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Tesla Cyberquad replica rips past 100 mph with DIY electric powertrain

Credit: Rich Benoit and Steven Salowsky

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A Tesla Cyberquad replica from Rich Rebuilds has made its debut after hundreds of hours of effort, and its 102.5 MPH top speed is enough to turn heads of ATV enthusiasts everywhere.

When Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck in November 2019, a surprise came t when Elon Musk revealed that the company had also developed an ATV based on the look of the all-electric pickup. However, details about the Cyberquad have remained relatively sparse, and nobody has any idea when the four-wheeler could come to the market. Some are anxious to see the capabilities of the all-electric quad, so much so that they couldn’t wait.

One of the anxious parties was Rich Benoit of the widely-popular Rich Rebuilds YouTube channel. Benoit, along with the Department Head of Management for his team, Steven Salowsky, were two people who were so eager to see the Cyberquad that they took matters into their own hands. Rich and Steven built a Cyberquad replica using a Zero electric powertrain packed inside of a 2008 Yamaha Raptor 700.

Credit: Rich Benoit and Steven Salowsky

The project all started with an idea to build an electric ATV, and the Cyberquad was not the original inspiration. Stemming from their work doing a 1932 Ford Model A conversion with a Zero Motorcycle powertrain, Rich and Steven decided to put a similar power plant in a quad. Then, Steven offered to design it to replicate the Tesla Cyberquad.

A simple origami fold-up of the Cyberquad on Steven’s part was the project’s first stage. He told Teslarati that one day he starting folding and cutting pieces of paper for the project, which eventually led to a cardboard mock-up of the Cyberquad. Then, Rich and Steven, who was said to be “The Franz of the Operation,” (based on Tesla Chief Designer, Franz von Holzhausen) made another mock-up out of ABS plastic. The two were ready to begin building the Cyberquad replica.

Credit: Rich Benoit and Steven Salowsky

It started with buying a 2008 Yamaha Raptor 700, which the team purchased from a seller on the Facebook marketplace. Then, the powertrain that Rich and Steven used was one that was used by Zero, a manufacturer of electric motorcycles.

Steven also told Teslarati that it appears the real Cyberquad that Tesla showed in November also seems to use a Zero powertrain. The similarities between the look of the two ATVs appears to hint that Tesla could have used Zero’s powertrain as well.

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Then came the fun part, putting the whole thing together and testing it on the road. Rich had wired the bike up with its new Zero motor powertrain and welded the new drive unit to the rear, and Steven restructured a new aluminum trestle frame onto the existing quad frame, and then formed and cut the new body.

The performance improvements of the Cyberquad built by Rich and Steven were exponential due to the Zero electric powertrain. Because of the modifications made to the powertrain and fabrication, the ’08 Raptor went from 0-60 in 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 75 MPH, to a Cyberquad clone with a 3.98-second 0-60, and a 102.5 MPH maximum speed.

The project, before factoring in 300 hours of work from the two colleagues, was about $18,000, Steven told Teslarati. Although a long and tedious process, the pair did a great job in recreating the Cyberquad with the limited photos and videos of the all-electric ATV. With the accuracy of the design and the impressive performance of the Cyberquad replica, it will be interesting to see how it stacks up against the real thing when Tesla releases it.

Check out Rich Rebuild’s video on the Cyberquad project below, and let us know what you think about it in the comments!

Disclaimer: “You are hereby notified that the stunts and tricks displayed in this video are performed by professionals in controlled environments, such as closed-circuit road tracks. Do not attempt to duplicate, re-create, or perform the same or similar stunts and tricks at home, as personal injury or property damage may result.”

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Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update

Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has brought perhaps the coolest interior feature to its cars in a new update that is rolling out to vehicles now.

The feature will require a newer vehicle that has interior ambient lighting, which is present on the new Model S, Model X, Model 3 “Highland,” and Model Y “Juniper.” The Cybertruck also has ambient lighting strips throughout.

Tesla Model Y’s ambient lighting design changes revealed in leaked video

With the Version 2025.26+ Software Update, Tesla is rolling out a new “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music” feature, which is available on the Tesla Toybox:

To enable the feature, you’ll access the Toybox, choose “Light Sync,” and then choose “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music.”

Although it does not improve the performance of the vehicle, it is yet another example of Tesla making one of the coolest cars out there. This is truly a cool add-on that can be used to impress your friends and family.

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xAI, Musk Foundation helps schools near Memphis supercomputer site

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

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(Credit: xAI)

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI and the Musk Foundation have been supporting Memphis-Shelby County Schools with HVAC repairs and facility upgrades, while also funding youth programs for students in the area. 

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

xAI’s school visits lead to facility repairs

Representatives from xAI visited John P. Freeman Optional School, Fairley High School, and Westwood High School, all of which are located near its Colossus supercomputer site, to assess HVAC systems, plumbing, gym facilities, and athletic fields. The visits resulted in a list of priority repairs, some of which were completed in April and May.

In addition to the repairs, xAI also shared a number of initiatives that are planned for students in the area, as stated in a Commercial Appeal report.

“xAI is working on providing STEM workshops for local students, donating equipment to technical training programs, and supporting job fairs to boost employment opportunities. These initiatives reflect xAl’s commitment to fostering education and economic growth in Memphis,” xAI noted in a statement.

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Musk Foundation donation

Apart from xAI, the Musk Foundation also donated $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, enabling the reopening of two club sites located at Booker T. Washington High School and Westwood High School. Both locations had closed earlier this year due to lapses in funding. As per xAI, the Musk Foundation’s donation allows clubs to reopen for almost 1,000 students. 

The donation will fund staffing, supplies, and transportation, among others. “Kids are the future of humanity,” Elon Musk said in a statement, adding that students need “every chance to shoot for the stars.”

“We’re honored to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis in reopening these sites, giving kids in underserved communities the tools to build brighter futures,” Musk said.

The gift was praised by local officials, including Boys & Girls Clubs board chair Michael Garriga, who stated that the “commitment will ensure the youth of our community have the opportunities they need to develop their skills and talents to become successful students and future citizens.”

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EV fans urge Tesla to acquire Unplugged Performance for edge in fleet and security industry

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles.

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Credit: Unplugged Performance

A growing number of Tesla enthusiasts and longtime community voices are calling on the electric vehicle maker to acquire Unplugged Performance, a California-based aftermarket company best known for tuning Tesla vehicles and developing specialized government fleet solutions under its UP.FIT division.

The idea was once considered a niche proposal among EV fans, but it is now gaining serious attention not just as a performance play but as a strategic move to deepen Tesla’s roots in the fleet and security industry. 

A strategic fit

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles, from track-optimized components to visual and aerodynamic upgrades. But in recent years, its UP.FIT division has pivoted toward a more functional future by outfitting Tesla vehicles like Model Ys for police, military, and government use.

That work has sparked growing calls for closer collaboration with Tesla, especially as the EV maker increasingly leans into autonomy, AI, and fleet services as core components of its next chapter.

“I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever,” wrote Whole Mars Catalog, a well-known Tesla investor and FSD Beta tester, on X. “Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP.FIT unlocks large government and commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization.”

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Tesla fans such as shareholder Sawyer Merritt echoed the sentiment, calling Unplugged a “great fit within Tesla.” adding, “They are literally located directly next to Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne.”

Enabling the next wave

Supporters of the idea noted that integrating Unplugged into Tesla’s corporate structure could help accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in government sectors. With UP.FIT patrol cars already in use across some U.S. police departments, Tesla fans envisioned a future where self-driving Teslas could potentially revolutionize law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and public service logistics.

“Just imagine how autonomous patrol cars could transform policing and bring us into a safer future,” the veteran FSD tester wrote.

The benefits could also extend to Tesla’s existing consumer base. “They also have some incredible products in the works that I think will appeal to many ordinary Tesla drivers — not just those looking for performance or mods. Stuff that’s so good it should have come straight from the design studio next door,” Whole Mars Catalog noted.

Unplugged Performance, founded in 2013, shares not just a product vision with Tesla, but also geography. Its Hawthorne headquarters sits directly adjacent to Tesla’s design studio, and the two companies have maintained a close working relationship over the years. The aftermarket firm has long positioned itself as a “mission-aligned” partner to Tesla.

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In response to the recent calls for acquisition, Unplugged Performance acknowledged the support from the community. “Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla,” Unplugged CEO Ben Schaffer posted on X. “We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!”

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