Walter Isaacson: Cybertruck and Roadster reflect Musk’s desire to make the future look futuristic

In the interview, Walter Isaacson called the Roadster’s design beautiful and praised Franz von Holzhausen’s work. He connected the unusual looks of the Cybertruck and Roadster to Elon Musk’s—and, to some extent, von Holzhausen’s—desire to make the future look like the future. Isaacson said that while developing the Cybertruck, Musk showed the team imagery from video games and comics and insisted on stainless steel despite objections. Isaacson said he was not entirely a fan of the Cybertruck’s design, but was glad Musk carried the idea through.

Isaacson also recounted that Musk wanted the Cybercab to have no steering wheel, while colleagues suggested making a version with one. Isaacson said he had recently ridden in a Cybercab in Austin and observed that Musk turns the impossible into something that happens only a little later than he predicted.

Separately, Isaacson predicted that Tesla and SpaceX would eventually merge, linking that view to the Roadster’s use of rocket thrusters. This was his prediction, not an announced company plan. A host added that the demonstration suggested close cooperation between the companies and gave their own view that such a combination could eventually produce flying cars.