Tesla's new Roadster jumps, flips and lands in SpaceX test-site demo

The demonstration

Tesla unveiled the second-generation Roadster on Thursday evening, 15 October, at SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas, in front of an audience of Tesla fans. The two-seat sports car first climbed a curved ramp held to the surface by a suction system underneath, then ran upside down before detaching, rotating in the air and landing with the help of thrusters. In a separate run it passed over five parked Tesla vehicles. The company says the car goes from a standstill to 97 km/h in about one second, but these figures remain company claims until independent testing confirms them. The Roadster is the first model of its kind since the previous Roadster was discontinued in 2012, according to one report.

Thrusters, suction and no driver

The ramp run relied on a suction system beneath the body, which one Greek outlet says is supplied by SpaceX. Musk described ten nozzles and high-pressure air tanks that provide thrust both in the air and for quicker acceleration on the ground. Nobody sat in the car, and Musk told the crowd this was to make sure no one would be killed. Before the run he warned that success was not guaranteed, adding that if the attempt failed the audience was at a safe distance. Tesla's vice president of engineering, Lars Moravy, said the suction system is meant to improve grip and downforce. Kathimerini reports that the Rocket version is a single-seat variant that is not approved for public roads, will not be offered in every region and will be sold only by invitation.

What was not shown

CNN quoted a vertical flight expert as describing the demonstration as hopping rather than flying. The event did not include a long-distance flight or extended time in the air. Kathimerini notes that no information has been released on airborne endurance, maximum altitude or whether the thrusters could serve as a means of flying transport. Tesla's own website flags the Rocket's restriction to public roads. Until independent data appears, the performance numbers and the flying claim rest on the company's own presentation.

Price, range and production history

Tesla has not said what the car will cost. Reuters, as cited by Greek outlets, noted that the 480 km range is less than half the range Musk promised in 2017, when he said deliveries would begin in 2020. Musk said production is now planned to start in 2028, after the original start date was not met.

The first Roadster was shown in November 2017, when reservations opened with a 50,000 dollar deposit, while buyers of the limited Founders Series paid 250,000 dollars. Kathimerini reports that the original Roadster was launched on 6 February 2018 aboard a Falcon Heavy and is now in solar orbit.

Analysts and the SpaceX link

Reuters noted that Musk called the car small stuff in 2023, saying it would not move the needle on Tesla's finances. Several analysts read the demonstration as a sign that Musk plans to merge Tesla and SpaceX, an idea he has considered by pointing to overlapping activities. Jin Manster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, which has invested in Tesla, wrote on X that the demonstration had no commercial value beyond putting traditional carmakers in a difficult position. He added that the event was the latest example of why Musk wants to join the two companies.