TESLA'S FLYING
ROADSTER?
Tesla's next-generation Roadster has been associated with ambitious performance claims and SpaceX-inspired thruster technology.
🚀 THRUSTER TECHNOLOGY
The proposed system could use high-pressure gas thrusters for extraordinary acceleration and experimental airborne demonstrations.
⚡ EXTREME SPEED
Tesla has discussed a 0–60 mph target below one second under certain configurations. This remains an extraordinary claim, not a verified production result.
📅 WHAT'S NEXT?
Production timing and final specifications remain subject to confirmation. Road legality and any flight-related features would face significant hurdles.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the long-delayed second-generation Tesla Roadster, demonstrating a prototype equipped with SpaceX cold-gas thruster technology that allows the electric supercar to briefly leave the ground and perform short levitation maneuvers.
First announced in 2017, the newly unveiled Roadster redesign combines standard battery-electric powertrains with rocket engineering, attempting to bridge the gap between high-performance sports cars and vertical takeoff systems.
How the Roadster's Flying Technology Works
Unlike traditional eVTOLs (electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft) that rely on large rotors or wings, Tesla’s "flying" mechanism relies on a hybrid air-propulsion and suction infrastructure.
- SpaceX Cold-Gas Thrusters: The vehicle houses 10 ultra-high-pressure air nozzles supplied by twin 600-liter composite air tanks. These thrusters act as attitude controls to push the vehicle upward, sideways, or forward.
- Ground-Sealing Suction System: An underbody fan system pulls air out from underneath the vehicle to generate massive immediate downforce at zero speed, stabilizing the car during launching and landing sequences.
- Hyper-Acceleration: The combined instant torque from the electric drive units and cold-gas thruster bursts allowed the prototype to complete a 0-60 mph run in a claimed 0.81 seconds.
Roadster Configurations & Specs
| Configuration | Propulsion Setup | Claimed Capability | Availability |
| Standard Performance | Tri-Motor All-Electric | Sub-2.0s 0-60 mph, Active Aerodynamics | General Reservation |
| Thrust Edition | Electric + Rear Thrusters | 0.81s 0-60 mph, Enhanced Downforce | Limited Release |
| Rocket Edition | Full Perimeter Thruster Array | Short-duration levitation & thruster maneuvering | Invite Only (Not approved for public roads) |
Regulatory Barriers & Production Timeline
Despite the dramatic demonstration, significant legal and safety questions remain regarding public road clearance:
- Street Legality: Musk acknowledged during the presentation that rocket-assisted cold-gas thrusters and levitation systems are currently not cleared for street use in most global jurisdictions.
- Production Schedule: Tesla is targeting 2028 for initial customer deliveries, giving regulatory bodies and engineers several years to evaluate compressed-air propulsion on public infrastructure.