Ford Challenges Tesla To Pickup Tug-Of-War – Should GM Join In?
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You’ve seen the videos. Two pickup owners get a strong tow rope, tie it to each of their respective truck’s tow hitches and have a tug of war to see whose vehicle has more torque, grip and overall towing capability. It’s not a scientific test by any means, but if there’s one thing it is good for, it’s generating an entertaining and/or funny viral video.
This week, Elon Musk tweeted a video of a Tesla Cybertruck engaging in this type of tug-of-war with a Ford F-150 to drum-up hype for the new electric pickup. The video, which ends with the powerful and presumably quite heavy Cybertruck dragging the F-150 up a hill, certainly helped generate more interest in the oddball Tesla pickup. At the time of this writing, the video has been viewed 13.7 million times, while Musk’s tweet has 116,000 retweets and 656,000 likes.
Cybertruck pulls F-150 uphill pic.twitter.com/OfaqUkrDI3
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2019
Understandably, Ford wasn’t too happy with the way the test went. The video appears to feature a two-wheel-drive Ford F-150 (or a 4×4 F-150 in 2WD mode), which is obviously no match for the all-wheel-drive Cybertruck. Sunny Madra, vice president of Ford X (that’s the automaker’s division dedicated to developing innovative new business models), noticed this and challenged Musk to a rematch, asking the entrepreneur to send over a Cybertruck so Ford could do a true “apples-to-apples” comparison. Musk responded later that day, telling Madra and Ford to “bring it on.”
Right now, it doesn’t seem as though Ford plans on actually stepping into the ring with Tesla, with a spokesperson saying “Sunny’s tweet was tongue in cheek to point out the absurdity of Tesla’s video, nothing more.” Tesla still plans on re-doing the test, however, with Musk saying the match up will be “exciting to see.”
Musk later engaged with scientist Neil Degrasse Tyson on Twitter about the topic, who said that grip is what matters most in this test – not the torque offered up by the electric motors. Musk replied back saying that if both trucks were loaded to their max bed payload, they would have more equal rear grip, making it a more even playing field.
We’re now left wondering if General Motors should capitalize on this news-making story and step up when Ford wouldn’t – though we imagine GM feels similar to Ford, which claimed it was only focused on “serving our truck customers regardless of what others say or do.” It’s easy to see why the legacy brands aren’t eager to go toe-to-toe with Tesla. After all, Ford and GM have more to lose with regard to their established truck businesses, whereas Tesla can simply say there’s room for improvement with its prototype-level truck if it loses.
Either way, the Ford vs. Tesla rematch stands to be a major event. This feels like Pacquiao vs. Mayweather all over again.
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I guess you didn’t hear the News?
Ford is NOT Doing it. HAHA
Why the Thumbs Down?
People here stopped accepting Facts?
It’s all over the Internet. Do you guys not remember me saying no matter what good or bad, the Cybertruck was going to Blow up the internet? Well seems like I was correct.
Ford is so dumb. They almost fell for it.
No, GM/Chevrolet should not. It’s ridiculous and proves nothing. This is something only morons would do after they’ve been drinking all day. Ford shouldn’t have even replied to that nonsense.
This was a trap Tesla set. Tesla is disrupter in the space and they just got attention of all serious truckers. Now for sure they will beat some models and Ford will be in trouble. Tesla will find ways to market those wins also.
Already they have 200 thousand reservations.
Matt is correct as this is a mean less display of stupidity for simple mined morons to get sucked into.
What next we pull a train, space shuttle or ship?
Jeremy Clarkson pulled a ship with a Citroen CUV and it was only 13000 tons
https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/the-grand-tour-clarkson-pits-citroen-against-car-carrier
So few today have even the most basics of physics down that the get fooled every time.
This was a game of Musk saying I stole your nose and many believe it.
Only dummies will fall for the nonsense of Tesla. I want to see that monstrosity do a golden Ike test. Oh , and not like the Model X that couldn’t even make the journey from Boulder , up the Ike and back. A Ram had to tow the trailer back.
Electric motors provide instant torque which is why Tesla’s sedans can accelerate like a supercar, Ford was foolish to challenge Tesla because it takes time for a gas powered F150 to get power to the wheels while with the Tesla, power is instant; General Motors Chevrolet Silverado wouldn’t do much better than the F150 because it cannot get power to the rear wheels as fast as the electric powered Tesla Cybertruck.
No. Your incorrect thought process is what others are also claiming, but any of the trucks have more than ebough power to overcome their traction, which is what’s really being compared.
Also doubt the Teslas have a 4 lo. More likely that not they are using open differentials too, a real truck would have a locking rear at least. But on dry pavement, that’s not a real big difference. Something like a Raptor uses a lsd up front as well.
My truck has more instant torque than all 3 Tesla’s motors combined. It’s a force multiplying thing called a torque converter. “Instant torque” is another name for “low power” as eletric motors have terrible low end power and terrible high end torque. I could also beat the cybertruck 0-60 if I was allowed to use ICE ludicrous mode, ie NOS. I want to see Chevy fufill the challenge, lock up their brakes and watch as the Tesla’s motors burn out as the no turn condition melts the armatures
Ford never “challenged” Tesla. That was a show done exclusively by Tesla with a borrowed Ford truck. If that was the electric prototype and both had the same tires and weight, in a truly honest pull the Ford EV truck will win, since it pulled 1.2 million pounds.
Ford should tie Musk to the bumper and drag him. Also pointless but would be fun to watch.
So what? Reservations are not real sales! Ford sells one F-150 every minute!! By the time Tesla gets its Cybertruck to market, Ford will have sold thousands of the F-150 hybrid model (better for long distance towing) and will begin to sell the electric version which is a real truck. Tesla is all show and not so serious as Ford, the world’s first and largest truck maker.
I’m still convinced those 200k ‘reservations’ have a group of shareholders/investors behind them attempting to drum up hype. I don’t believe for one second they’re all real. The crowd at the reveal cheering like fan boys as some guy rode a 4 wheeler into the bed was all I needed to see. Any real truck buyer or enthusiast has seen or done that a thousand times and in no way would be impressed. It self leveled, big deal. That too is old and already exists today at your local Dodge dealer in a ram. Most trucks are sold in the midwest and the south. I doubt you’ll see many of these (if any) rolling around in Texas.
@Matt
I personally know Four friends that have Pre-Ordered one. One is on the fence but says he will most likely get one.
Two are in construction Business. They each are General Contractors and they cannot wait for this Truck.
They will save so much money that they feel like they would be utterly stupid not to order one.
One really loves the Design and the other is ok with the Design but not a huge fan.
One is a Tahoe Lifetime owner. He may have had up to at least 6 Tahoes if not more.
The other has a Tesla Model X.
Now let me explain to everyone here what the issue with the Cybertruck really is and for some reason most do not understand this.
The Specs that Tesla announced (and I am willing to bet they are not the Final Spec either) are a Game Changer. Remember Tesla has a Battery and Motor Investment Day coming up in the next two or so months.
So the issue is this…Ford, GM, and Ram cannot come out with the same Specs on their EV Trucks because they will not be able to price them at $39,000. So that means they will have to make a decision.
Do they lose money on them to match Tesla or do they alienate their ICE Customers by offering better Performance than their ICE versions for the same price as the Cybertruck at $39,000.
If they chose the later, there is no way either Company has the Capacity to Churn out 300K EV Trucks per year Nor will they want to do so. They want to continue selling their ICE Trucks which will keep bringing money for Future EV Production.
EV Factories and ICE Factories are not the same. Neither Company has a Factory that can churn out that many EV’s as of right now.
GM, Ford, and Ram desperetly needed the Tesla Truck to be a Dud and unfortunately as I predicted, it is far from being a Dud.
They are in a World of hurt right now. They each probably does not know what to do.
As I have been saying here for many years, GM and the Legacy Auto Makers never took a man that figured out how to land and reuse Rockets seriously enough with his car Company. Now Tesla has thrown down the Final Blow to get GM, Ram, and Ford to make a move. If Pickup Trucks go EV then ICE is done. Really not that hard to figure that out.
Tesla has 300K Pre-Orders and just imagine when people get to see them (especially when famous people are seen in them) and drive them and use them as Trucks. Tesla just hit a Grand Slam that will be printing them money.
On a side note…Nissan and Toyota might as well stop making Full size Trucks.
Sorry I forgot to add that in my opinion two years or so in Production I fell like a lot of Police Departments around the USA will be ordering the Cybertruck. Think about it. A safe as hell almost Bulletproof body that will never rust and unbreakable Glass for just 39K
Tesla will not be able to make these fast enough.
I am in the construction business as a home builder….I would not drive the Tesla if you gave it to me for Free!! And I am serious!
That’s how much I hate the style. I have never liked the styling on Tesla cars….but this thing takes the cake on ugly….looks like a 4 year old designed it with a crayon on construction paper.
You must be from Mars. No contractor would switch to an EV to save money. The big three have jacked up the prices on pickups so high these days in reality an ICE pickup at entry level cost around 15000$ to make. Compare that to the cybertruck which starts at over 39000$ while bypassing dealers. You may spec out a Silverado and find that it cost the same as a tesla, but wait there are dealer discounts and factory incentives to where your ICE engine will be over 10k cheaper and have more standard features than any EV. Sure you save money on electric, but it will take you 15 years to make up that difference if you are budget conciecous and use that money to pay off loans or investments, 10 if you just save it. Further, no contractor will want an EV as a work vehicle as of you need to recharge it it will take you 30min. Time is money.
@Jacob
Quick question…how much money will that Tesla EV save a contractor on Maintenance costs alone?
A body made out of Stainless Steal that will never Rust and won’t dent or scratch. Glass that should be shatter proof (by the time it comes to market)
Another thing nobody is even thinking about. Imagine that Tesla Truck Wrapped in Business Wraps. Which Truck (Company) will be remembered more… The Silverado or the Tesla going down the Street?
Sure, Tesla didn’t just Destroy Ford, GM, and Ram with this Truck.
again not in sales but in the fact that GM, Ford, and Ram cannot do a Subpar EV Truck. They need to make a great EV Truck. And trust me neither Company is Happy about this. They so badly want to ride that ICE Money Train for as long as possible.
He will loose money even with maintenance cost, as all the oil changes and transmission flushes won’t hold a candle to the battery swap around year 10. Speaking of year 10, I don’t know a truck at 10 years old that is rusting out. That normally happens between year 10-20. That unibody wo t hold up to the strain. If they did they would be standard on all trucks. Numbers ain’t there. Just ain’t.
My dog’s faster than your dog,
My dog’s bigger than yours.
My dog’s better ’cause he gets Ken-L Ration,
My dog’s better than yours….
Before someone asks me…No I will not be Pre-Ordering the Cybertruck.
I have no need for a Full size Pickup Truck. I will be getting a Model 3 or Model Y if the reports are true and they will be out soon. But I probably won’t be able to get one as they will fulfill all the Pre-Orders first so Model 3 most likely.
If one Day Tesla makes a Tahoe version of the Cybertruck that is shorter wheelbase like the Tahoe I would probably consider that.
I am still hopeful that GM starts making Game Changing vehicles but I have yet to see one other than the C8 which is by far the absolute best vehicle GM might have ever done.
I was hopeful Cadillac would’ve had a Model 3 Competitor or Model Y but I see nothing within the next few months.
why not? it is completely refundable. at $100 it is dirt cheap so it is meaningless.
recall that the model y deposit is $2500 and tesla isn’t tweeting any numbers. when asked directly, musk wouldn’t say.
the truck deposit is $100 and musk can’t stay off twitter.
draw your own conclusions.
@Steve
I have no need for a Truck so why waste Teslas time and mine to wait for a refund even if it only $100.
To your point about the Model Y, I am extremely curious to see the sales numbers. There must be a reason why they keep upping the Start Date. If recent rumors are true, we will see them on the road in two months. Then Tesla will have to reveal Quarterly sales numbers on them.
I would have placed a Pre-Order on Model Y had I known it was coming much, much quicker.
GM should join in on this because they can send more than one truck to go up against the Cybertruck so that the test is in fact true.When the Ford F-150 was up against the Cybertruck it was a base model.The mistake with this was that the Tesla Cybertruck should have been tested against a variety of different versions of the model.If GM goes up against the Tesla Cybertruck they should send a variety or different models.This is the most logical thing to do so the test is fair and so we know whether or not the Tesla Cybertruck is really able to be considered a competition against the other companies that produce trucks.