Tesla reveals SpaceX-powered Roadster that flies

Tesla unveiled a radically redesigned second‑generation Roadster powered by SpaceX‑style thrusters at a demonstration in Waco, Texas, where the car used high‑powered fans and cold‑gas thrusters to drive up an inverted ramp, flip, and land, and to clear other Teslas mid‑motion. Tesla said the vehicle will accelerate 0-60 mph in about one second, exceed 230 mph, and offer roughly 300 miles of range. It will be sold in three trims: a two‑seat Performance model with active aerodynamics and a multi‑mode suction system; a Thrust race‑ready two‑seater with rear cold‑gas thrusters; and an invite‑only Rocket single‑seater with ten thrusters. Reservations are open with $50,000 for Performance and $250,000 for Thrust. Engineering details disclosed include ten thrusters fed by a 600‑liter compressed‑air tank and extensive use of carbon fiber overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) distributed through the car.

The Roadster is presented as a halo vehicle rather than a volume seller, with Elon Musk acknowledging safety is not its primary design goal and teasing stunts such as a possible Snake River Canyon jump. Design cues borrow from the SR‑71 and F‑35 and echo supercar lines like Lamborghini and the Lotus Esprit; Tesla plans production in 2028 after nearly a decade of delays since the 2017 reveal. The spectacle and bold claims have drawn skepticism from industry figures and prior depositors, underscoring the gap between the dramatic demo and long‑awaited deliveries.