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Tesla order configurator revealed for ‘Foundation Series’ Cybertruck

Credit: Tesla (via Whole Mars Catalog | YouTube)

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Tesla’s order configurator for the limited launch edition “Foundation Series” Cybertruck has been revealed, as shared in a video over the weekend.

After invites to order the Foundation Series Cybertruck went out to select reservation holders earlier this week, multiple people have said that they completed an order. One such reservation holder includes Omar of Whole Mars Catalog, who shared a video of the Cybertruck’s order configurator on Saturday morning.

The video features a walkthrough of the order configurator, starting with the invite email received by many individuals last Wednesday. When proceeding to the design page, the configurator shows the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive (AWD) version, starting at $99,990, along with the Cyberbeast tri-motor trim, priced at $119,990.

Tesla is prioritizing deliveries of the Cybertruck in California and Texas, and while the dual-motor version has an estimated delivery timeline ranging from this month to March 2024, the tri-motor Cyberbeast trim says that estimated delivery of the configuration will take place in early 2024. Residents in other states are expected to get access to the truck in 2024.

The configurator also details features such as the Cybertruck’s steer-by-wire system, its high ground clearance and suspension, and the optional add-on of a range extender, which sits in the vehicle’s truck bed and increases its estimated range to around 470 miles per charge. The range extender isn’t yet available, and it’s expected to begin production in late 2024.

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The video walkthrough is a little over 19 minutes and includes more details about the Tesla Cybertruck’s Powershare feature, its inclusion of the FSD beta, and more.

Below are some of the initial differences between the Foundation Series Cyberbeast and dual-motor trims for the Cybertruck, and the things included with any Foundation Series order, as detailed in the configurator:

Dual-Motor Cybertruck

  • Dual-motor, AWD
  • 318 miles estimated range
  • 340 miles estimated range with all-season tires (available in 2024)
  • 4.1-second 0-60 mph
  • 112 mph top speed
  • 600 horsepower
  • 7,435 lb-ft of torque
  • 11,000 pounds of towing capacity

Cyberbeast Tri-Motor Cybertruck

  • Tri-motor, AWD
  • 301 miles estimated range with all-terrain tires
  • 320 miles estimated range with all-season tires (available in 2024)
  • 2.6-second 0-60 mph
  • 130 mph top speed
  • 845 horsepower
  • 10,296 lb-ft of torque
  • 11,000 pounds of towing capacity

Included with the Foundation Series Cybertruck

  • Limited-edition configuration
  • Laser-etched Foundation Series badge
  • Foundation Series cabin graphic
  • 20-inch Cyber wheels with 35-inch tires
  • White décor
  • Off-road light bar
  • Premium accessories
  • Powershare home backup
  • Powershare mobile connector
  • Full Self-Driving beta capability
  • Lifetime premium connectivity

You can watch the full Whole Mars Catalog video on YouTube below.

Some have also spotted that the Cybertruck order agreement does include a one-year “no resale” agreement, which was initially found in the owner’s manuals for other Tesla vehicles last month in a section titled “For Cybertruck Only.” After news of the agreement surfaced, the paragraph detailing the agreement was quietly removed from the owner’s manuals, leaving some curious as to whether Cybertruck owners would be subject to the agreement.

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Now, the no-resale agreement can be found in Tesla’s order configurator for the Cybertruck, saying that those who try to flip the vehicles within a year could be subject to up to $50,000 in legal penalties.

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send your tips to us at tips@teslarati.com.

Zach is a renewable energy reporter who has been covering electric vehicles since 2020. He grew up in Fremont, California, and he currently lives in Colorado. His work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, KRON4 San Francisco, FOX31 Denver, InsideEVs, CleanTechnica, and many other publications. When he isn't covering Tesla or other EV companies, you can find him writing and performing music, drinking a good cup of coffee, or hanging out with his cats, Banks and Freddie. Reach out at zach@teslarati.com, find him on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

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Tesla explains why Robotaxis now have safety monitors in the driver’s seat

The update to Austin’s safety monitors became a point of interest among Tesla watchers on social media.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has provided an explanation about the presence of safety monitors in the driver’s seat of its autonomous Robotaxi units.

The autonomous ride-hailing service is currently being deployed in Austin and the Bay Area, with more cities across the United States expected to gain access to the service later this year.

Safety Monitors

When Tesla launched its initial Robotaxi program in Austin, the company made headlines for operating vehicles without a human in the driver’s seat. Even with this setup, however, Tesla still had safety monitors in the passenger seat of the Robotaxis. The safety monitors, which do not interact with passengers, have been observed to report issues and other behaviors from the autonomous vehicles in real time. 

Safety monitors on the driver’s seat were also employed in the service’s Bay Area rollout, though numerous members of the EV community speculated that this was likely done to meet regulations in California. However, with the expansion of the Austin geofence, riders in Tesla’s Robotaxis observed that the safety monitors in the city have been moved to the driver’s seat as well.

Tesla’s explanation

The update to Austin’s safety monitors became a point of interest among Tesla watchers on social media. Longtime FSD tester Whole Mars Catalog, for one, speculated that the move might be due to Texas’ new regulations for autonomous vehicles, which took effect recently. Interestingly enough, the official Tesla Robotaxi account on X responded to the FSD tester, providing an explanation behind the safety monitor’s move to the driver’s seat. 

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“Safety monitors are only in the driver’s seat for trips that involve highway driving, as a self-imposed cautious first step toward expanding to highways,” the Tesla Robotaxi account noted.

Tesla has been extremely cautious with its autonomous driving program, particularly with the rollout of its Robotaxi service, which use Unsupervised FSD. This is quite understandable considering the negative media slant that Tesla is consistently subjected to, which could very well result in minute incidents or mistakes by Robotaxis being blown out of proportion.

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The Boring Company begins hiring for Nashville’s Music City Loop

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee expressed strong support for the project.

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Credit: The Boring Company/X

Elon Musk’s The Boring Company has started recruitment efforts for the Music City Loop, an underground tunnel system designed to link downtown Nashville with Nashville International Airport. 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee expressed strong support for the project, describing it as a cost-free alternative to traditional mass transit systems that could ease traffic congestion in the city. Initial digging began in mid-August, with visible progress reported by September 1, as noted in a WKRN report.

Job creation and project scope

The Boring Company is currently seeking engineers, electricians, mechanics, and operations coordinators as part of its hiring drive for the Music City Loop in Nashville. Gov. Lee emphasized that unlike large-scale transit projects that typically cost billions, the tunnel system will not burden taxpayers.

“We’ve been trying to find ways, Metro Nashville has in particular, to develop transit in the city for a long time. It costs billions and billions of dollars to build out transit systems. We now have an opportunity to have a transit system that costs the taxpayers nothing,” Lee said, calling the effort the fast lane to the city’s future.

The Music City Loop aims to provide a quick and efficient link between the city center and the airport, similar to The Boring Company’s other tunnel projects like the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop. Officials have praised the company for cooperating with state permitting and regulatory requirements, suggesting that the Nashville Loop project is advancing in line with established processes.

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Community reactions and concerns

While officials are optimistic, community response has been mixed. Some residents have raised concerns about the speed of approval and a lack of public discussion before construction began.

Nashville resident Taylor John cited environmental impacts and worries that the tunnel could primarily serve tourists rather than local commuters. “I have a lot of concerns, first of all, by how fast this decision was made, I don’t think there was a lot of discussion from the members of the community before this decision was made. It’s going to impact us,” the resident stated.

Others, however, see the project as an innovative leap forward. “There’s a whole untapped potential underneath our feet,” resident Nathaniel Lehrer stated. “Anything that can save time when picking up family or friends or you need to catch a flight, it’d be an awesome option to have.”

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Miami Beach Mayor considering Elon Musk’s Boring Company tunnels

Miami Beach faces unique constraints, including chronic flooding, porous limestone foundations, and its low elevation near sea level.

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the-boring-company-tesla-robotaxi
(Credit: The Boring Company

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner has asked city commissioners to consider whether underground transit tunnels could be a feasible solution to the city’s worsening traffic. 

The proposal reflects growing interest in exploring unconventional transit options, especially after city leaders rejected plans to extend the downtown Miami Metromover to South Beach.

New transit alternatives

In a memo, Meiner noted that his request is not tied to a single project but is intended to open a broader discussion on engineering challenges, environmental impacts, potential funding, and integration with existing transit systems. Miami Beach faces unique constraints, including chronic flooding, porous limestone foundations, and its low elevation near sea level, according to Axios.

The tunnel idea is not entirely new. In 2022, Meiner suggested reaching out to Elon Musk’s The Boring Company to discuss potential projects, citing the firm’s work on the Vegas Loop in Las Vegas. At the time, the city passed a resolution to study tunnels further, though it remains unclear whether any formal discussions with the tunneling startup actually took place.

Previous proposals

The Boring Company has shown interest in South Florida before. In 2021 and 2022, it submitted plans for Tesla-powered tunnel systems in Fort Lauderdale and North Miami Beach. While the Fort Lauderdale project was later suspended, reports suggest the North Miami Beach proposal remained active into 2023. Musk also met with Miami Mayor Francis Suarez in 2021 to discuss tunnel systems, though no progress has been reported since.

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The Boring Company has garnered some experience with consumer tunnels over the years, thanks in no small part to the Las Vegas Convention Center and Vegas Loops, which use Tesla vehicles. The greater Vegas Loop is still being expanded today, and efforts are underway to transition the Teslas being used in the tunnels to use Unsupervised FSD.

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