While Elon Musk’s new Tesla Roadster dazzled the public as the manufacturer’s first ‘flying car,’ it’s safe to say the news wasn’t received nearly as warmly by top tech reviewers.
In a dramatic demonstration on October 16, the Tesla Roadster drove up a vertical ramp, held its ground using a specialised ‘sucker system,’ and dropped, flipped, and safely landed.
The feat was made possible by high-powered thrusters that blast compressed air to cushion the vehicle and prevent it from slamming into the ground below.
Visually, the car looks like a vehicle plucked straight out of 1980s or early 1990s sci-fi cinema, sporting a sharp, angular aesthetic that feels like a cross between the DeLorean from Back to the Future and the retro-futuristic cruisers seen in Total Recall.
Even if the vehicle never actually reaches consumer markets, it has successfully dominated global tech headlines for the past week.
Marques Brownlee, who boasts over 21 million subscribers on YouTube, noted: “Tesla had one of the most insane product demos of all time. I personally don’t really love this design. I preferred the old. I actually thought the old car was really pretty, even though it never existed [didn’t get made]. This one will take some time to grow on me.”
Meanwhile, tech parody creator SAMTIME, with 657,000 subscribers on YouTube, poked fun at the launch: “The all-new Tesla flying car. Looks totally safe. And I’m sure there won’t be any bugs with their software. Even though their last version of Windows literally crashed. If AI doesn’t kill us, the flying cars will!”
The unveiling of the Roadster comes at a time when Tesla reported lower third-quarter profits as Musk seems to be investing more in artificial intelligence and other technologies. According to reports, spending on research and development more than doubled as the company engages in a spending binge on AI, robotics, and autonomous transport.