Tesla’s New Roadster Takes Flight With SpaceX Thrusters
Tesla’s redesigned Roadster took to the air in a dramatic Texas unveiling, bringing SpaceX thruster technology to its electric sports car.
Key points
- The unveiling showcased aerial turns, a landing and a suction-assisted inverted ramp demonstration, Reuters reports.
- Tesla describes three configurations: the two-seat Performance, thruster-equipped Thrust and invite-only flying Rocket.
- Reuters reports that production is planned for 2028; final vehicle prices were not announced at the event.
An airborne debut in Texas
Tesla unveiled its redesigned Roadster at a SpaceX site in McGregor, Texas, on October 15, Reuters reports. The demonstration paired suction technology with thrusters: the car travelled along an inverted ramp, turned in the air and landed. The event put the new vehicle’s unusual engineering at the centre of the reveal.
Three ways to experience the Roadster
Tesla describes Performance as a road-ready two-seater with active aerodynamics and a multi-mode suction system. The limited-release Thrust configuration adds rear cold-gas thrusters. Tesla says that version can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under one second; that figure is a manufacturer claim.
Rocket is the invite-only, single-seat configuration. Tesla describes perimeter cold-gas thrusters that support forward, upward and lateral movement, as well as rotation. Its official page says this flying configuration is not approved for public road use.
What comes next
Reuters reports that production is planned for 2028 and that executives did not announce target vehicle prices at the unveiling. The reveal introduces the redesigned car and its configurations; customer delivery dates and final prices remain unconfirmed in the cited coverage.
Why it matters
The reveal brings Tesla’s electric sports-car engineering together with SpaceX thruster technology, with distinct configurations for road performance and flight.
What remains unclear
- Final prices and customer delivery dates remain unconfirmed in the cited announcement coverage.
