Despite that, Tesla claims an impressive range figure.

The Tesla Cybercab could be the most efficient electric vehicle in the world when it hits the streets sometime next year. That’s what two of the EV maker’s execs alluded to during a brief interview with Sandy Munro that explored some of the robotaxi’s peculiar features.

As a reminder, the Tesla Cybercab is a two-door, two-seater EV that doesn’t have a steering wheel–instead, Tesla claims it will be capable of driving itself and doing double duty as both a personal transport device and a self-driving taxi to bring in revenue for the owner.

It’s Tesla’s smallest car with a roof and it was designed for ultimate efficiency–when driving and during the manufacturing process. As a result, the EV could have a maximum real-world driving range “close to 300 miles” on a full charge, according to Lars Moravy, Tesla’s vice president of vehicle engineering.

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But while that’s not exactly a record-setting figure–the refreshed Model 3 Long Range has an EPA-estimated range of 363 miles–it’s the battery size that impresses. As per Moravy, the Cybercab will have a sub-50-kilowatt-hour battery pack. By comparison, the Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive has an estimated usable capacity of 75 kWh.

If true, this would result in a real-world efficiency of 6 miles/kilowatt-hour, which is outstanding. By comparison, the facelifted Model 3, which is one of the most efficient EVs out there, is rated at 4 mi/kWh, while the Lucid Air has an efficiency of 4.3 mi/kWh. In other words, the Tesla Cybercab would have a 50% higher efficiency than the Model 3.

The car’s design and manufacturing techniques help a lot with efficiency. According to Franz Von Holzhausen, Tesla’s Senior Design Executive, the teardrop shape of the car has a big impact on reducing energy consumption. Keeping it light also plays a significant role.

While the two execs did not disclose the weight of the two-door EV, they said that its body is made from unpainted polyurethane panels. The color is added to the panels during the manufacturing process, so even if a panel is scratched, there is no base coat that will show up, making scuffs less visible.

In fact, there is very little paint on the car, which leads to lower manufacturing costs and potentially lower repair costs if something goes wrong.

The two execs reiterated that the Tesla Cybercab is on track for a 2026 commercial launch. Manufacturing equipment is currently being installed at the Texas Gigafactory and the first pre-production units are expected to roll off the assembly line this summer.

Despite recent failures, Elon Musk insisted the world’s most powerful rocket will soon blast off to the Red Planet. The tech billionaire said human landings could begin before the end of the decade.

Provided by Deutsche Welle
© SpaceX/AFP

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said Friday that his company’s massive Starship rocket would leave for Mars at the end of 2026, carrying with it Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus.

In a post on X, Musk also suggested that human landings on Mars could begin as early as 2029 if the initial landings go well, though 2031 was more likely.

The update follows several recent disappointments for the world’s first private space firm and Musk’s long-term vision of colonizing Mars.

What is Starship and what will it do?

Starship — the world’s largest and most powerful rocket — is key to Musk’s plan to colonize Mars.

At 403 feet (123 meters) tall, about 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty, the rocket is designed to eventually be fully reusable.

Designed for deep space exploration, it is hoped Starship will make missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, making space travel more cost-effective and efficient.

NASA is also awaiting a modified version of Starship as a lunar lander for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade.

However, before those missions can take place, Space X must prove the vehicle is reliable, safe and capable of complex in-orbit refueling, which is critical for deep space missions.

Multiple test flights of the Starship prototype have taken place, with several failures but also milestones like reaching space.

Earlier this month, SpaceX faced a setback when its latest test flight ended in a fiery explosion, its second failure this year.

Despite this, the firm’s approach of “fail fast, learn fast” has helped it become the world’s dominant launch services provider.

On March 6, a SpaceX Starship rocket exploded after liftoff, a second failure this year© @_ericloosen_ via REUTERS

What is Optimus?

Also known as Tesla Bot, Optimus is a humanoid robot being developed by Musk’s electric vehicle company.

It’s designed to perform repetitive, dangerous, or mundane tasks that humans would rather avoid.

The tech billionaire revealed the robot at an event last year. saying he expects it to retail for $20,000 (€18,300) to $30,000.

Will Trump make Mars a priority?

In November, Reuters news agency cited sources saying that Musk’s dream of transporting humans to Mars would become a bigger national priority under US President Donald Trump.

The sources said that Musk’s desire for reforms of the Federal Aviation Administration, the US space and aviation regulator, could help the Mars ambitions.

Musk has frequently clashed with the FAA, accusing it of over-regulating SpaceX over safety and environmental concerns, which he said has slowed the development of Starship.

Trump also vowed in his inauguration speech in January “to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.”

However, Musk’s status as one of Trump’s closest advisors and his influence over federal regulators are raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest for his companies, including SpaceX.

Musk’s alignment with Trump, along with accusations of interference in European politics, has made him a target for fierce criticism, political roadblocks and potential legal action.

Trump bought a Tesla this week in a show of support for Musk, whose foray into politics has drawn deep criticism© Getty Images

Edited by: Kieran Burke

Author: Nik Martin (with AFP, Reuters)

It seems strange to suggest, after winning six world championships and some 84 grand prix with Mercedes, that Lewis Hamilton needed a new lease of life in Formula 1 – but that is exactly what he has enjoyed since moving to Ferrari.

The news of his switch to Italy was announced over a year ago but now he has swapped his silver arrow for a prancing horse, there is a renewed vigour to Hamilton, even on the cusp of his 19th season in F1.

He has done much to build an instant relationship with his new team and its famous fanbase, which flocked en masse to Fiorano on a cold, foggy January morning to watch Hamilton complete 30 steady laps in old machinery.

But the occasion also meant something to Hamilton, both his mother and father were in attendance as he donned the red race suit (outside of a photoshoot) for the first time.

The fact he had already posted a picture of him wearing his new overalls, breaking the F1-corner of the internet in the process, was another example of how he was being welcomed into the Ferrari fold.

The most-liked F1 image in the history of Instagram and a picture that instantly showed his financial worth to the team, social media lapped up the content, with Hamilton also snapped outside Enzo Ferrari’s historic home, draped in Italian fashion and in front of an F40 – a veritable easter egg hunt for fans.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
© Autosport.com

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Ferrari

His Duolingo clearly having taken a battering over the winter, Hamilton then turned his hand to speaking Italian in front of the Ferrari factory crew – he always knew what he needed to commit to, especially given how ingrained in the team’s culture his new team-mate Charles Leclerc already is, to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Away from his new team, Hamilton has also started to live his best life and, at 40, probably became one of the oldest TikTok users when he set up his new account on the eve of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, amassing 245,000 followers in less than a day.

How chilled is the knight of the realm? Well, posting a video of him ‘appearing’ in one of his favourite movies, ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ and roping in Hollywood actor Ed Norton alongside him shows he is having plenty of fun – although maybe proof that it was wise for Hamilton’s role in the upcoming F1 film to be largely behind the camera…

However, the good will, the long welcome, the red carpet and – most importantly – the hopes pinned on him to deliver a first drivers’ title to Maranello since 2007 (incidentally the year he debuted in the championship) will all quickly dissipate if he does not deliver on track.

For all of his record-equalling seven titles, Hamilton is up against a strong, confident, fast team-mate in Leclerc, while his somewhat alarming drop-off in qualifying performance will also need addressing.

Pre-season testing often yields little correlation to performance once the chips are down, although Hamilton setting the second-fastest time across the three days will have been a boost.

x

To Albert Park, then, where the Hamilton/Ferrari journey begins in earnest.

A track where he has won only twice (2008 and 2015), victory will not be expected of him this time around, given the pace of the McLarens, but a strong showing when it matters will start Hamilton off on the right foot.

The latest stage of the latter part of his glittering career has started with kind words, iconic imagery and Matthew Broderick but now has to switch to pure performance on the track.

It might be a challenge but, as Hamilton riffs in his modern-day Ferris Bueller cameo before driving off in a Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder: “Relax. You fellas have nothing to worry about, I’m a professional.”

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