Tesla Roadster: It Flies, Flips, and Hits 0-60 in 0.81s

Tesla unveiled a radically redesigned next-generation Roadster at SpaceX’s McGregor test site, demonstrating it driving upside down on an inverted half-loop and then launching into a mid-air “kickflip” over a row of Tesla vehicles. The car used a fan-based suction system under the floor that can generate up to 2 Gs of downforce, and a SpaceX cold-gas thruster package fed by two carbon-overwrapped pressure vessels (about 600 liters, ~250 kg of air) with 10 nozzles to flip, hover briefly, and roll the car upright. A new high-voltage battery and drive unit under the floor delivers roughly 1 MW of power - about one-third more than Model S Plaid at half the mass - and a live test recorded 0-60 mph in 0.81 seconds, with Tesla claiming current top speed above 230 mph and a long-term target near 383 mph. The demo ran on autonomous driving for safety, though Tesla calls this a “pilot’s car” for future manual driving.

The Roadster’s wedge-shaped, SR-71-inspired design packs active aero (High-Downforce and Low-Drag), an active rear wing and diffuser, steer-by-wire yoke, by-wire brakes and throttle, and seats molded to the chassis. Tesla outlined three trims: Performance (road-ready, <1.6 s 0-60), Thrust (race-ready, <0.9 s with thrusters) and an invite-only Rocket single-seater aimed at <0.59 s; deposits start at $50,000 and $250,000 for higher trims. Production is slated for 2028, and Musk teased further extreme demos while noting some capabilities may face legal or regional limits.