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Tesla launches ‘flying’ Roadster sports EV as Elon Musk hails ‘the future’

The prototype uses SpaceX cold-gas thrusters and a suction system to drive upside down and hit 0-60 mph in 0.81 seconds, Tesla said.

  • On Thursday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk demonstrated the new Roadster at SpaceX's McGregor, Texas facility, using high-powered fans and thrusters to drive the electric supercar upside down and perform mid-air barrel rolls.
  • Originally unveiled in 2017, the Roadster project suffered nearly nine years of delays while Tesla prioritized mass-market vehicles like the Model Y and Cybertruck, pushing production timelines repeatedly.
  • The "Thrust" package adds cold-gas thrusters and suction systems, enabling 0-60 mph acceleration in under 0.9 seconds; customers can reserve a base Roadster for $5,000 upfront, with $45,000 due within 10 days.
  • Production is slated for 2028, though Musk acknowledged "success is not guaranteed." Tesla vehicle engineering head Lars Moravy noted thrusters enable "micro adjustments within a fraction of a second," even as Musk warned the vehicle is "not necessarily a safety-optimized car."
  • Analysts suggest the event aims to link Tesla and SpaceX operations, though Musk dismissed the project as a "small potato situation" financially; competitors like Rimac and BYD have already released high-performance EVs, leaving Tesla playing catch-up.
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A car drives vertically upwards, hangs upside down, and flies through the air with a somersault. Then it lands with thrusters in a cloud of water vapor. Moments later…

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Elon Musk presented a new futuristic prototype on Thursday night, with a sports car capable of flying for a few meters thanks to rocket thrusters. "Success is not guaranteed but excitement is so," acknowledged Tesla's boss.

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Elon Musk presented Thursday night in Texas the "Roadster", a Tesla car capable of flying thanks to SpaceX inspired thrusters. During the event, the vehicle carried out an aerial barrel before landing....

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Tesla Magazine broke the news on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
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