Overview
- Tesla staged a public demonstration at SpaceX’s McGregor test site on Thursday that showed a Roadster prototype drive upside down, launch off a curved ramp, perform midair flips and land using cold‑gas thrusters and an underbody suction system.
- The company said the car hit 0–60 mph in 0.81 seconds during the demo and detailed three versions — Performance (road ready), Thrust (rear thrusters, limited release) and Rocket (single‑seat, perimeter thrusters, invite only) — with the Rocket explicitly listed as not approved for public road use.
- Tesla described the systems that powered the stunts as a fan‑based underbody suction system and rechargeable, high‑pressure compressed‑air tanks feeding multiple nozzles, with published tank volume and nozzle counts that Tesla says enable brief lift and attitude control.
- The FAA told reporters the vehicle does not meet the agency’s definition of an aircraft, leaving oversight and safety review to vehicle regulators such as NHTSA and state authorities as questions about road legality and certification remain unresolved.
- Tesla reopened reservations with large deposits ($50,000 for Performance, $250,000 for Thrust), set a target to begin production around 2028, and framed the Roadster as a low‑volume halo vehicle that showcases Tesla and SpaceX engineering rather than a mass‑market seller.