Tech • AI • Robotics • Game
Tesla’s Insane Roadster Flying Tech Exposed!
8/10TL;DR
Tesla has shown a new Roadster prototype performing short airborne maneuvers with cold gas thrusters, while claiming supercar-level acceleration and targeting production in 2028, but key specifications and delivery timing remain unverified.
KEY POINTS
Airborne demonstrations marked a dramatic shift
At an event in McGregor, the Roadster climbed a curved ramp, continued upside down, separated from the structure, and used bursts of gas to stabilize before landing. In another demonstration, it launched over a row of Tesla vehicles and rotated in the air. The displays suggested brief controlled aerial motion rather than sustained aircraft-like flight, and no independent certification data has been published.
Thrusters rely on SpaceX-derived hardware
The system pairs cold gas thrusters with high-pressure storage and COPVs, or composite over-wrapped pressure vessels. Lars Moravy, Tesla’s engineering vice president, described a setup with 10 thrusters fed by about 600 liters of compressed gas. By venting gas through multiple nozzles, the car can generate directional thrust to influence pitch, roll, and stability while airborne.
Battery and power claims are unusually aggressive
Hardware imagery circulated by Sawyer Merritt pointed to a densely packed cylindrical-cell battery optimized for high power and space efficiency. Tesla is said to be targeting 1 MW of output, roughly 1,341 horsepower, from a battery and drive system weighing about half as much as that of the Model S Plaid. Tesla has not released enough data on pack capacity, usable energy, peak discharge, or thermal management to fully judge the claim.
Power does not settle the range question
Earlier Roadster plans in 2017 called for a 200 kWh battery and 620 miles of range. More recent reports after the October unveiling pointed to a claimed range of about 300 miles, showing how far the project may have shifted from its original targets. High peak power for short bursts and long-distance endurance are separate engineering problems, and independent range testing is still unavailable.
Sub-one-second acceleration remains hard to verify
Tesla demonstrated 0 to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds, after previously showing a 1-second run. Reaching 60 mph in that time implies average acceleration of roughly 3.4 G, an extraordinary figure for any road vehicle. But Tesla has not published enough information on tires, surface, timing method, or rollout to determine whether the result is repeatable under standardized conditions, and visible thruster bursts indicate motor-only performance should not be conflated with thruster-assisted runs.
A suction system adds another unconventional layer
During the upside-down sequence, Tesla also showed a fan-based underbody system designed to create suction against a surface. Reports from the event cited about 2 G of suction force, though that should not be interpreted as a universal handling figure or proof the car can attach itself to any ceiling. The effect depends heavily on surface conditions, airflow, and system tuning.
Tesla is now outlining four versions
The planned lineup includes Standard, Performance, Thrust, and Rocket variants. Standard is described with 1 MW and about 960 lb-ft of torque, while Performance adds active aerodynamics, suction fans, and adaptive suspension. Thrust introduces four rear cold-gas nozzles, and the invitation-only Rocket adds six more, extra gas capacity, and the most ambitious hovering concept.
Pricing and reservations are only partly defined
Reports after the event placed reservation deposits at $50,000 for Performance and $250,000 for Thrust, while final vehicle pricing has not been announced. The Rocket version is not being presented as an ordinary road-legal car. That leaves reservation holders without a full picture of final cost, legality, or equipment.
Production is targeted for 2028, but deliveries are another matter
The second-generation Roadster was first unveiled in November 2017 with deliveries initially expected in 2020. Tesla now says production should begin in 2028, but that does not guarantee customers will receive cars the same year. Tesla still must finalize design, tooling, suppliers, assembly methods, safety validation, and likely different compliance paths for conventional and thruster-equipped models.
CONCLUSION
The new Roadster has moved beyond a delayed electric supercar concept into a highly experimental performance program blending batteries, suction aerodynamics, and compressed-gas propulsion. Whether it becomes a repeatable, road-deliverable product by 2028 will depend less on spectacular demonstrations than on verified specifications, manufacturing readiness, and regulatory approval.
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