At a SpaceX test site in Texas, Elon Musk unveiled the Tesla Roadster slated for production in 2028, presenting a vehicle that can drive upside down, flip in mid-air and use rocket-like thrust.
The demonstration began with the model climbing a steep ramp, where a fan-suction system generated up to 2 g of force, allowing it to stay on the surface while inverted. They then performed a full 180-degree turn.
After the vertical ascent, the car, under autonomous control, used SpaceX-sourced thrusters to right itself in flight and land on all four wheels.
Engineers said the vehicle carries 10 boosters that expel pressurised air, recharging themselves without the need for traditional rocket propellant. This system is a key feature of the car’s design.
“It can fly like a rocket, it can do rolls, it can do crazy gymnastics – whatever you want, really,” Musk said, adding that the fun factor reaches “11 out of 10.” Musk’s comments highlighted the vehicle’s unique capabilities.
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A live sprint showed the car covering 0-60 mph in a claimed 0.8 seconds, with Musk noting, “You’ve got to break one second, obviously.”
Production targets include a top speed of 230 mph, slower than the BYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme record of 308.34 mph, though Musk hinted at a future goal of reaching half the speed of sound, about 383.5 mph.
The top-spec “Rocket” version seats a single driver, is invitation-only and includes the flying capability; a limited “Thrust” version offers two seats and retains a sub-one-second 0-100 km/h claim. These variants offer different features and capabilities.
Exact specifications for the powertrain, battery capacity and pricing have not yet been disclosed. More information is expected to be released as the production date approaches.
