In a dramatic event that crossed the boundary between science fiction and automotive reality, Tesla chief executive Elon Musk unveiled the long-awaited Roadster 2 at a SpaceX testing facility in McGregor, Texas, on Thursday.
Nearly a decade after its initial announcement, the electric supercar demonstrated airborne capabilities, performing midair flips and brief hovers before landing safely on the ground.
”Well, it worked. Turns out the future does have flying cars,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk remarked following the successful aerial demonstration.
How the Roadster 2 Achieves Flight
The vehicle’s flight mechanics rely on integrated SpaceX cold-gas thrusters. According to Lars Moravy, Tesla’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, the supercar uses 10 thrusters connected to 600 litres of compressed air to generate rotational spin and vertical lift.
During the demonstration, the prototype drove upside-down along a curved structure using a specialized under-car suction system before deploying thrusters to perform a midair roll over Tesla’s entire vehicle lineup—including floating above a Cybertruck—before executing a controlled landing.
Key Specifications and Tiered Pricing
Alongside its aerial maneuvers, Tesla released extraordinary performance statistics for the vehicle, asserting that it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 1 second.
Tesla has established three distinct tiers for the Roadster 2:
- Performance Variant (“Road Ready”): Standard consumer model. Reservation cost is set at $50,000.
- Thrust Variant (“Race Ready”): Intermediate performance setup. Reservation cost is set at $250,000.
- Rocket Variant (“Air Ready”): Top-tier flight-capable model. Reservations are strictly invite-only.
Production Timeline
Despite reservations opening immediately, production of the Roadster 2 is not scheduled to commence right away. Musk confirmed that full manufacturing and assembly will begin in 2028.
