What the Cybertruck Could Have Been
The Cybertruck has had a rough go of it. From New York to Seattle, viral images of vandalism have made the rounds on social media. What was originally envisioned to be an efficient, fast, go-anywhere vehicle, the Cybertruck has instead found itself on the low rung of tech bro culture. Polarizing from day one, it’s now mostly seen as a flashy showpiece for buyers whose insecurities obviously do not extend to lack of income, but perhaps something deeper.
Psychology aside, some say it’s just ugly. It’s true that innovation in automotive design has produced some duds, starting with the Chrysler Airflow in 1934. Its streamlined body was universally reviled at the time, yet it laid the groundwork for how aerodynamics rule the field today.
And then there’s the Aztek.
In season 2 of Survivor, Colby graciously feigned excitement when he won a new 2001 Pontiac Aztek. Yes, it was a bold new design. Yes, it was exceptionally ugly. Fast forward to 2008 when the producers of Breaking Bad realized that this car would be the perfect vehicle choice for the Walter White character - a schlub who was so down on his luck that of course this is the car he drives.
But bold doesn’t always have to mean ugly. Famed GM executive John Delorean used his experience in the 60’s with the Pontiac GTO to go on and produce an independent design of his own. Similar to the Cybertruck, it had stainless steel cladding, but also suffered from the same breathless optimism in the unveiling of the prototype; claiming specs that failed to materialize in the final product.
Of course, we all know about the debacle that resulted from Delorean’s desperate attempt to keep his company afloat. Two years after a jury found him not guilty of trafficking in a massive cocaine deal that was set up by the FBI, John Delorean gave an interview to Playboy in 1986 where he described his state of mind.
“I think my ultimate sin … was that I had this insatiable pride. Looking back at it, I see that I had an arrogance that was beyond that of any other human being alive.”
Remind you of anyone?
Despite what you may think of Elon Musk, my argument here is that he wasted a huge opportunity with the Cybertruck. When you consider the billions of dollars at his disposal, it seems that his grand design was something akin to what a 13 year-old boy might come up with. Up until that point, he had already proven himself to the world as a visionary capable of creating modern vehicles, and Wall Street responded with sky-high valuations of his company. At the top of his game, he decided to create a halo vehicle, an extension of himself. But in the end we were given a kampfwagen; hard-edged, aggressive, and foolish.
He could have done so much more. He could have created art, something that would have inspired millions of people in wonder and awe. History is full of such cars.
This 1938 Delahaye took the world by storm when it debuted at the Paris Motor Show, a masterpiece of Art Deco design. How hard would it have been for Elon to do a riff on this? Bring it up to current safety standards, drop in your electric drivetrain and call it a day. He would have been hailed a hero.
Or how about this? A 1938 Bugatti Atlantic, arguably the world’s first supercar. Three precious examples were made. This one’s owned by Ralph Lauren, someone who knows good design when they see it. Practical? No, but no-one’s really using their Cybertruck for runs to Home Depot, either. It’s a statement. Iconic cars have always served as stand-ins for something else: Money, power, sex, freedom, style. Unfortunately, the Cybertruck seems to only represent….tension.
At its simplest, it’s the tension between the masculine and the feminine. Not gender, per se, but energy. Dominant vs nurturing, Yin vs Yang, Sun vs Moon. The rise of the feminine has been growing steadily in our society since the 1970’s - reflected by advancements in civil rights, increased awareness of our environment, and a recognition of equality among all living things. But patriarchal traditions have been with us for thousands of years, and now it appears that the pendulum which had been moving away from that masculine energy has swung back. Hard.
Aggression and intolerance have wrestled their way back into the norm, bringing a glut of anxiety to a good number of people. While vandalism is never the right avenue for resistance, the Cybertruck has nevertheless become a poisoned symbol, and apparently, the perfect target for those who are opposed to the direction we’re headed in.
This subject of car designs has long puzzled me. Be it Elon or any vehicle manufacturer who has some financial backing could i’ve always thought create something beautiful or at least not ugly. Hire designers who have an eye for not only what’s aerodynamic but something that pleases the eye.
Yet so many new car designs are just plain ugly. Making driving along any road or highway boring when the entire landscape could be interesting if not beautiful.
Of course not every design will be remarkable but many could be cars folks would be proud to own and drive or at least this seems to me to be within the realm of the possible.
I've frequently said, just because you have money, doesn't mean you have good taste. Unfortunately ego ruins so many things. I think a lot about equality and yin/yang and it's baffling why anyone would want to squash women; we're amazing. Ego? Fear?
Thanks again Bobby for great lessons in cars and life.