Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has unveiled a new Roadster sports car capable of performing aerial manoeuvres using rocket-style propulsion technology, with production targeted for 2028.
The two-seater was demonstrated on Thursday at a SpaceX test facility in Texas, where it used high-pressure air jets to climb a steep ramp, flip through the air and land. The vehicle also leapt over a row of parked Tesla models, while its propulsion system was used to demonstrate rapid acceleration.
Musk said the Roadster could accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than a second, although the performance claims and the vehicle’s ability to sustain flight have yet to be independently established.
The vehicle performed the demonstration without a driver on board, as Tesla showcased its experimental propulsion system through a series of aerial manoeuvres.
“Success is not guaranteed,” he said. “I mean that. It’ll probably work, but if it doesn’t work, we’re at a safe distance.”
The Roadster uses 10 nozzles and what Musk described as ultra-high-pressure air tanks to generate thrust for aerial manoeuvres and rapid acceleration on the ground. He presented the technology as the product of collaboration between Tesla’s automotive engineering capabilities and SpaceX’s rocket expertise.
Musk also invited attendees to witness the demonstration in person, saying the company wanted to show that the performance was not generated by artificial intelligence or simulated imagery.
Despite the spectacle, questions remain about whether the vehicle can progress beyond short aerial jumps to achieve sustained, controlled flight while retaining the practicality and safety requirements of a road car.
Roger Connor, curator for vertical flight at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, told CNN that combining the requirements of road vehicles and aircraft presents significant engineering challenges.
“Aircraft are extremely sensitive to weight, whereas with ground vehicles you want them to have bumpers and crumple zones and all that,” he said, warning that a hybrid design could compromise the performance of both vehicle types while increasing costs.
Getting the car off the ground is only part of the challenge. Tesla must still prove it can fly longer distances, stay stable in the air, and safely carry passengers while meeting roadworthy requirements.
California-based start-up Alef is among the companies developing flying vehicles, using multiple propellers to lift its prototype into the air. However, the vehicle is substantially lighter than a Tesla Roadster and is designed to carry only one person, illustrating the compromises manufacturers face when developing road-going aircraft.
Jim Dukhovny, Alef’s chief executive, told the Cable News Network (CNN) that achieving a transition from vertical ascent to forward flight remains one of the hardest engineering problems facing electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
Tesla’s 2028 production target remains uncertain, given Musk’s history of announcing ambitious timelines for new products that have later been pushed back by several years.
The demonstration shows the Roadster can perform dramatic aerial manoeuvres under controlled conditions, but it does not yet show that owners can use it as a practical flying vehicle.
Source: Cable News Network (CNN)
