Tesla unveils next-generation Roadster with flight capabilities at SpaceX site

Tesla showcased a new version of its long-delayed Roadster on Thursday in Texas, demonstrating a vehicle that used SpaceX technology to hover and flip in mid-air.

During a livestreamed event at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and engineering leaders debuted a white two-seater prototype. International reported that the vehicle demonstrated extreme maneuvers, racing up a ramp before clinging to it upside down and vaulting into the air. The car hovered briefly before landing, a feat Musk attributed to a collaboration between his automotive and rocket companies.

The new Roadster utilized a variety of SpaceX-derived technologies to achieve these results. According to International, the prototype featured small rocket thrusters, powerful fans, and carbon overlay pressure vessels. Lars Moravy, Tesla's vice president of vehicle engineering, also demonstrated a timer showing the car could accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than one second.

While CleanTechnica noted that the event drew comparisons to fictional flying car concepts from film, the technical specifications remained limited. Musk did not announce a price for the vehicle or details on different performance variants. However, he stated that the next-generation Roadster is scheduled to enter production in 2028.

Tesla has recently begun accepting $50,000 deposits for the car in the United States, Canada, and China. Despite the spectacle, International noted that the high-end, low-volume model is unlikely to have a significant financial impact on the company's overall bottom line.

Background

The original Tesla Roadster was first delivered in 2008 based on a Lotus Elise chassis and sold until 2012. Musk first promoted the concept for this refreshed version in 2017, later suggesting it would include an optional SpaceX package with roughly 10 small rocket thrusters to improve speed and braking.