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Gravity has a new opponent, and it wears a Tesla badge. On October 15 in Texas, the redesigned Roadster drove along a ramp upside down, briefly took to the air using SpaceX-developed thrust and landed intact. Elon Musk shared the footage on X, writing, "Turns out the future does have flying cars."
The demonstration arrives nearly nine years after Tesla first unveiled its next-generation Roadster in 2017. While the display has reignited interest in the electric sports car, questions remain about its final production specifications, road legality and commercial launch.
Here is what to know about the Tesla Roadster flying car demo, including how the SpaceX thrusters work, its claimed speed, expected price, and when it could launch.
The two-seat Roadster climbed a large curved ramp, travelled along its inverted section, then performed a brief aerial manoeuvre before landing safely. The vehicle also appeared to clear a row of other Tesla models, including the Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, Semi and Cybercab. The display was not a conventional road car taking off by itself. It was an experimental setup that combined specialised hardware with a purpose-built track.
The Roadster's aerial capabilities draw on technology developed with SpaceX. Cold-gas thrusters release pressurised gas to generate thrust, allowing the car to steer and make controlled movements in the air. A fan-based suction system beneath the body kept the vehicle pressed against the ramp during the upside-down run.
According to The Verge, the setup included two high-pressure air tanks totalling 600 litres, plus 10 nozzles for executing manoeuvres. These are experimental engineering features, not the aerodynamic aids found on regular road cars.
Tesla claimed during the event that the Roadster can go from zero to 60 mph in under a second, and the demonstration reportedly logged 0.81 seconds. The company also claims a top speed above 230 mph. Both figures come from Tesla rather than independent testing, and it is not yet clear how much of this capability will reach customer cars.
Tesla has outlined three Roadster versions: Performance, Thrust and Rocket, but has not confirmed their final retail prices. The Performance version requires a ₹5.01 lakh deposit, followed by ₹45.05 lakh within 10 days, while the Thrust version requires a ₹5.01 lakh deposit, followed by ₹2.45 crore within 10 days.
The top-tier Rocket version is invite-only and features a single-seat cabin with a full-flight system and perimeter-mounted thrusters. Tesla has not announced its final price or a standard reservation deposit for this model.
Tesla is targeting production in 2028, although a firm customer delivery date has not been confirmed.