Tesla unveiled its long-anticipated Roadster on Thursday during a dramatic event in which the vehicle used compressed-air thrusters to fly off a ramp and perform a midair maneuver.
Tesla unveiled its long-anticipated Roadster on Thursday during a dramatic event in which the vehicle used compressed-air thrusters to fly off a ramp and perform a midair maneuver.
The vehicle was seen flying, performing a midair flip and accelerating from zero to 60 mph in under a second.
"Turns out the future does have flying cars," Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas.
Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy added, "Flying cars are real."
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Tesla officially unveiled its redesigned, next-generation Roadster on Oct. 15, 2026, during a dramatic livestreamed event at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas. (Tesla/X)
The jaw-dropping showcase featured the new Roadster accelerating up a massive curved ramp and using a fan-based suction system to remain attached until it was completely upside down before using integrated cold-gas thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX to launch off the ramp, flip in midair and land safely back on the ground.
In another demonstration, the Roadster launched over a lineup of cars and a semi-truck, performing a midair flip before landing safely on the other side.
Musk said certain versions of the Roadster can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than one second and reach a top speed of more than 230 mph. During the event, Tesla demonstrated a Roadster accelerating to 60 mph in under a second.
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk introduced a flight demonstration Thursday in Texas of a next-generation Tesla Roadster electric vehicle performing a "kick flip" over other Tesla vehicles.
"Every car on the road today is limited by one thing: tire grip Roadster's thruster system generates 4–5x the force the tires can. More force on the same mass means significantly better acceleration – physics does the rest," Tesla said on X.
Nearly a decade after the Roadster's initial 2017 concept debut, the vehicle left audiences in awe with the gravity-defying demonstration that deployed SpaceX’s rocket technology.
"Today, Roadster presents a new moment in history – the best of the last human-driven cars," Tesla wrote on X.
Tesla executives announced at Thursday's event that production would begin in 2028.
Tesla's next-generation Roadster launched over a lineup of cars and a semi-truck, performing a midair flip before landing safely on the other side. (Tesla/X)
Musk and other Tesla executives did not outline the cost at Thursday's event, but nearly a decade ago, the company quoted a base price of $200,000.
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Tesla executives announced at Thursday's event that production would begin in 2028. (Tesla/X)
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Tesla's reservation page for the Roadster after Thursday's event listed a $50,000 reservation payment for the "Performance" version and a $250,000 reservation payment for the "Thrust" version, which features "acceleration thrusters." An invite-only "Rocket" variant is a single-seat model with a "full flight system."
When Tesla revealed a prototype of the car in 2017, it said that deliveries would begin in 2020.