American YouTuber Cody Detwiler, better known as WhistlinDiesel, has built a reputation for putting expensive vehicles through extreme and often destructive tests. This time, he deliberately destroyed a Tesla Cybertruck and a Ford F-150 in a dramatic crash that ended in flames.
The stunt marked the final episode of a durability test series comparing the two trucks. For the finale, Detwiler’s team modified the Cybertruck so it could be operated remotely, then sent it down a drag strip at 179 km/h before slamming it directly into the side of a stationary Ford F-150.
A short clip lasting less than two minutes captured the moment of impact, while the full video runs for more than half an hour.
To carry out the test safely, the team fitted the Cybertruck with mechanical systems that controlled the steering wheel and pedals. Detwiler operated it remotely using goggles connected to a live camera feed from the truck. No one was inside either vehicle during the collision.
The impact tore the Ford’s cab away from its chassis and triggered an explosion, sending a huge fireball into the air and leaving both trucks completely destroyed.
Once the test was over, the wreckage was taken to a recycling facility. Heavy machinery ripped apart what remained of the vehicles before the debris was fed into an industrial shredder.
Before the final crash, both trucks had already faced a series of demanding off-road tests in Moab. The Cybertruck dropped out early after a towing component broke away during a previous challenge, leaving it disabled. The F-150 continued through the course and even completed part of the route on three wheels before damaged wiring finally brought it to a stop.
Detwiler said keeping the Cybertruck running throughout the series cost around $53,000 in repairs, despite the truck covering only a limited distance. According to him, it had to return to a service center six or seven times.
The Ford F-150, by comparison, reportedly completed the entire series without visiting a repair shop. That was enough for Detwiler to declare it the winner of the durability test.
He also revealed that producing the full video series cost more than $300,000.
