Tesla unveiled its next-generation Roadster on Thursday, presenting the high-performance electric sports car as capable of briefly leaving the ground through compressed-air thruster technology. Chief Executive Elon Musk put forward a 2028 production start for the vehicle, a timeline that adds to a series of prior postponements the programme has accumulated.
The public unveiling took place at SpaceX's testing grounds in McGregor, Texas, where a range of the vehicle's advanced features were demonstrated. Tesla's stock climbed more than 3% in extended trading following the presentation, reversing a drop of more than 1% that had accumulated through the standard session.
At the showcase event, the Roadster ascended a curved ramp and completed a flip while fully inverted. Attitude thrusters fed by pressurised gas brought the vehicle into alignment, lowering all four legs onto the surface in a controlled descent. A separate test run showed the electric performance car lifting briefly over parked vehicles and a semi-truck, demonstrating the system's short-burst flight capability.
Cold-gas rocket boosters, developed through a joint effort between Tesla and SpaceX, form part of the Roadster's propulsion setup. The system is driven by highly compressed air rather than combustion and is described by the company as delivering quicker acceleration, sharper handling, and a range of driving manoeuvres not typically associated with standard powertrains.
During a Tesla demonstration, the Roadster reached 60 miles per hour from a standstill in 0.81 seconds, drawing on a combination of electric motors and compressed-air thrust. Musk projected further gains in that area, stating the vehicle's top speed could potentially reach Mach 0.5, a threshold equal to half the speed of sound.
The electric sports car's frame carries approximately 260 kilograms of compressed air, with a built-in compressor handling the task of replenishing that reserve during operation. Tesla also demonstrated a suction-based grip system, showing the technology pulling vehicles against vertical surfaces while also increasing traction on the ground. Musk noted that the Roadster's design priorities centred on performance rather than safety optimisation, with the vehicle's speed and power figures taking precedence in its development. A human operator guided the prototype vehicle from a remote location.
When Tesla unveiled the second-generation Roadster at a November 2017 event, the automaker placed a $200,000 base price on the vehicle and promoted a 0-to-60 time of 1.9 seconds. Repeated postponements have pushed back its rollout date on more than one occasion.
Analysts have suggested the forthcoming Roadster may draw comparisons to high-end electric offerings from Ferrari, Jaguar, and Rolls-Royce, though no direct head-to-head assessment has been made. The announcement comes as Tesla is contending with a dip in vehicle sales, intensifying rivalry in the Chinese market, and scrutiny over Musk's involvement in political affairs. Artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Optimus humanoid robot programme have become the focal points around which the company is reshaping its longer-range growth plans.
