Tesla Roadster Unveils Airborne Capabilities with SpaceX Collaboration
New electric vehicle demonstrates 0-60mph in 0.81 seconds and rocket-assisted flight ahead of 2028 production target.
Callum Smith
Tesla unveiled a new Roadster capable of airborne movement and extreme acceleration.
The vehicle demonstrates airborne abilities, accelerating from 0 to 60mph in 0.81 seconds; a fan system beneath its body improves grip and boosts performance.
The Roadster also drove upside down on an inverted ramp, using its fan systems and rocket boosters for this feat. Elon Musk posted a video of the vehicle on X.
These rocket-assisted features remain optional; the car's "rocket" feature is not approved for public road use. Elon Musk acknowledged potential legal challenges, stating, "This will be an actual car that's on the roads. I'm not sure it's necessarily legal in all jurisdictions, but there will be such a car that someone can own. So, it's going to be pretty wild that you can have a rocket car."
This will be an actual car that's on the roads. I'm not sure it's necessarily legal in all jurisdictions, but there will be such a car that someone can own. So, it's going to be pretty wild that you can have a rocket car.
Musk also stated, "Turns out the future does have flying cars." He added, "Flying cars are real… It's got altitude controls, thrusters and main thrusters in the rear. So it can basically fly like a rocket, it can do rolls, crazy gymnastics."
The vehicle represents a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX, utilizing compressed air from 10 thruster nozzles. Production for consumers is not expected to begin until 2028; Musk reportedly targets that year to start production of the new sports car.
Tesla began taking online reservations for the Roadster on Friday. A reservation requires an initial $5,000 credit-card payment, followed by a $45,000 bank transfer within 10 days.
Fine print on the website warned potential buyers that there is no guarantee of when, or even if, the vehicle will actually be delivered. The vehicle features a steer-by-wire system, chassis-moulded seats, adaptable aerodynamics, and two high-pressure air tanks that automatically recharge.
Three versions will be available: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket. Local aviation authorities, like the FAA in the US and the CAA in the UK, typically regulate flying vehicles.
Tesla's Cybertruck, released in 2023, is not available for purchase in most countries due to safety concerns. Porsche also revealed a new car, the Mission S, on the same night as the Roadster's unveiling.