‘I literally just watched a solar panel drive off’: The story behind the viral Kanye West Cybertruck
While the infamous rapper is known for a vast collection of unique cars, this UFO-looking vehicle is not one of them.
Kanye West has garnered a cultural reputation for marching to his own drum, generally manifesting in the form of collecting things that suit his creative vision.
Whether it’s building his own dome-shaped houses, growing his giant fashion label ‘Yeezy’ or his penchant for utility vehicles including the eight Sherp ATVs rumoured to be in his collection – ‘Ye’ as his legally known, has recently been linked to this Cybertruck-looking vehicle currently circulating on social media.
In the video titled ‘Kanye previews his new Yeezy Cyber Truck,’ a pyramid-shaped vehicle can be seen driving down a ramp, with the original owner of the video claiming this customised Tesla car is one of three examples made in the US and is allegedly worth $US1.2 million.
While the Tesla Cybertruck has been a celebrity favourite since it debuted on US roads, Ye's 'version' of the already unique-looking pick-up truck has sent social media into a frenzy, with online users likening the abstract appearance of the car to various objects you might commonly find.
“I literally just watched a [solar] panel drive off,” an Instagram commenter said, while another remarked: “[He] spent all that money to drive something that looks like the paperweight my mum has on her desk in her office.”
An X (formerly Twitter) user succinctly summarised it, when they stated: “Yeah definitely a Kanye thing”.
However, while it wouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary for the infamous cultural figure to collaborate with another eccentric billionaire Elon Musk on a vehicle – the story behind this spaceship-looking car doesn’t have anything to do with Kanye or Musk.
Instead, the vehicle dubbed the ‘Lo-Res Car’ is a concept vehicle commissioned by Dutch architect and the founder of the shoe company United Nude, Rem D.Koolhass.
According to multiple overseas reports, the concept car is limited to only four examples in the world and was inspired by the Lamborghini Countach’s sharp and angular design.
United Nude said the abstract shape of the vehicle is said to have come from “lowering the 3D resolution of the iconic Lamborghini Countach” and is considered a “conceptual design experiment” rather than a traditional car.
The interior of the vehicle is encased in a 'clamshell' polycarbonate body and is powered by a five-kilowatt electric motor and single-speed transmission said to be capable of reaching 50km/h.
However, the vehicle is not road legal as any required changes to the car would "have comprised its experimental and radical design".
On the inside, there is a tandem seating layout, front and rear light bars, and a hexagonal steering wheel.
Since its inception in 2016, the Lo-Res Car has been included in multiple art exhibitions – most notably the 2017 Grand Basel automotive design showcase in Switzerland and the 2019 Disruptors exhibition at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
The concept vehicle was also featured in Rich The Kid's music video for his song New Freezer – something Mr Koolhaas deemed as a memorable experience.
"Being part of this video production was a great experience. It was about experimentation and pushing boundaries, so I felt at home," Koolhaas said in a media statement.
The third Lo-Res prototype previously owned by the Peterson Automotive Museum was sold at a 2021 auction for $US111,111 ($AU166,716), with 50 per cent of proceeds going towards maintenance and care of the Museum's collection and the other half donated to non-profit environmental organisation Energy Independence Now.
