(The Gas Station is where American Cars And Racing Executive Editor Gary Gastelu vents his opinions. Feel free to let us know if you think they stink.)
The Tesla Cybertruck has only been in public hands for a few days and it’s already injured someone.
Hagerty video host Jason Camissa was given access to a Cybertruck prototype for a review which accidentally uncovered a dangerous design flaw.
Camissa was walking backwards along the side of the truck when he scraped his arm on the front corner of the fender.
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The way the stainless steel body panels meet there creates a sharp edge, which ripped through his shirt and cut his skin.
Fortunately, he was walking slowly at the time and the injury was minor, but it’s not hard to imagine how much damage the corner could do if a moving Cybertruck were to hit someone. It could also prove to be a menace simply parked in the garage.
There isn’t anything technically illegal about it and it would require some major reengineering to address it, but I have an easy fix that might help in the meantime.
Jason’s injury made me think about how parents deal with dangers around the home and one could be applied to the Cybertruck. Any babyproof home worth its salt is covered in corner protectors, and it would be easy enough to fashion one that would work on the Cybertruck.
The could either be attached to the hood panel and lift with it when the frunk is open, or simply be removable.
It might even become a fashion trend, like the yellow splitter guards Dodge owners leave on their muscle cars.
One Dodge designer even added them to a Challenger-based Ram Rampage pickup concept they sketched.
Dodge’s head of design, Ralph Gilles, isn’t a fan. He once jokingly posted to Instagram that he rejected a future Challenger proposal because the designer included splitter guards.
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The Cybertruck could do with a splash of color and it would be easy enough for Tesla to offer them in a variety, as it is with the wraps it is selling for the unpainted vehicle at $6,500 each.
