Tesla launches ‘flying’ Roadster sports EV as Elon Musk hails ‘the future’
Tesla said the prototype uses SpaceX-developed thrusters and a suction system, while the company reopened reservations and kept production plans for 2028.
- 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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Elon Musk exhibited a sportsman capable of challenging the limits of acceleration, although there are still unknowns about his arrival in the market
Tesla’s new Roadster car can thrust itself in the air. But don’t expect to drive it anytime soon
FILE – The Tesla logo is displayed at a Tesla dealership Thursday, Mar. 13, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, file)(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, file) CHICAGO (AP) — Tesla has unveiled its new Roadster sports car, which can thrust itself up in the air. But drivers shouldn’t expect to take it for a spin anytime soon. […]
Tesla’s new Roadster car can thrust itself in the air. But don’t expect to drive it anytime soon – WTOP News
CHICAGO (AP) — Tesla has unveiled its new Roadster sports car, which can thrust itself up in the air. But drivers shouldn’t expect to take it for a spin anytime soon. Elon Musk’s car company this week debuted the latest bells and whistles of its second generation Roadster — chief among them, as shown off at a Thursday event, are a set of cold gas thrusters and a “multi-mode” suction system that can fling the car in the air for short spurts and s…
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