Tesla Introduces the Long-Anticipated Roadster With Flight Capabilities
Tesla officially unveiled its redesigned, next-generation Roadster during a livestreamed event at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas. The dramatic showcase featured the electric vehicle utilizing compressed-air thrusters to launch off a ramp, perform midair flips, and demonstrate limited flight maneuvers.
During the presentation, CEO Elon Musk remarked that the future does feature flying cars, while Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy echoed that flying vehicles are now real. Nearly a decade after its initial 2017 concept debut, the vehicle left audiences in awe by deploying rocket technology developed in collaboration with SpaceX.
Performance and Thruster Technology
The jaw-dropping demonstration included the Roadster accelerating up a massive curved ramp and using a fan-based suction system to remain attached upside down. It then utilized integrated cold-gas thrusters to launch into the air, clear a lineup of cars and a semi-truck, and land safely back on the ground.
Tesla explained that the thruster system generates four to five times the force that standard tires can achieve against the road. According to the company, certain versions of the Roadster can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than one second and reach a top speed exceeding 230 mph.
Pricing and Reservation Tiers
While executives did not outline a final total cost at the event, Tesla originally quoted a base price of $200,000 nearly a decade ago. Following the showcase, the company's reservation page detailed multiple variants:
- Performance Version: Requires a $50,000 reservation payment.
- Thrust Version: Requires a $250,000 payment and includes acceleration thrusters.
- Rocket Variant: An invite-only, single-seat model equipped with a full flight system.
Production Timeline
Tesla executives announced during the Texas event that official production for the next-generation Roadster is scheduled to begin in 2028. When the company originally revealed a prototype of the car back in 2017, initial delivery estimates had pointed toward 2020.
Sources: Fox Business, Yahoo Finance, Al Jazeera.
