NRT briefing
Tesla’s new Roadster makes a flying debut, hitting 60 MPH in under a second
Based on reporting by Fox Business.
The Brief
Tesla unveiled its next-generation Roadster on Thursday at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas, during a livestreamed event featuring the car's flying capabilities. The vehicle used compressed-air thrusters to launch off a curved ramp, perform a midair flip, and land safely. Demonstrations also included the Roadster accelerating from zero to 60 mph in under one second and launching over a lineup of cars and a semi-truck.
"Turns out the future does have flying cars," Tesla CEO Elon Musk said. Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy added, "Flying cars are real." The thrusters, developed with SpaceX, generate four to five times the force of tire grip, according to Tesla. Musk said certain versions can exceed 230 mph.
Production is expected to begin in 2028, but pricing was not announced. Tesla's reservation page listed a $50,000 deposit for the Performance version, $250,000 for the Thrust version with acceleration thrusters, and an invite-only Rocket variant featuring a full flight system. The original Roadster concept debuted in 2017 with a quoted base price of $200,000 and a planned 2020 delivery, which was delayed.