Overview
- Tesla showed the prototype in a live event near Waco that on Thursday drove up a ramp, held itself upside down with an underbody suction system, detached, executed aerial rolls using cold‑gas thrusters and landed safely.
- Company engineers and SpaceX staff said the car uses ten cold‑gas thrusters fed from carbon‑fiber overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) and an active multimode fan that Tesla claims can generate roughly 2 g of downforce; Tesla reported a measured 0–60 mph time of 0.81 seconds for the demo vehicle.
- Tesla posted a three‑tier lineup — Performance (street), Thrust (track‑oriented with rear thrusters) and Rocket (flight‑capable) — with high reservation deposits including reported $250,000 for some tiers and the Rocket version offered only by invitation.
- Elon Musk and Tesla acknowledged major open questions: regulators may not allow the flight functions on public roads, Musk warned the car is “not necessarily a safety‑optimized car,” and agencies must still resolve certification, regional legality and long‑term safety of COPVs and high‑pressure systems.
- Tesla set an indicative production start around 2028 and positions the Roadster as a technical halo and recruiting showcase, but delivery scale, final pricing and where the flight‑capable Rocket will be legal or sold remain undetermined.