A completely new Tesla Roadster has been launched, set to blow your mind if you thought EV performance cars couldn’t be anything to get excited about. Elon Musk was on hand to reveal the new Roadster at SpaceX’s Texas test facility, where an early example showcased moves that most street cars couldn’t dream of.
The Roadster took to the stage during the presentation, climbing up a curved ramp, then moving upside down and flying through the air before flipping and landing back on its wheels. It was then shown jumping over a line of the Tesla cars. The stunt was attributed to a mix of SpaceX-designed aerodynamics, suction, and cold gas thrusters.
This revelation comes almost nine years after the second-gen Roadster was previewed as a concept by Tesla back in 2017. There have been countless delays since, so the latest reveal is a much-needed boost for the electric-car maker.
What is most bizarre about the Roadster is its propulsion system, which is meant to be a sort of test bed for tech that Tesla executives have said it can use to get the car off the ground with 10 thrusters running off of its high-pressure compressed-air tanks.
The layout of the shown system differs from the airplane. Here, the target is quick lifts, flips, and softly-landing plans instead of applying the vehicle in a flight mode over a longer period of time. SpaceX’s experience in vehicle drive and control has been used in the system’s development. Still, the Roadster in essence is an electric vehicle.
Instead of the wobbling test, the upside-down driving demo calls for a different technique. Tesla said they use a fan-type suction beneath the car, which can hold the weight of the car to a special upside-down test surface and helps to increase the stability of the car on the test surface.
This functionality is still in testing, and the demonstration of this manoeuvre does not prove the vehicle can do the same thing in regular traffic. Musk added that some of the more out-there skills will not be legal everywhere.
Tesla has identified three variants of the Roadster named Performance, Thrust, and Rocket. The Performance Variant is the road-oriented sports car, Thrust adds thrust propulsion technology for acceleration, and Rocket is an exclusive invitation-only model with the full flight-oriented drive system.
Tesla has stated that certain configurations will offer a driving range of over 300 miles and acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than one second. For the Rocket version, the company has also mentioned a top speed above 230 mph. These figures are manufacturer claims and will require independent verification once production vehicles are released.
The Rocket configuration stands out because it is described as a single-seat vehicle, whereas the other versions are designed for two occupants. This difference highlights the balance between everyday road functionality and the advanced technology needed for airborne maneuvers.
Tesla is re-opening reservations for the Roadster, with approximately $50,000 deposits on the Performance and about $250,000 on the Thrust model. You can get the Rocket version by invitation only. The electric car manufacturer has not published retail prices or delivery timing, other than an estimate of 2028 for final production.
