Elon Musk unveils flying Tesla, says ‘Turns out the future does have flying cars’

A video of Tesla’s next-generation Roadster performing a dramatic flying manoeuvre has gone viral after being shared by CEO Elon Musk, drawing attention to the electric carmaker’s ambitious plans for its long-delayed sports car. At a livestreamed event in Waco, Texas, the vehicle was shown driving up a towering curved ramp, travelling upside down, briefly lifting off and performing an aerial flip before landing safely using what appeared to be thrusters mounted beneath the car.

“Well, it worked,” Musk said after the demonstration, which showcased the Roadster’s rocket-inspired capabilities. Tesla also demonstrated the vehicle accelerating from zero to 60 mph in less than a second, although the claims and capabilities displayed at the event have yet to be established in a production vehicle.

The presentation, held on Thursday night, offered customers their first fresh look at the next-generation Roadster after years of waiting. Rather than focusing on conventional product details, the event centred on the vehicle’s unusual stunts and proposed performance features. Musk said the hypercar would enter production in 2028, but the company did not announce its price, trim levels or a specific release date.

How did Tesla’s flying Roadster demonstration work?

The demonstration began with the Roadster climbing a tall, multi-storey curved ramp. The vehicle appeared to travel along the steep surface before reaching the top, where it flipped and descended using a system of compressed-air thrusters.

The car also flew over other vehicles in Tesla’s lineup, including the Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, Semi and Cybercab. Tesla vice-president of engineering Lars Moravy described the manoeuvre as a “kick flip”.

According to the explanation given at the event, the Roadster uses a fan-based suction system supplied by SpaceX and mounted underneath the vehicle. The system is said to generate up to two Gs of suction force, helping the car maintain contact with a surface during the demonstration.

Musk also described a system of attitude-control thrusters and main thrusters at the rear, which are intended to give the vehicle rocket-like manoeuvrability.

“So it can basically fly like a rocket,” Musk said. “And it could do rolls. It could do, like, crazy gymnastics. Whatever you want, really.”

He also cautioned that the vehicle was not necessarily designed with safety as its primary consideration, adding that it pushed the limits of driving excitement.

Compressed air powers the Roadster’s stunts

The Roadster’s proposed propulsion setup uses two ultra-high-pressure air tanks with a combined volume of 600 litres. The tanks reportedly contain approximately 250 kilograms of air, which is released through 10 nozzles to generate thrust and execute manoeuvres.

Unlike systems that rely on specialised chemical propellants, the compressed-air arrangement is designed to allow the vehicle to recharge its tanks. The stored air supplies the thrust required for the demonstrated lifts, flips and other movements.

The demonstration highlighted an unconventional approach to performance engineering, combining a road-going electric vehicle with technologies associated with rocket propulsion. However, the extent to which these capabilities can be incorporated into a commercially available car remains to be seen.

Tesla Roadster production timeline remains uncertain

Despite the spectacle, Tesla provided few details about the production version of the Roadster. Musk said production was planned for 2028, extending an already lengthy wait for customers who have been anticipating the next-generation vehicle for years.

The demonstration offered a striking preview of Tesla’s ambitions, but the vehicle’s final specifications, pricing, availability and any restrictions on its proposed flying capabilities remain unclear. The stunts shown at the event do not, by themselves, establish that a production Roadster will be able to perform the same manoeuvres in ordinary driving conditions.