A recent Tesla reveal showcased a dramatic next-generation Roadster that drove upside down on a vertical ramp, briefly flew using cold-gas thrusters, and recorded a 0-60 mph sprint in 0.81 seconds. The demonstration used a SpaceX-supplied fan-based suction system that can generate up to 2 G of downforce, plus attitude-control and rear main thrusters to perform flips and low-altitude rolls. The two-seater’s design leans on aerospace cues (an SR-71 influence), with seats molded into the chassis, steer-by-wire controls including a yoke, a retractable rear wing, and an emphasis on raw performance rather than conventional safety. Elon Musk claimed production could start in 2028, but no price or firm timeline was given and Tesla acknowledged the flagship variant would not be road legal.
Technical specifics include two ultra-high-pressure air tanks totaling 600 liters and roughly 250 kilograms of stored air feeding 10 nozzles; Tesla says the system can recharge without chemical propellants. Tesla outlined three trims: Performance (two-seat, <1.6 s 0-60, >300-mile target), Thrust (limited-release, <0.9 s), and Rocket (single-seat, invite-only, >230 mph, <0.59 s, not approved for public roads). The Roadster’s long, delayed development (first teased in 2017) left room for rivals like Rimac, Porsche, and BYD to advance EV performance, but none have replicated the flying stunts demonstrated - raising legal, safety, and production feasibility questions despite the spectacle.
Summary generated by AI from the linked article. hn.today is not affiliated with Hacker News or Y Combinator.