News
Tesla Cybertruck ‘Beast Mode,’ wheel options, accessories leak ahead of launch
Tesla Cybertruck accessories, along with two wheel options, “Beast Mode,” and a Base Camp attachment leaked through an app update ahead of the pickup’s launch on Thursday.
Tesla has kept many of the details surrounding the Cybertruck under wraps as the automaker will finally deliver the first units to customers tomorrow.
Ahead of what is expected to be one of the biggest product launches in company history, several things about the Cybertruck leaked via Tesla App Updates on X, showing everything from “Beast Mode” to various accessories and customizable options.
Tesla Beast Mode
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has teased world-class performance out of the Cybertruck for some time. Recently, he spoke about something called “Beast Mode” with Joe Rogan on the JRE Podcast, indicating the Cybertruck would be capable of face-melting 0-60 MPH acceleration rates.
The exact specifications of Beast Mode will likely be revealed to the public tomorrow at the event, and would likely be available on the top trim level of the Cybertruck.
-->It appears “Beast Mode” animations were leaked in within an app update:
Beast mode visual pic.twitter.com/mGhgcGCoaC
— Tesla App Updates (iOS) (@Tesla_App_iOS) November 28, 2023
Tesla has routinely used performance metrics to hype its vehicles, but with the Cybertruck, it is a bit different. The Cybertruck is a pickup that will be used for utility, and most of the time, trucks do not have exceptional performance metrics.
However, Tesla does things a little bit differently, and while the Cybertruck will still have impressive utility features, the automaker is not stopping short of emphasizing the impressive performance it could have.
-->Tesla Cybertruck Base Camp
The Cybertruck is going to feature plenty of accessories, as there will be opportunities to fine-tune the pickup for certain purposes that cater to the owner.
Camping is likely going to be one of the more popular uses for the Cybertruck, as it features a lot of things that are useful when you’re out in the wilderness.
Tesla is not stopping there. Apparently, there is going to be a Base Camp attachment that will act as a roof to protect campers from the elements. There is also a “tent mattress.”
Base Camp CyberTruck attachment
Along with the tent mattress pic.twitter.com/qP5YfSheCL
— Tesla App Updates (iOS) (@Tesla_App_iOS) November 28, 2023
The Cybertruck will have plenty of uses, and Tesla will capitalize on its potential as an ideal vehicle for camping. There should be other accessories in the works as well.
A better view of the cyber tent called BaseCamp pic.twitter.com/8rJ47Mc8za
— Tesla App Updates (iOS) (@Tesla_App_iOS) November 28, 2023
Wheel Options
There are three wheel options: Standard, which will come in 18 and 20-inch, and Premium.
-->— Tesla App Updates (iOS) (@Tesla_App_iOS) November 28, 2023
Tesla offers several options for wheels on all of its vehicles and has given owners the opportunity to choose from looks that have more functionality and others that have a sportier look.
Accessories
The shortlist of accessories appears to be a light bar, for now. Along with the Base Camp, which is optional, we would have to assume that Tesla is still developing other things for the Cybertruck.
A light bar is a commonly used accessory on pickups and other rugged terrain vehicles.
-->Light bar is going to be an optional accessory it looks like…
OPTIONAL_ACCESSORY_LIGHTBAR
— Tesla App Updates (iOS) (@Tesla_App_iOS) November 28, 2023
The coding within the app also mentions this as an optional accessory, so we’ll expect to see it in the Cybertruck Shop on Tesla’s website after the event.
Tesla will be livestreaming the delivery event on Thursday, and you’ll be able to watch it here.
-->Don’t hesitate to contact us with tips! Email us at tips@teslarati.com, or you can email me directly at joey@teslarati.com. I’m also on X @KlenderJoey.
News
Tesla Model 3 named New Zealand’s best passenger car of 2025
Tesla flipped the switch on Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in September, turning every Model 3 and Model Y into New Zealand’s most advanced production car overnight.
The refreshed Tesla Model 3 has won the DRIVEN Car Guide AA Insurance NZ Car of the Year 2025 award in the Passenger Car category, beating all traditional and electric rivals.
Judges praised the all-electric sedan’s driving dynamics, value-packed EV tech, and the game-changing addition of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) that went live in New Zealand this September.
Why the Model 3 clinched the crown
DRIVEN admitted they were late to the “Highland” party because the updated sedan arrived in New Zealand as a 2024 model, just before the new Model Y stole the headlines. Yet two things forced a re-evaluation this year.
First, experiencing the new Model Y reminded testers how many big upgrades originated in the Model 3, such as the smoother ride, quieter cabin, ventilated seats, rear touchscreen, and stalk-less minimalist interior. Second, and far more importantly, Tesla flipped the switch on Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in September, turning every Model 3 and Model Y into New Zealand’s most advanced production car overnight.
FSD changes everything for Kiwi buyers
The publication called the entry-level rear-wheel-drive version “good to drive and represents a lot of EV technology for the money,” but highlighted that FSD elevates it into another league. “Make no mistake, despite the ‘Supervised’ bit in the name that requires you to remain ready to take control, it’s autonomous and very capable in some surprisingly tricky scenarios,” the review stated.
-->At NZ$11,400, FSD is far from cheap, but Tesla also offers FSD (Supervised) on a $159 monthly subscription, making the tech accessible without the full upfront investment. That’s a game-changer, as it allows users to access the company’s most advanced system without forking over a huge amount of money.
News
Tesla starts rolling out FSD V14.2.1 to AI4 vehicles including Cybertruck
FSD V14.2.1 was released just about a week after the initial FSD V14.2 update was rolled out.
It appears that the Tesla AI team burned the midnight oil, allowing them to release FSD V14.2.1 on Thanksgiving. The update has been reported by Tesla owners with AI4 vehicles, as well as Cybertruck owners.
For the Tesla AI team, at least, it appears that work really does not stop.
FSD V14.2.1
Initial posts about FSD V14.2.1 were shared by Tesla owners on social media platform X. As per the Tesla owners, V14.2.1 appears to be a point update that’s designed to polish the features and capacities that have been available in FSD V14. A look at the release notes for FSD V14.2.1, however, shows that an extra line has been added.
“Camera visibility can lead to increased attention monitoring sensitivity.”
Whether this could lead to more drivers being alerted to pay attention to the roads more remains to be seen. This would likely become evident as soon as the first batch of videos from Tesla owners who received V14.21 start sharing their first drive impressions of the update. Despite the update being released on Thanksgiving, it would not be surprising if first impressions videos of FSD V14.2.1 are shared today, just the same.
-->Rapid FSD releases
What is rather interesting and impressive is the fact that FSD V14.2.1 was released just about a week after the initial FSD V14.2 update was rolled out. This bodes well for Tesla’s FSD users, especially since CEO Elon Musk has stated in the past that the V14.2 series will be for “widespread use.”
FSD V14 has so far received numerous positive reviews from Tesla owners, with numerous drivers noting that the system now drives better than most human drivers because it is cautious, confident, and considerate at the same time. The only question now, really, is if the V14.2 series does make it to the company’s wide FSD fleet, which is still populated by numerous HW3 vehicles.
News
Waymo rider data hints that Tesla’s Cybercab strategy might be the smartest, after all
These observations all but validate Tesla’s controversial two-seat Cybercab strategy, which has caught a lot of criticism since it was unveiled last year.
Toyota Connected Europe designer Karim Dia Toubajie has highlighted a particular trend that became evident in Waymo’s Q3 2025 occupancy stats. As it turned out, 90% of the trips taken by the driverless taxis carried two or fewer passengers.
These observations all but validate Tesla’s controversial two-seat Cybercab strategy, which has caught a lot of criticism since it was unveiled last year.
Toyota designer observes a trend
Karim Dia Toubajie, Lead Product Designer (Sustainable Mobility) at Toyota Connected Europe, analyzed Waymo’s latest California Public Utilities Commission filings and posted the results on LinkedIn this week.
“90% of robotaxi trips have 2 or less passengers, so why are we using 5-seater vehicles?” Toubajie asked. He continued: “90% of trips have 2 or less people, 75% of trips have 1 or less people.” He accompanied his comments with a graphic showing Waymo’s occupancy rates, which showed 71% of trips having one passenger, 15% of trips having two passengers, 6% of trips having three passengers, 5% of trips having zero passengers, and only 3% of trips having four passengers.
The data excludes operational trips like depot runs or charging, though Toubajie pointed out that most of the time, Waymo’s massive self-driving taxis are really just transporting 1 or 2 people, at times even no passengers at all. “This means that most of the time, the vehicle being used significantly outweighs the needs of the trip,” the Toyota designer wrote in his post.
-->Cybercab suddenly looks perfectly sized
Toubajie gave a nod to Tesla’s approach. “The Tesla Cybercab announced in 2024, is a 2-seater robotaxi with a 50kWh battery but I still believe this is on the larger side of what’s required for most trips,” he wrote.
With Waymo’s own numbers now proving 90% of demand fits two seats or fewer, the wheel-less, lidar-free Cybercab now looks like the smartest play in the room. The Cybercab is designed to be easy to produce, with CEO Elon Musk commenting that its product line would resemble a consumer electronics factory more than an automotive plant. This means that the Cybercab could saturate the roads quickly once it is deployed.
While the Cybercab will likely take the lion’s share of Tesla’s ride-hailing passengers, the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover would be perfect for the remaining 9% of riders who require larger vehicles. This should be easy to implement for Tesla, as the Model Y and Model 3 are both mass-market vehicles.
Tesla Model 3 named New Zealand’s best passenger car of 2025
Tesla starts rolling out FSD V14.2.1 to AI4 vehicles including Cybertruck
