What's behind Tesla Cybertruck's design Lotus, Lamborghini and Lancia icons were the inspo for Elon Musk's most ambitious car
The Cybertruck has quickly captured the attention of the entire world, thanks to its minimalist aesthetics and radically innovative design that make it unique. The unveiling, which took place in Los Angeles in Apple style, featured Elon Musk and some assistants in testing the efficiency of the new arrival in front of the enthusiastic eyes of the public, even if not everything went as expected.
To emphasize the concept that we are not talking about a "simple car", but about an object that has become an icon even before its release, just think that Travis Scott exclusively introduced the Cybertruck and the Cyberquad in the clip of his single Gang Gang. The video, which recorded millions of views in a few hours, is set in the forecourt of a junkyard, then the footage moves to another location where the rapper shot some images above the Cybertruck and riding the Cyberquad, holding several firearms, including The Boring Company's Flamethrower.
The new Tesla branded SUV has concrete and specific inspirations. Imagined by Elon Musk himself with a look at the cyber-future, we find some similarities with the vehicles that appear in the films of Blade Runner in 1982 and Total Recall in 1990, where these cars with assisted driving help the protagonist or save his life.
LOTUS ESPRIT
As openly stated by Elon Musk, the design of the Cybertruck takes inspiration from the 1976 Lotus Esprit, in particular from the model used for the shooting of the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, in which the car could turn into a submarine capable of firing submarine missiles in seconds. The mark this car has left on a young Elon is tangible from his words in an interview with Jalopnik: "It was amazing as a little kid in South Africa to watch James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me driving his Lotus Esprit off a pier, press a button and have it transform into a submarine underwater." This model was auctioned in 2013 by RM Sotheby's and purchased by the CEO of Tesla himself for £616,000.
LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH
The Lamborghini Countach could not be missing: presented at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show, it generated great surprise and amazement in the public. For its design and performances, it immediately became a symbol of the authentic Italian sports car: in fact, the line was characterized by precise lines that accompanied the unique shape, with doors that opened upwards. From that moment on, it became a symbol of all the V12s of Sant'Agata. The power was very high for the time: 375 hp allowed to reach a top speed of 315 km/h.
Elon Musk's new SUV opens a new chapter in the history of automotive design, while at the same time attracting a lot of praise and criticism. But one thing is for sure: although the first models will not be delivered before 2021, Cybertrucks are still being talked about, increasing the hype and waiting to see them roll on the road.
