Tesla Unveils Thruster-Equipped Roadster That Jumps, Flips and Lands in Texas Demo

Tesla unveiled a prototype of its next-generation Roadster on Thursday 15 October, showing a two-seat electric sports car that used cold-gas thrusters built with SpaceX to jump, flip and land. Elon Musk said production would begin in 2028. Tesla did not announce a final price, and its website says the most extreme version is not approved for public roads.

What was shown

The livestreamed event took place at SpaceX's test site in McGregor, Texas, near Waco, in front of a live audience. Musk was joined by Tesla design chief Franz von Holzhausen and vehicle engineering vice president Lars Moravy, according to reports.

In the demonstration, the car drove up a curved ramp and, according to Fox Business as relayed by The Next Web, used suction fans to stay attached as it went upside down. Thrusters then launched it off the ramp, flipped it in the air and landed it. In a second run, it jumped over a row of Tesla vehicles, including a Semi truck. Musk told the audience the stunts were "not AI or SI," NBC News reported.

The "flying" label needs context. Electrek's technical review says the system uses compressed air held in onboard tanks and released through thrusters placed around the car, with the Thrust trim holding 200 litres and the Rocket trim giving up its second seat for 400 litres more. Forbes described the result as less a sci-fi flying car than a rocket-assisted gymnast.

Performance claims

Musk said the car can reach 60 mph in under one second and has a top speed above 230 mph, according to a report citing his remarks. The Next Web reported a demonstration time of 0.81 seconds and noted the figure has not been independently verified.

Tesla's website lists claimed 0-60 mph times that vary by version, from under 1.6 seconds for the Performance model to under 0.59 seconds for the Rocket, according to a Deseret News summary. Those are manufacturer claims, not test results.

Price, reservations and road legality

Tesla gave no price for any version. Reuters noted that the company quoted a $200,000 base price nearly a decade ago.

Reservations are open. The Performance version requires a $50,000 deposit, with $5,000 due upfront and the rest within 10 days, according to reports. The Thrust version, which adds air-powered thrusters, requires a $250,000 deposit. Gadget Pilipinas reported that the Rocket trim is invite-only, seats one and is marked "not approved for public road use" by Tesla. One review of Tesla's materials says availability of the Thrust version depends on regional legal requirements.

Asked whether the car is street legal, Musk replied that it "depends on your street," Business Insider reported via The Next Web. He also said the car is not necessarily optimised for safety, CNBC reported.

Background and market reaction

Tesla first showed a second-generation Roadster in November 2017 and promised deliveries from 2020. Reuters said the programme has since missed a string of deadlines, including several reveal dates this year.

CNBC said the Roadster is expected to be a high-end, low-volume model unlikely to have a material financial impact on Tesla. The same report said the unveiling added to speculation about a possible Tesla-SpaceX merger. Neither company has confirmed such a plan in the reports reviewed. Forbes reported that some sceptics see the timing of the reveal as showmanship.

What to watch next

Several points remain open. Tesla has not set a final price or a guaranteed delivery date. It has not said which stunt features will be allowed on public roads, or where. Independent testing of the acceleration claims has not been published in the sources reviewed.

Buyers and investors will also be watching whether the 2028 production date holds, given the car's record of delays, and what regulators say about thruster-assisted vehicles once Tesla seeks approval in specific markets.