musk are really onto something with the Cybertruck’s design. Half the world may just not be seeing it for now. But if consumers react positively to the vehicle, or if it does get adopted by businesses or police departments or even the army for that matter, then there is little doubt that a few more futuristic pickups would likely be released by other automakers as well — definitely sooner rather than later.

After all, why get a traditional, “boring” pickup truck when you can get a sci-fi monster machine that’s cheaper to run for the same price? That just won’t make much sense now, would it?

Tesla’s Cybertruck will set the trend for future pickup designs, like it or not

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