Tesla Roadster Demo Shows Brief Flight, Upside-Down Drive

A prototype Tesla Roadster climbed a curved ramp, clung to it upside down with a fan system, then used ten SpaceX thrusters to flip and hover briefly before landing on its wheels during a livestreamed event at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas. The demonstration also included a recorded run from zero to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds and a kick-flip over other vehicles, with the car reaching an altitude of roughly 21 feet in one segment. Tesla attributed the 0-60 time to its own timer and stated the vehicle can exceed 230 mph while offering at least 300 miles of range, though independent verification of those figures was not provided at the event.

The central tension lies between the technical spectacle and nearly a decade of missed production deadlines. Elon Musk first showed a concept video in 2017 and began accepting $50,000 deposits then; he now says production starts in 2028. Musk told the audience the live setting was required because the stunts would otherwise be dismissed as AI-generated, and he described the car as the only manually driven model Tesla plans to build going forward.

Lars Moravy, Tesla vice president of vehicle engineering, explained the fan can generate up to 2 g of suction. Musk added that the thrusters allow the car to perform rolls and sharp maneuvers, though he acknowledged road legality would vary by jurisdiction. Reservations opened again recently for a performance version at a $50,000 deposit and a higher “Thrust” version at $250,000; a top “rocket” tier remains invite-only. No price was announced.

The original Roadster, built on a Lotus Elise chassis, entered production in 2008 and sold in limited numbers until 2012. The new version omits Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software. Attendees and online observers reacted with a mix of excitement and skepticism, including questions about insurance, traffic rules, and whether sustained flight remains feasible.