Tesla has unveiled a redesigned electric sports car capable of brief aerial manoeuvres, with Chief Executive billionaire Elon Musk saying production is expected to begin in 2028.
The Tesla Roadstar was demonstrated on Thursday, October 15, at a SpaceX testing facility in McGregor, Texas, where it climbed a steep ramp, travelled upside down, flipped through the air and landed using rocket-style thrusters developed in collaboration with Musk’s aerospace company.
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In another demonstration, the Roadster used the thrusters to jump over a line of Tesla vehicles. The car had no driver during the demonstrations, which Musk said was intended to avoid putting anyone at risk.
Musk said the car was a result of "what happens when you have a collaboration with the world&039;s best car company and the world's best rocket company."
He added that the concept of "flying cars" was not a promise of the future. "Well, not anymore!" he said.
Tesla has indicated that the Roadster will be offered in different versions, including one designed for road use and another equipped with a more extensive flight system.
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The Rocket version is described as an invite-only model with a full flight system, but it is not approved for public roads. The Thrust version is intended to be road-legal, although the company has yet to demonstrate sustained flight in a commercially available vehicle.
Tesla is asking buyers to pay deposits of $50,000 for the Performance version and $250,000 for the Thrust version, although the final prices of the two models have not been announced.
The Roadster’s performance claims are also ambitious. Tesla vehicle engineering chief Lars Moravy said it can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour (about 97 kilometres per hour) in less than a second, and reach a top speed exceeding 230 miles per hour (370 kilometres per hour) and travel more than 300 miles (480 kilometres) on a single charge.
The unveiling comes almost nine years after Tesla first presented the second-generation Roadster in November 2017. At the time, the company expected deliveries to begin in 2020, but the vehicle has faced repeated delays.
Musk has previously discussed adding rocket thrusters to the car, saying the technology could improve acceleration and other performance characteristics.
The project also comes as Tesla expands its work on autonomous driving and robotics, alongside its electric vehicle business. The Roadster is positioned as a high-performance showcase for the company’s engineering capabilities rather than a mass-market vehicle.