Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Thursday unveiled a new ‘Roadster’ model that he said is designed to travel at very high speeds on roads and also perform short-distance airborne hops.
The launch event was held at a SpaceX test facility in Austin, Texas, where the company presented a live demonstration of the vehicle’s capabilities. A vertical track was set up for the showcase, including a section that allowed the car to invert.
According to the demonstration, the Roadster used suction-force technology on its underside to climb the vertical path and briefly remain inverted without falling. It then spun in mid-air, flew for a few seconds, and landed with the help of high-speed air thrust.
No driver was inside the vehicle during the test. Musk said the demonstration was conducted without a driver to avoid the risk of fatalities.
Musk also claimed the Roadster can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in under one second, using 10 thrusters and high-pressure air tanks to boost speed on the ground and enable lift. He said Tesla is targeting 2028 to begin production, though evidence of sustained long-distance flight has not yet been presented.
