Elon Musk has offered the first public look at his long-teased flying Tesla Roadster, announcing that “flying cars are real” and saying the vehicle could become available by 2028.
Musk revealed last year that the redesigned version of Tesla’s original sports car—which has been out of production since 2012—would be capable of flight. He suggested the idea was partly inspired by fellow billionaire Peter Thiel’s interest in owning a flying vehicle.
The billionaire appeared to deliver on that promise Thursday night during a live presentation from SpaceX’s testing grounds in McGregor, Texas.
In dramatic footage shown to the audience, the Roadster raced up an inverted ramp, flipped through the air and began dropping toward the ground. Moments later, attitude-control and rear rocket thrusters fired, allowing the car to hover before landing safely as the crowd erupted.
Musk said the next-generation Roadster would “crush every track record that has ever existed.”
“It can basically fly like a rocket,” he said, adding that the vehicle could perform rolls, aerial gymnastics and “whatever you want, really.”
He also acknowledged that the flying Tesla is not necessarily designed with maximum safety in mind, describing it instead as a vehicle that pushes the “fun meter” to “11 out of ten.”
According to Tesla engineers, the Roadster is fitted with a suction-fan system beneath the chassis that can create as much as 2G of downforce, helping keep the car pressed against the road, Car Sales reported.
Elon Musk has unveiled the long-promised flying Tesla Roadster, declaring that “flying cars are real” and saying customers could have access to them by 2028
The reveal took place Thursday night during a live event at SpaceX’s testing facility in McGregor, Texas
Tesla says the new Roadster can sprint from zero to 60 miles per hour in roughly 0.81 seconds and reach a top speed of 230 mph.
Musk is aiming to begin production in 2028 and indicated that the vehicle will be sold in some form, insisting that a flying version will ultimately be available.
“I’m not sure it’s necessarily legal in all jurisdictions,” Musk said, “but there will be such a car that someone can own.”
During an interview with Joe Rogan last year, Musk said the Roadster’s next unveiling was approaching and predicted that a presentation featuring the flying car would take place before the year was over.
The subject came up during the three-hour podcast after Musk had spent several minutes promoting the Cybertruck. Rogan interrupted to ask directly: “What about the Roadster?”
“Oh, that’s coming,” Musk replied, offering only a few deliberately vague hints about what Tesla had planned.
“We’re going to do something really special with that,” he said. “It’s going to be the most memorable product unveil ever.”
Rogan later pressed Musk for additional details after the recording equipment had been switched off.
The striking demonstration showed the Roadster climbing an upside-down ramp, flipping in midair and dropping toward the ground before its attitude-control and rear rocket thrusters engaged, allowing it to hover to safety
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Musk warned that the vehicle was not necessarily “safety-optimized,” but said it would take the fun factor to “11 out of ten”
This isn’t the first time Musk has floated the idea. Back in 2018, he teased a ‘SpaceX package’ for the Roadster that would use cold–air thrusters — actual rocket tech — to boost performance, improve handling, and maybe even ‘hover’ for short bursts.
In 2017, however, Musk claimed flying cars would never take off.
‘Obviously, I like flying things,’ Musk told Bloomberg.
‘But it’s difficult to imagine the flying car becoming a scalable solution.’
He also said there’s a risk of falling debris if flying cars were to get in a mid-air crash.
‘If somebody doesn’t maintain their flying car, it could drop a hubcap and guillotine you,’ Musk said.
‘Your anxiety level will not decrease as a result of things that weigh a lot buzzing around your head.’
Earlier this year, Toyota announced it was doubling down on its vision of flying taxis after announcing a major new manufacturing partnership with California-based Joby Aviation.
Their goal is to mass produce electric aircraft capable of whisking passengers over congested cities at speeds of almost 200mph.
Tesla has been promising the Roadster since 2017 – and taking deposits on the high–powered vehicle
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The Japanese auto giant is taking a controlling 51 percent stake in the new venture, called Joby Toyota Aero Manufacturing Preparation Company, while Joby will own the remaining 49 percent.
The announcement sent Joby’s shares soaring as investors cheered what could become one of the biggest milestones yet in the race to bring commercial air taxis to everyday commuters.
Rather than looking like a conventional airplane, Joby’s futuristic craft is a cross between a helicopter and a sleek private jet.
The all-electric vehicle uses six tilting propellers to take off and land vertically before transitioning into forward flight like an airplane.
It can carry a pilot and four passengers, and it’s designed to reach speeds of nearly 200mph while producing far less noise than a traditional helicopter.
Toyota said the partnership will focus on improving manufacturing quality, reducing production costs and eventually mass-producing the aircraft.
