TEXAS — Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled a new Roadster on Thursday night that he says can fly. In a live demonstration, the two-seat electric sports car drove up a ramp, flipped in the air, and jumped over a row of parked Teslas.
Musk said the car will go into production in 2028, CTV News reported. Experts say it is still unclear whether the Roadster can truly fly or only make big jumps.
What the demo showed
The event took place at a SpaceX test facility in Texas. SpaceX, Musk’s rocket company, helped build the car. During the demonstration:
- The Roadster used suction under the car to climb a steep ramp and hang upside down.
- It spun off the ramp, flipped in mid-air and landed using built-in air jets.
- It leapt over a line of Tesla vehicles parked side by side.
- It used jets at the rear to reach 60 mph in less than a second, according to Musk.
The car had no driver during the stunts. Musk said that was to make sure nobody got hurt. “Success is not guaranteed,” he told the crowd.
How it works
The Roadster uses 10 nozzles and what Musk described as “ultra high-pressure air tanks” to push itself through the air and to speed up on the ground. The thrust comes from compressed air, not rocket fuel. Musk said the car has altitude controls and can do rolls.
He also said the car can travel more than 300 miles on a single charge. Tesla says it can reach speeds above 230 mph. Musk said he eventually wants it to reach about half the speed of sound.
Is it really a flying car?
Aviation experts say what the demo showed was powered jumps, not sustained flight. They doubt that a vehicle with the weight of a road car can also meet the demands of an aircraft. Analysts also noted that the demo did not show whether the Roadster could fly over long distances.
California startup Alef is working on a different kind of flying car that uses eight propellers to lift off the ground.
Price and timing
Tesla did not announce a price. Audience members shouted “How much?” at the event, and company executives did not answer. A “rocket” version of the car is listed as invite only.
Musk first promised a second-generation Roadster in 2017. The car has been delayed several times since then, and Musk has a history of missing his own timelines. At the event, he laughed and promised that production would happen this time, in 2028.
Why it matters for Tesla
Musk has said the Roadster is a small part of Tesla’s finances. Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein described it as a “halo car,” meaning a showpiece meant to boost the brand. Tesla’s sales of its older lineup have fallen in the past two years, though higher gas prices helped deliveries in the third quarter.
