Tesla unveils flying Roadster that accelerates to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds

The second-generation Tesla Roadster can accelerate to 60 mph in less than a second and make short flights thanks to thrusters developed jointly with SpaceX.

During the presentation, the electric sports car drove upside down, flipped in midair and jumped over several cars.

Flight demonstration

The presentation took place on October 15 at SpaceX’s test site in McGregor, Texas. Elon Musk demonstrated the new Roadster’s capabilities in a series of runs conducted without a driver in the cabin.

First, the electric car climbed a tall curved ramp and continued along it upside down. Then it lifted off the structure, turned in midair and landed on its wheels. After the stunt was successfully completed, Musk said, “Well, that worked.”

In a second demonstration, the Roadster flew over parked Cybercabs, Cybertrucks, a Tesla Semi, a Model Y and a Model 3, spun in midair and returned to the ground. The developers called the maneuver a “kickflip,” after the skateboarding trick.

How the Tesla Roadster learned to fly

The Roadster’s unusual capabilities rely on two systems: active fans that generate downforce and low-thrust gas thrusters developed using SpaceX technology.

Four powerful fans draw air from beneath the car, creating a low-pressure area. Special movable elements reduce the amount of air entering from outside. According to Lars Moravy, Tesla’s vice president of vehicle engineering, the system can generate downforce equivalent to acceleration of up to 2 g. That is enough to keep the Roadster on an inverted surface even when it is stationary.

Cold gas thrusters are used for flight. Unlike conventional rocket engines, they generate thrust by expelling compressed gas through nozzles without burning fuel.

The system includes two composite tanks with a combined capacity of about 600 liters, designed to hold approximately 250 kg of compressed gas. There are ten nozzles in total: four at the rear of the body for acceleration, four underneath to generate lift and two more at the front to control the car’s attitude.

Electric actuators regulate the gas supply and allow the Roadster’s position in the air to be adjusted. Tesla says the system can replenish its supply of compressed gas on its own.

This is not a fully fledged flying car capable of making extended flights. Tesla demonstrated a brief, controlled flight at low altitude. The maximum altitude, time in the air and number of consecutive maneuvers have not yet been disclosed.

Design and technical specifications

The new Roadster is almost entirely different from the prototype unveiled in 2017. The electric sports car has a low, wedge-shaped body, concealed headlights, a narrow LED strip at the rear and upward-opening doors.

Carbon fiber, magnesium and titanium are used to reduce weight. The body is painted Ano White, with a coating designed to protect it from ultraviolet radiation and corrosion. The glass has a golden tint reminiscent of the coating on space-suit visors.

The cabin features sports seats with pronounced side bolsters, a yoke instead of a traditional steering wheel, a central touchscreen and additional displays in front of the driver. The Ultrawhite trim combines white surfaces with gray microsuede.

The steering, brakes and accelerator pedal use electronic controls without traditional mechanical linkages. An active rear wing and Track Mode are designed to improve stability. Track Mode lowers the ride height and lets the driver choose between maximum downforce and minimum aerodynamic drag.

The electric powertrain includes two motors on the rear axle and a high-voltage battery with cylindrical 4680 cells. According to figures presented at the event, the power output reaches 1 MW. The battery is located low in the chassis, has a new cooling system and a titanium protective cover.

Tesla claims a top speed of over 370 km/h and a range of more than 480 km. Musk set an even more ambitious target: approaching half the speed of sound, or about 600 km/h.

Battery capacity, charging power, weight, dimensions and the method used to measure range have not yet been disclosed. The power and speed figures have also not been independently verified.

Three versions of the Tesla Roadster

Tesla plans three versions of the electric sports car. They differ in seating capacity, whether they have gas thrusters and how they can be used.

The base Performance model has active aerodynamics and fans that increase downforce, but no thrusters for flight.

The Thrust adds rear gas thrusters for extra acceleration. It retains a two-seat cabin and is aimed primarily at race tracks.

The most extreme version, Rocket, has a full set of gas thrusters positioned around the body. They can generate not only acceleration but also lift, allowing the car to move through the air and perform spins. The cabin has just one seat to make room for the equipment.

In a separate demonstration run, the Roadster accelerated to 60 mph (about 97 km/h) in 0.81 seconds. The result was reported by Tesla itself and has not yet been independently verified. The company expects the production Rocket to improve on this, reaching 60 mph in less than 0.59 seconds.

Tesla warns separately that the Rocket is not approved for use on public roads and may be unavailable in some countries. Approval of the road-going Performance version in Europe has also not yet been confirmed.

Prices and sales launch date

Tesla has not yet announced final prices for the Roadster. However, the company has opened reservations in the United States and several European countries, including Germany and France.

In Europe, the following amounts are required to place a reservation:

• Roadster Performance – €5000 upfront and another €45 000 within 10 days. The total deposit is €50 000.
• Roadster Thrust – €5000 upfront and another €245 000 within 10 days. The total deposit is €250 000.
• Roadster Rocket – price and purchase terms have not been announced. The version is available by invitation from Tesla only.

In the United States, the deposits are $50 000 and $250 000, respectively. These are reservation payments, not the final prices of the cars.

Series production is scheduled to begin in 2028. This is not the first delay: the second-generation Roadster was initially unveiled in November 2017, with first deliveries then promised for 2020.

Tesla has not yet announced exact delivery dates, production volumes or the terms for receiving the cars in Europe. Buyers will also have to wait for final certification, since the flight maneuvers demonstrated do not mean they are permitted on ordinary roads.