Elon Musk Unveils Tesla Roadster Capable of Flight
The tech mogul demonstrated a prototype of the flying car at a SpaceX event, aiming for a 2028 production release.
Elon Musk has unveiled a prototype of the long-promised flying Tesla Roadster, announcing a target production date of 2028 for the vehicle. The demonstration occurred Thursday night at a SpaceX testing facility in McGregor, Texas.
Musk declared that "flying cars are real" and presented a version of the Tesla Roadster, originally introduced in 2012, that has been retooled with what he described as "attitude-control thrusters and rear rocket thrusters." During the demonstration, a clip showed the vehicle ascending an inverted ramp, performing a mid-air flip, and then hovering to safety.
"It can basically fly like a rocket. It could do rolls. It could do crazy gymnastics. Whatever you want, really," Musk stated. He also cautioned that the vehicle "is not necessarily a safety-optimized car, but it takes the fun meter to 11 out of ten."
Engineers claim the Roadster incorporates a suction fan system designed to generate significant downforce, enhancing its road grip. The updated model is reported to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in approximately 0.81 seconds, with a top speed of 230 mph.
Musk acknowledged potential regulatory challenges, noting, "I'm not sure it's necessarily legal in all jurisdictions, but there will be such a car that someone can own." He had previously discussed the concept in a 2023 interview with Joe Rogan, hinting at a "really special" and "memorable product unveil."
The idea of a "SpaceX package" for the Roadster, which would include rocket technology to improve performance and potentially enable hovering, was first teased by Musk in 2018. This announcement marks a notable shift from his 2017 comments to Bloomberg, where he expressed skepticism about the scalability of flying cars due to concerns about safety and falling debris.
Meanwhile, the automotive and aerospace industries are exploring similar concepts. Earlier this year, Toyota announced a partnership with aviation startup Joby Aviation to develop and mass-produce electric air taxis. Joby's aircraft, designed to carry a pilot and four passengers, can reach speeds near 200 mph using six tilting propellers for vertical takeoff and landing.