The 2026 Tesla Cyber SUV?

My Dream Tesla SUV is a LUCID

Kind of, Sort of...

Sophia Loren once famously and profoundly quipped "You can't have it all—at the same time." My understanding is she wasn't saying you can't have it all. She was just saying, you can't have everything perfect at the same time, and that is kind of what this story reminds me of.

I originally published this story back on May 16, of 2025, and it was titled "What I Want in a 2026 Tesla Model X", and I included the original story lower down in this story to add context. 

Today, I watched a video review of the new LUCID GRAVITY SUV, by MKBHD, and thought to myself, "That car is almost EXACTLY what I want in an SUV, but sadly it lacks Tesla FSD, which makes it a hardcore dealbreaker for me, and I would like it way more if there were built in screens in the backs of the front seats, instead of the lower single lame screen like all Tesla's have. 

Basically, I wish Tesla would replace the Model X with a form-factor like the LUCID we see above, and my preference would even be that it would be better if it had sliding rear doors like a mini-van.

Maybe My Dream Tesla SUV May Come True?

Something really interesting and unusual just occurred when Tesla apparently leaked a potential new Cyber SUV in the screenshot pictured below which was originally discovered and published by Torquenews.com. 

This is from a screenshot from a video from Tesla that reveals their Masterplan 4 which came out a few days ago. Notice in the background, up on a shelf, we see small models of what definitely appear to be a Tesla CyberSUV people mover.

In a recent interview on Jay Leno's Garage, Tesla lead designer Franz von Holzhausen discussed the new Tesla Plaid Model S that recently was updated, and he mentioned Tesla has been working on a number of new Tesla products that evolve their design language, and should be coming out soon. That begs the question, is he referring to the Tesla CyberSUV pictured above?

On a side note, this is a good interview, but Jay Leno's SOFTBALL QUESTIONS on the new Model S PLAID are TOTALLY LAME. The first question I would have asked, is "How is it the new Model S Plaid is $110K before taxes, and still lacks a power FRUNK?????? After all, the $80K CyberTruck comes standard with a power frunk?"

In my recent review of the new updated Model S and X I point out how disappointed I am that what historically were the most technologically advanced vehicles on earth, have NOT added any real or meaningful innovation in years.

Flat Roof Top CyberSUV would make it easy to put a folding Camper shell on top. I think this render is closer to the one seen in the Tesla design studio.

I can't help but wonder if the Tesla Cyber SUV concepts  pictured above and below is what Franz was talking about, when he said Tesla would soon be introducing such a vehicle? If Tesla introduces this vehicle soon, it would likely overcome the two Achilles heal issues that currently plague the CyberTruck, which are Low Range with only 300 miles, and a horrendous/nonsensical rear view mirror system. 

If the second and third row of seats in this vehicle were designed in such a way that they could easily fold flat, it would result in a much larger bed area than a CyberTruck. For instance, it should be able to hold 4x8 sheets of plywood easily, without having to stick out the back, where the CyberTruck bed is only 4x6 feet. If done correctly, this could also create a huge sleeping area in the back for camping, which can't be done in the CyberTruck.

The CyberTruck uses a video camera on the back of the CyberTruck that easily becomes unusable when it drives in rain, but a CyberSUV could use a real standard rear view mirror, like a Model S or X does. Also, if this vehicle were to have at least 400 miles of range, that would make it infinitely better. 500 miles of range would be far more ideal, and I think that is within the realm of possibility.

As a designer, I seriously can't figure out what the hell happened to Tesla design recently. Yes, the Model Y, is amazing, and the best selling car on earth, but the S and X and CyberTruck have had no love over the year and a half or more. 

My intuition tells me Tesla must have a trick up it's sleeve, and my best guess in that they will soon be launching the CyberSUV, which will essentially be a CyberTruck, but instead of having a bed with a sliding tonneau cover, will have a lift back with a large third row seat. Assuming Tesla does a good job of designing this vehicle, it will also allow owners to easily camp in their vehicle, and with a flat roof, will allow them to put a big foldable tent on the top.  

Essentially the vehicle below is almost like a Suburban in that it could easily contain 8 passengers at a time.

I was playing around with the render above to try and make it look more like the vehicle in Tesla's video and came up with the image below, which would seem to make much more sense as it would add additional cargo space in the back. Essentially this would give Tesla a large SUV, that could comfortably fit larger families, and replace the goofy and unnecessarily complex Model X for many customers.

Just for fun, I made the following renders that would show what my now classic JAKEe CyberTruck Wrap style might look like on the CyberSUV, and it looks pretty good. I wrapped the bottom and extended the window to give it more of a framed look.

I couldn't make up my mind which way I liked the window shape better, so I tried both ways: I think the version above with the added window wrap extension make it look more like a police truck, and the version below looks more modern and geometrical.

Below is my original article I mentioned earlier (Originally published in May of 2025) on what I want in an ultimate Tesla SUV, that ideally will replace their Model X:

What I Want In a 2026 Tesla Model X

In the past I've written about how I would love to see a Tesla CyberVan based upon the Model X platform.

Below is an image I put together that shows what I am hoping we will see with the next generation Tesla Model X. This vehicle can comfortably seat 6 passengers, or could also come in a seven seater model. This Model X is 1.5 feet longer than the current Model X in order to accommodate the third row occupants by giving them plenty of legroom. It also replaces the ridiculously ill-designed Falcon wing doors with sliding rear side doors like you would find a standard minivan.

I would like to see this model feature 4-wheel steering like the CyberTruck, which should result in an overall decreased turning radius when compared to the current standard wheelbase Model X, along with bi-directional charging and steer-by-wire. Tesla is planning on coming out with a revised new Model S and X pretty soon, and I hope they make these updates. Also, I hope wireless charing will be standard on the new Tesla Models.

This is essentially like a Model X had a baby with a CyberTruck. While a current Model X can accommodate 2 adults in the front, the back seats are too narrow and too close to the doors, so they feel claustrophobic. 

The current 6 seater is nice as it has the center walkway located between the 2 rear captains chairs, but the third row seats only work for small children. By making an elongated Model X, with a much larger third row seats, which could comfortably accommodate 2 or 3 adults, would be ideal, and would also add much more rear cargo space.

I recently took this photo of this Toyota Sienna Hybrid minivan, and essentially it's pretty close to what I would love to see Tesla make a similar model to.

The LUCID GRAVITY really does kind of look like the Toyota Sienna Minivan pictured above, but way cooler, and it features 4 wheel steering, but for me it's not an option as it lacks FSD. If it had Tesla FSD, I would buy it.

The space for Luxury EV SUV's is heating up, and below we see the soon to market South Korean Genesis GV90 made by Hyundai, which looks pretty damed cool. This design also makes it evident that within 5 years, this form factor with forward facing front seats with a steering wheel will essentially become obsolete, as vehicle form factor will transform into an autonomous pod on wheels, and then the seats will offer much more extended leg room. If you look at the image below, if somebody was sitting in the front seat when it is reversed like this, their legs interfere with the person sitting across from them, but if the form factor were elongated by several feet, this issue would be resolved.

The following is excerpted from an article I published 5 years ago on TeslaMagazine.org titled "Thoughts on the future of Autonomous Vehicles." This section illustrates exactly what I am referring to with the future form factors of autonomous EV's with wireless charging:

Just to be crystal-clear, my point is that automobile form factors as we have known them for more than the past century with front facing front seats will soon become obsolete and will be replaced with vehicles that have rear facing front seats, are 100% autonomous and feature wireless charing. My assumption is that within about 5-7 years, this new form factor will completely replace vehicles as we have known them.

Thoughts On The Future of Autonomous Vehicles

The Shape of Things To Come

This article is about what I believe vehicle form-factors will look like in the future. What will new cars look like 5-10 years from now? I believe steering wheels will become obsolete within the next decade. ZOOX, which is a bay area company created the design reference model seen below back in 2004, and I think it is extremely accurate. I believe we will see a two seat version of a form factor like this with forward facing seats, as well as a four seater as pictured below.

The ZOOX vehicle seats four people comfortably with front seats that are rear facing and rear seats that are front facing. This is basically a family car/sedan replacement.

Notice the hardcore understructure of the ZOOX car looks like it is extremely protective and safe.

The videos below shows off many details of this amazing concept.