Tesla unveils SpaceX-powered Roadster that can hop and spin in midair

Electric vehicle maker Tesla unveiled its redesigned second-generation Roadster sports car, fitted with thrusters developed with rocket company SpaceX, at an event outside Waco, Texas. CEO Elon Musk said the company will build the long-delayed car in 2028, but he did not name a price. The reveal came almost nine years after Tesla first showed the model, and after repeated postponements.

The demonstration

In the demo, the car used high-powered fans and thrusters to drive up an inverted ramp, spin around and ease itself down onto the pavement. It also lifted itself over a Cybercab, Cybertruck, Tesla Semi, Model Y and Model 3 while moving. Tesla showed the car accelerating from 0 to 60 miles per hour (about 97 km/h) in one second. Engineering VP Lars Moravy said the car uses 10 thrusters connected to 600 liters of compressed air, and the tank can be recharged.

Three trims

The Roadster will come in three versions. "Performance" seats two and has active aerodynamics and a suction system. "Thrust" seats two and has rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters. "Rocket" seats one, has 10 thrusters around the car and is invite-only. All three are listed with 300 miles (about 480 km) of range and speeds above 230 miles per hour. Tesla is taking reservations: $50,000 for Performance and $250,000 for Thrust.

A long wait

The Roadster was first revealed in 2017, with delivery promised within a few years. Musk spoke about adding thrusters in 2018, but the project took a back seat, and the reveal was delayed in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024. This time the event was planned for October 1 but was pushed back by severe weather. The delays have drawn public criticism from figures such as YouTuber Marques Brownlee and OpenAI head Sam Altman.

Musk has previously said safety is not the main goal of the car. He also said at the event that Tesla may try to jump Snake River Canyon.