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.
617 Articles
617 Articles
Tesla Unveils New Roadster 'the Flying Car'
Elon Musk has unveiled his dream car - Roadster 2.0 - the long-awaited successor to the original Roadster. The Tesla chief revealed the electric sports car that he claims can fly, at a SpaceX test facility in Texas Thursday. During the dramatic product demonstration, the unmanned two-seated car performed stunts reminding Hollywood action scenes, including driving upside down on a ramp, and rotat
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....
‘Greatest thing I’ve ever seen’; ‘alien technology’: Internet reacts as Musk shows demo of Tesla flying car Roadster
Elon Musk’s redesigned Tesla Roadster has sparked viral reactions after a demonstration showed the electric sports car performing aerial manoeuvres using rocket-style thrusters. Social media users called it ‘alien technology’ as Tesla announced a 2028 production timeline.
So far, technical and regulatory challenges have prevented the take-off of the "flying" car sector. Musk revealed his new sports vehicle model, the Roadster, during a launch event in Texas. During the demonstration, which was broadcast from Tesla's X account, the self-driving Roadster took off from a steep ramp and landed on its wheels. "Flying vehicles are real," Musk said during the event. He added that the "success is not guaranteed" in this …
We have liftoff: Tesla's new Roadster can fly, sort of
Tesla unveiled a redesigned Roadster on Thursday equipped with thrusters that enable it to fly short distances, nearly nine years after it first showed a next-generation version of its electric sports car, and said it would start production in 2028.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
