An official Tesla service bulletin shows the EV maker is ready for the 1st physical retrofit and major Cybertruck upgrade. The upgrade will change the Cybertruck’s rear steering actuator, increasing rear wheel steering freedom from 3 to 10 degrees.
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The Cybertruck gets praise for the truck’s incredible performance, durability, and off-roading characteristics. When Tesla started delivering the all-electric truck, the company highlighted these capabilities in spades.
However, one of the less talked about yet incredible Cybertruck features is the truck’s maneuverability. To create such a nimble vehicle while keeping all the other truck and size advantages, Tesla pulled out some of the company’s best engineering to date.
The Cybertruck is the first vehicle to feature a steer-by-wire, variable-gain steering system. This system completely decouples the steering wheel from the tires and adjusts the vehicle's steering ratio based on speed.
From lock to lock, the Cybertruck steering wheel turns only 170 degrees, which means that to make a full turn, you only have to turn the wheel in less than half a circle.
This greatly aids in the Cybertruck’s maneuverability; however, coupled with the Cybertruck’s rear-wheel steering, it results in a truck that is as nimble as a sports car.
The Cybertruck’s rear-wheel steering gives the truck a similar turning radius to that of the much smaller Tesla Model S. This on its own is incredible; however, Tesla appears to be ready to ship a rear-wheel steering upgrade that should greatly enhance the truck’s turning capabilities.
The rear wheels of current Cybertrucks delivered to customers can turn 3 degrees. Even at this level, the Cybertruck already possesses an impressively tight turning radius; however, the new update should make it even better.
According to an official Tesla service bulletin posted online, the EV maker is working on a retrofit update to the rear-wheel steering actuator.
Instructing the company’s service centers, Tesla explains the condition of the retrofit, writing, “For the Cybertruck, an updated rear steering actuator that provides a tighter turning radius is available for retrofit.”
This retrofit should increase the rear wheels' freedom of movement from 3 degrees to 10 degrees. Initially, Elon Musk had hinted that this change could be made through an over-the-air software update; however, now it appears that the upgrade will require a hardware upgrade.
For the service technicians performing the upgrade, Tesla gives procedure instructions: "1/ Replace the rear steering actuator with the updated component 2/ Perform four-wheel alignment.”
At this point, if you are worried that your Cybertruck has the last-generation rear-wheel-steering actuators and wondering if you should stop driving it, Tesla writes, “The previous rear steering actuator does not affect or impact vehicle safety or reliability. The updated part is for product enhancement.”
This is terrific news for current Cybertruck owners. If Tesla is ready to roll out a rear steering actuator retrofit for current Cybertruck owners, it suggests that the component has already been integrated into new Cybertrucks currently in production.
The Cybertruck rear steering actuator appears to be the first physical recall and simultaneously a major upgrade. This is all the information we have regarding the Cybertruck changes; however, we’ll be sure to keep you updated when we learn more about Tesla’s plans.
Until then, visit our site, torquenews.com/Tesla, regularly for the latest updates.
So, what do you think? Are you happy to see the first major Cybertruck upgrade and retrofit ready to roll out? Also, what other improvements are you looking to see on the Cybertruck? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Image: Courtesy of Tesla, inc.
For more information, check out: Elon Musk Responds After Jay-Z and Beyonce Take Delivery of Their Brand New White Interior Tesla Cybertruck & Immediately Wrap it Matte Black
Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and The evolution of the EV space on a daily basis for several years. He covers everything about Tesla, from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news.
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