00:00This is a Tello MT1, and it's not just any Tello MT1, it's the second vehicle the company has ever
00:12created. An early prototype. We don't get to drive prototype vehicles very often, and I have no idea
00:18what to expect. But I know how I'm going to find out. I'm going to get in the MT1 and take it for
00:22a drive. Let's set the record straight. The MT1 is really small, and I'm really tall, 6'10". So when
00:27you see how I fit in the MT1, just understand that you're probably going to have a little more space
00:31than me. But I do have space in the MT1. No, really, check it out. See, just like that. Easy.
00:44Okay, so first things first, who is Tello? Tello is a startup automaker based in the San Francisco
00:50Bay Area, and this vehicle, the MT1, is shaped by that very environment. Both of Tello's founders,
00:55how it spent time living in San Francisco and living in San Francisco with pickup trucks.
00:59It's about creating a space-efficient, compact, all-electric pickup truck with design and packaging
01:05that is enabled by that all-electric powertrain. As you've probably noticed, the Tello MT1 doesn't
01:11exactly have a hood that gives it a very stubby, very unique appearance that also gives it super
01:18short front overhangs, allowing easy parking and easy maneuvering in tight urban environments.
01:23At the same time, its bed is transformable. It starts at the same length as a Toyota Tacoma
01:28and has a mid-gate that extends up to eight feet in length for extra-long cargo, such as surfboards
01:34or wood for your home recruitment projects. So this is very much a lifestyle truck. I think it's fair
01:40to say that. But at the same time, utility is still a strong focus. However, you also are going to have
01:46the option to expand the cap capacity with an optional bed cap that's going to go over the back
01:52of the MT1. Beneath that, a third-row seat will bracket into the floor of the bed, and that's going
01:59to expand the seating capacity up to seven or eight passengers. So just imagine that seven or eight
02:04people in this teeny tiny truck that's the same size as a Mini Cooper. Let's go over some key stats
02:09of the Tello MT1. Pricing is going to start at slightly more than $40,000 and top out at about
02:14$50,000 depending on how you equip the truck. And in terms of equipment, your options are going to be
02:19between a standard range battery of about 77 kilowatt hours of capacity and a long-range battery of 108
02:26kilowatt hours of capacity. With those, single and dual-motor powertrains are going to be offered
02:31with the top dog, dual-motor, big-battery powertrain cranking out some 500 horsepower. Which it does feel
02:39like, I'm happy to report. And that long battery is going to provide range of, hopefully, by Tello's
02:44estimations, up to 350 miles. The MT1 recharges via a NAX port, commonly known as a Tesla port,
02:50that's becoming the standard across the automotive industry. So that's going to make it real easy to
02:54pull up to a supercharger station and plug right in. The ride quality is actually, I'm finding, pretty
02:59composed so far. They use some off-the-shelf components to do the suspension of the MT1 along
03:05with some custom fabricated bits. And it's nice. It's remaining relatively level. I can feel that
03:13battery in the floor helping it feel nice and stable. And wow, the turning circle is just tiny.
03:20Flipped around that intersection, no issue whatsoever. One thing Tello totals before our drive is that the
03:25power steering is only at about 50% of its final calibration, in terms of the assistance that
03:30it's going to provide the driver. But here on the road, I'm finding it pretty good. It's very direct,
03:36not too twitchy off-center, but gets the vehicle turning as soon as I give it any input. Although the
03:42quality of this prototype's cabin is not ready for production, I have to say the styling is pretty
03:48compelling. This is a nice space. It's a premium truck. I like this geometric fabric all around. It's a nice
03:53kind of periwinkle blue color with some contrasting gray Alcantara. The touchscreen is in a nice
03:58location. And even in this very prototype phase, I'm finding that it's pretty responsive and user-friendly.
04:03So I'm having a fun time behind the wheel here, but it is very important to stress that this MT1
04:08is a prototype. Only the second one that's been built. And it's pretty easy to tell. This thing is not
04:14close to production ready. Lots of wind noise. The ride quality is fine, but perhaps not totally ready
04:22for all of the complexities of the road. But what will be on my wish list for the production MT1?
04:27Okay, let's start with some sound deadening. Let's make sure that all the pieces get screwed
04:31together correctly. I wouldn't mind having some sort of shade or cover for the roof here. It's pretty
04:36toasty. And accordingly, let's make sure that the air conditioning gets up to spec so that on a hot
04:40day like this with this glass roof open, it can stay pretty cool. Pardon my sweat. In terms of how it
04:46drives, there's definitely a lot of refinement to be done. Helping to smooth the ride, making the
04:51accelerator pedal's response is a bit more smooth and consistent. But I have to say,
04:56given that this is only the second car that Tello has ever built, it's off to a pretty good start.
05:02It's been a fun day driving the MT1 and I have learned a thing or two about prototype vehicles.
05:07Tello still has some ways to go before it's ready for mass production, but I'm really stoked to have
05:11been able to play some small part in the development process. For the full story on what I think the
05:16Tello MT1 needs to succeed before it's ready for your driveway, head to MotorTrend.com.
Comments