Tesla Unveils Next-Generation Roadster With Flying Capabilities
8 hours ago
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has unveiled the company's long-awaited next-generation Roadster, demonstrating a prototype capable of briefly flying through the air using technology developed with SpaceX.
The electric sports car made its debut Thursday, October 15, at a SpaceX testing facility in McGregor, Texas, where spectators watched the vehicle perform a series of unusual driving and aerial maneuvers.
During the demonstration, the Roadster traveled upside down along a curved ramp before launching into the air, rotating and landing back on its wheels.
The prototype used a combination of powerful fans and compressed-air thrusters to perform the stunts. The technology was developed through a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX, both led by Musk.
Tesla also demonstrated the vehicle accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than one second, a performance figure that would make it one of the fastest-accelerating production cars if achieved in a commercially available model.
Musk described the unveiling as a major engineering achievement, saying the Roadster could perform maneuvers unlike those of conventional sports cars.
The company plans to offer three versions of the vehicle: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. The Rocket model is designed with additional thrusters that Tesla says will allow it to lift off the ground and maneuver in the air.
Despite the demonstration, the Roadster is not yet available to consumers. Musk said Tesla is targeting 2028 for production, following years of delays.
The second-generation Roadster was first announced in 2017, with an initial production target of 2020. The company has repeatedly pushed back its release while expanding its electric vehicle, autonomous driving and robotics operations.
Tesla has not announced a final selling price for the new Roadster, although reservations are available for certain versions.
Questions also remain about whether the vehicle's flying capabilities could receive the regulatory approvals needed for public use.
For now, the demonstration offers a preview of Tesla's ambitions to combine electric vehicle performance with aerospace technology, although the Roadster's full capabilities and commercial availability remain to be seen.
The electric sports car made its debut Thursday, October 15, at a SpaceX testing facility in McGregor, Texas, where spectators watched the vehicle perform a series of unusual driving and aerial maneuvers.
During the demonstration, the Roadster traveled upside down along a curved ramp before launching into the air, rotating and landing back on its wheels.
The prototype used a combination of powerful fans and compressed-air thrusters to perform the stunts. The technology was developed through a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX, both led by Musk.
Tesla also demonstrated the vehicle accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than one second, a performance figure that would make it one of the fastest-accelerating production cars if achieved in a commercially available model.
Musk described the unveiling as a major engineering achievement, saying the Roadster could perform maneuvers unlike those of conventional sports cars.
The company plans to offer three versions of the vehicle: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. The Rocket model is designed with additional thrusters that Tesla says will allow it to lift off the ground and maneuver in the air.
Despite the demonstration, the Roadster is not yet available to consumers. Musk said Tesla is targeting 2028 for production, following years of delays.
The second-generation Roadster was first announced in 2017, with an initial production target of 2020. The company has repeatedly pushed back its release while expanding its electric vehicle, autonomous driving and robotics operations.
Tesla has not announced a final selling price for the new Roadster, although reservations are available for certain versions.
Questions also remain about whether the vehicle's flying capabilities could receive the regulatory approvals needed for public use.
For now, the demonstration offers a preview of Tesla's ambitions to combine electric vehicle performance with aerospace technology, although the Roadster's full capabilities and commercial availability remain to be seen.
