Elon Musk on Thursday presented a new prototype vehicle capable of briefly launching into the air using rocket-inspired thrusters. The Tesla Roadster debuted eight years after it was first announced.
The company has not yet announced pricing or a release date, although the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX said production would not begin until 2028.
During a stunt-filled demonstration at a SpaceX test center in Texas, Musk told the live audience that what they were about to see “wasn’t AI or IS.”
The vehicle, a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX, then slowly climbed a curved ramp shaped like half of a roller coaster loop before accelerating and launching off the ramp, passing five other Tesla vehicles and landing smoothly in a cloud of condensation using cold gas thrusters.
“Well, it worked!” Musk said after the stunt, adding that “it’s not necessarily a safety-optimized car.”
Tesla says a fan-based vacuum system creates downforce to hold the vehicle against the road surface, while self-filling cold gas thrusters power its aerial maneuvers.
Musk joked: “This car really sucks.”
Moments later, the car accelerated toward the same five cars and leapt 27 feet into the air, according to Tesla, while doing a rollover. He lowered himself slowly again.
Minutes later, it accelerated with a 0.81 second 0 to 60 mph time, according to Tesla, which is more than a second faster than the company’s current fastest time with the now-discontinued Model S Plaid. Tesla plans to offer three versions of the vehicle.
The base Performance Roadster car will be “road ready”, with the vacuum system but no propellers; the “race-ready” Thrust version will add rear-mounted thrusters for acceleration. Finally, the “ready to air” Rocket version will be available by invitation only; it will seat one person and contain the cold gas thrusters along the perimeter of the car, making it capable of the stunts shown during the live demonstration, according to Tesla.
The theft features raise questions about where and how customers would be allowed to use the vehicle. Musk acknowledged that the Roadster might not be legal in all jurisdictions, while Tesla says the Rocket version is not approved for public roads.
The second-generation Roadster was first revealed in 2017, with Musk initially promising production in 2020. The company has repeatedly pushed back that timeline while continuing to accept reservations from potential buyers.
Musk said that when it releases, he wants it to “crack halfway to the speed of sound,” or about 383 mph, or more than 150 mph faster than the currently reported top speed. According to Musk, when it’s released, it will be able to go 300 miles on a single charge, less than half of what he initially promised when announcing the car.
Prospective buyers can reserve the base model for an initial deposit of $50,000, or $250,000 for the Thrust increase.
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