Tesla has revealed the long-awaited second-generation Roadster with the showmanship to match any magic act.
But unlike the magic show, which shows an illusion or trick, the Roadster pulled off a real spectacular feat by flying.
The flying car, using SpaceX thrusters, made a grand entrance during its reveal on Oct. 15, wowing viewers as the electric car flew over other Teslas.
But just don’t expect to see any Tesla Roadsters flying above your head any time soon.
The all-new Roadster is being advertised in three versions, Performance, Thrust and Rocket.
The Performance version is the one that, once Roadster sales begin, we’ll see in some numbers on the road.
The Thrust version is a limited-release model that will accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in less than a second.
And then there’s the Rocket version, which is the flying-capable version and which, as the Tesla website disclaimer points out, is not approved for public road use. This version will also only be sold by invitation only.
Few markets on the planet permit flying cars, and even then they’re only permitted with strict laws, such as requiring the driver to hold a pilot’s licence.
Parts of China, United Arab Emirates and a few cities in the United States permit some form of flying car to be used.
Tesla Roadster Performance features
The Performance version is a two-seater built for road use.
It’s reportedly capable of accelerating from zero to 60 mph in 1.6 seconds and can exceed a top speed of 210 mph.
The car uses active aero and a multi-mode suction system to maximize downforce for high performance on and off the track.
The suction system uses a multi-mode fan and ground-sealing system to create downforce. It pulls air out from under the car, which provides enough suction to hold the car upside down even when it’s stationary.
Tesla said powered fans and active wings maximize traction and cornering speeds in all conditions.
Tesla Roadster Thrust features
Then there’s the limited-release Roadster Thrust version, which pairs the multi-mode suction system with cold-gas thrusters in the rear of the vehicle, which give the car otherworldy acceleration.
The car is said to have a sub-one-second run from zero to 100 km/h and a top speed of more than 230 mph.
Tesla Roadster Rocket
Lastly, there’s the invite-only Rocket version.
This one only has seating for one.
It still has the multi-mode suction system, plus cold-gas thrusters around the perimeter of the car.
Tesla said these cold-gas thrusters support the car’s forward and upward acceleration as well as lateral rotational movements.
“So yes, it can fly,” Tesla said.
Tesla said the cold-gas thrusters use all-electric actuators that offer precise thrust and make micro adjustments within a fraction of a second to stabilize the vehicle during flight.
The Roadster is expected to go into production in 2028. More information is available on Tesla’s website.
More photos
Check out more photos of the second-gen Tesla Roadster below.
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