Cybertruck vs RAM 1500 turning test a win for Tesla as Elon Musk confirms drastic rear steering upgrade
The Cybertruck's official 43.5ft (12.5m) turning radius is already pretty impressive for its 223.7 in (5,682 mm) length and 6,603 lb (2,995 kg) curb weight. The tight turning circle can be attributed to the addition of rear wheel steering in Tesla's drive-by-wire system powered by its new 48V low-voltage architecture.
Granted, rear steering has been around for a while, but it is especially important for a big truck that needs to turn or park in tight spaces, as the impromptu test footage of the Cybertruck's turning circle against a RAM 1500 truck below shows.
The first reviewers or owners of the Cybertruck have so far pointed its tight turning radius as one of the pleasant surprises that come with driving Tesla's first electric pickup, and they may be in for an even greater surprise pretty soon. Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla has "further improvements in the works to tighten the turning circle significantly," while another source disclosed the full details of the radius upgrade.
It turns out that, just as Tesla teased during the Cybertruck's launch period, the rear wheel steering degrees will be increased, most likely via an OTA software update. The current 3-degree angle they turn with will be greatly widened to 10 degrees, bringing with it Elon Musk's aforementioned "significantly" tightened circle.
It would be interesting to follow how the official 43.5ft (12.5m) Cybertruck turning radius will change then, as well as redo the circle tests against other notable vehicles that can turn on a dime.
Source(s)
Elon Musk & Paul Mangiamele (X), TSportline (YT)
