Tesla reveals next generation flying Roadster sports EV with SpaceX thrusters

Automaker Tesla demonstrated a redesigned roadster Thursday that can drive upside down on an inverted ramp, turn in midair and land using built-in thrusters. It also used its rockets to fly over a line of parked vehicles. 

The backstory:

It was a major upgrade to the next-generation version of its electric sports car that Tesla first showed nine years ago with a plan to start production in 2028, Reuters reported. 

The redesigned vehicle, developed with CEO Elon Musk’s SpaceX, would accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than a second, which he says is "the least interesting part," given the collaboration with SpaceX. 

"Advanced cold-gas thrusters use all-electric actuators to offer precise thrust, completing micro adjustments within a fraction of a second. This helps stabilize the vehicle in flight," Tesla’s website states. 

What they're saying:

The vehicle uses a fan suction system on the bottom of the car that can use up to 2Gs to make the car go upside down on the inverted roadway ramp and even stick there. 

"Now you might say, like, ‘How often do you want to stick upside down in a car?’" Musk told the audience. "Maybe not that often, but it actually has an actual benefit on the track or just driving, where the downforce of the car means you can corner incredibly well. Like you can corner like it looks like you’re breaking physics because the car sticks to the ground so hard. So acceleration cornering — it’s going to crush every track record that has ever existed." 

Of the attitude control thrusters and main thrusters, Musk said the car can "fly like a rocket" and do rolls.

"It could do like crazy gymnastics, whatever you want, really," he said. "Now I should, you know, say that this is not necessarily a safety-optimized car, OK? But it takes the fun meter to 11 out of 10."

It was not immediately clear whether such maneuvers on public roads would be fully legal. 

The vehicle can also hit a top speed of over 230 mph, Musk said. 

What we don't know:

Musk and his team did not reveal full prices for the vehicle during Thursday’s big reveal. Nearly a decade ago, the company quoted a base price of $200,000. 

The reservation page for the Roadster after the Thursday event showed a "Performance" version of the vehicle requiring a $50,000 deposit. A "Thrust" version that features "acceleration thrusters requires a $250,000 deposit.

But the "Rocket" variant, which Tesla currently lists as "invite only," does not list a price. 

 

TechnologyTesla