That’s so true, trucks and SUVs like the Mercedes G Wagon, the Ford Raptor (the F150’s rowdy cousin) and maybe even the Range Rover HSE are typical Veblen Goods. They do really well in urban areas specifically because they are over-engineered and are overkill for the purpose they are used for and are not afraid to show it off. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cybertruck does well for the exact same reason.

"overkill" may be an unfortunate word choice, if you're the pedestrian who has a close encounter with one of these.

A pedestrian encounter with any vehicle is likely to have the same result.

No SUV's and trucks are wildly more dangerous to pedestrians.

The design of the vehicle has a significant impact [sorry!] on the pedestrian's chances. All those sharp edges can't be good.

Yeah but the glass breaks really easily so it should help disperse the impact.

The overall height, especially of the hood is also really important for the pedestrian's chances. if a sedan hits you, ideally you can roll over the top. if a truck or suv with enough size hits you, you go under it.

Somehow I think the mass and speed is far more significant than a pointy bumper.

Mass probably is only significant because it makes the stopping distance longer.

Mass also adds to the force of the impact

Should be safer with self-driving versus human-driven pedestrian crushers (SUVs)

Not that it's a guarantee but at least tesla's emergency breaking detects pedestrians already. We're still a couple years from release. I'd like to think the long-term solution is to just stop hitting pedestrians with cars.

TIL what a Veblen Good is. Thanks

To save others the googling

> Veblen goods are types of luxury goods for which the quantity demanded increases as the price increases, an apparent contradiction of the law of demand, resulting in an upward-sloping demand curve.

TIL what TIL means (also Veblen Good). So today I learned 2 things.

I agree with you on many pickup purchases being conspicuous consumption, but I think you're underestimating how many people would happily display conspicuous green consumption. This has all the "look at my big powerful toy" but acceptable for someone wanting to display how environmentally aware they are.

> This is not atypical for American consumerism.

Conspicuous consumption is an enormous part of consumerism absolutely everywhere. Wearing a $20,000 suit is conspicuous consumption to those who can tell that’s what you’re wearing but we don’t generally call it that because it’s only conspicuous if you’re in the know.

> Here in the South, some pickup drivers modify their exhausts to spew toxic smoke ("rolling coal") which is clearly not an option with the Tesla...

They could always shoot a hole in the battery pack to do that.

I hope someone invents a "coal"-roller add-on that emits high pressurized steam (builds it up for 5 minutes, then releases it when the engine is pressed hard). But it's got to be white vapor not black, as it will need to represent the green nature of what Tesla owners are buying into.

... and give validity to these assholes' hobby by playing along with their game?

yeah that sounds like exactly their attitude, fun but useless.

Having learnt the term 'rolling coal' just now, I would sincerely hope the morons doing this are in a minority amongst truck drivers. I find it far more likely that conspicuous consumption is to blame for the truck/SUV trend than anti-environmentalism.

Don't come to the Midwest... Rural towns are full of folks who love to mod their trucks so they can be seen/heard/smelled.

Or the intermountain west. Utah is the home of the Diesel Brothers. If you want to feel like garbage, go down that hole.

It is definitely a minority. If that is any consolation.

Same here, I went and looked it up on Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_coal

I mean... why the hell would you do such a thing?!

I stopped reading at "... as a form of anti-environmentalism", what the actual fuck?!

And several people here, as a manner-of-fact, "oh yeah that happens in part of the country where I live". That is not normal.

Environmentalism has become a tribal trait, and of the tribe opposing them. Therefore, you become anti-environmental, as a way of showing your tribe.

You should probably avoid ever visiting the Southeastern US...

Think about conspicuous energy waste with Tesla coils. Rolling coils.

But clean green energy.

I live in a city and have used my pick-up truck for 15yrs constantly to move furniture, haul trash to the dump, and bulk material (mulch, dirt, sand, pavers, etc) for myself and friends. It's a major time and money saver. Yes, parking is a PITA and the gas is horrendous. However, with the population density, the utility need to haul materials is compounded - especially now that you have increasing #'s of DIY renovations and things like urban farms.

The thing I find interesting about this truck design is the angled body. It looks like it's designed for minimised radar cross section (RCS) signature, which is a military application benefit.

Indeed. It looks to be inspired by the RAH-66 Comanche stealth helicopter [1]. Currently operators are known to use (through Mil-COTS) the Toyota Hilux. Maybe Elon is after an influx of SOCOM/DARPA money for Tesla (increasing his association with Tony Stark in the process).

[1]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing–Sikorsky_RAH-66_Coman...

I got a speech like that from a co-worker, who has since called me to help him with my truck multiple times. Not so useless, it seems.

Your co-worker is trading carbon credits. Keep it up.