Tesla’s long-promised next-generation Roadster got a live demonstration at SpaceX’s facility in Waco, Texas. Yahoo Finance reports that the car climbed partway up an inverted ramp using a suction system, launched upside down, flipped through the air and used compressed-air thrusters to right itself and land.
The propulsion system uses high-pressure air rather than rocket fuel. Axios says underbody fans create additional grip for acceleration and cornering, while the thrusters provide forward, upward and rotational movement.
Three versions and ambitious performance claims
Tesla presented three configurations: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. Yahoo Finance says the road-oriented Performance and race-focused Thrust versions seat two people, while the one-seat Rocket adds perimeter-mounted thrusters for short flights and aerial maneuvers.
At the event, Tesla demonstrated a 0–60 mph run in 0.81 seconds. The company claimed a 230 mph top speed, while Elon Musk said the eventual production version could target Mach 0.5, roughly 383 mph. Those figures remain Tesla and Musk’s claims for vehicles that have not entered production. Axios also notes that the flying version is not approved for public roads and that key practical details remain unresolved.
A 2028 target after years of delays
Musk said production is now planned for 2028. Tesla first announced the successor to its original Roadster in 2017 and initially targeted deliveries for 2020, leaving early reservation holders waiting for years.
Tesla is still asking prospective buyers for a $5,000 deposit followed by a $45,000 wire transfer within 10 days, according to Yahoo Finance. The company has not announced a final price, though the report says it is expected to exceed $250,000. Musk also described the Roadster as a future final holdout for manual driving in Tesla’s lineup, contrasting it with the company’s broader push toward autonomous vehicles.
