Comment by toddmorey
7 years ago
Unlike say the Aztec, this truck is “radically functional” design. No paint and simple geometry make it easier to manufacture and more durable.
I don’t think the mandate was “make this look strange” as much as it was “make this thing rugged and fast and powerful and we’re perfectly fine with it looking strange”.
We’ll see if they were successful, but I like the ambition. I’ll be curious, too, to see if some of this more radical thinking comes over to the Tesla Semi.
Radically functional... unless your intention is to use it as a work truck.
What aspects make you think it’s not useful as a work truck? I’ve done construction and see quite a bit of appeal. Fits 6 people, lockable bed cover, good towing capabilities, rugged body construction, no paint job to ruin, onboard power and compressed air...
Unibody construction means it’ll be a write off if the bed is damaged. Compare this with other trucks where the bed is bolted on, allowing for functional modifications to the truck: flat beds, boxes, or even just towing certain types of trailers. And if you damage the bed on those types of trucks, you can replace it for a relatively low cost.
Sure, if you’re just throwing a tool box in the back then you’re fine. Then again you didn’t need a truck to begin with.
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1. How many work trucks have you seen with a toolbox in the bed - almost all of them? How would you access one in this thing without literally climbing into the box?
2. How do you carry a ladder, roof rack, or box on this thing?
3. Where do I tie down the countless odd-shaped items that a work truck carries?
4. How do I mount a deck for bigger equipment on this truck?
5. Is 250 top range enough for a work truck that does field service and likely hauls significant weight?
This thing is less truck than the original Honda Ridgeline and that's saying something. You'll see one at the mall before you see one in the field.
Sloped bed rails exclude work use requiring any conventional bed-mounted toolboxes.
That design element alone has turned this into primarily a fun/status vehicle IMHO.
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Also curious to me was the mention of a totally new and customized UI for the truck. Would love to see it!