Electric car company Tesla has unveiled its flying Roadster vehicle with a demonstration in which the car drove upside down, flipped off a ramp and briefly flew, using compressed-air thrusters that Tesla claims will make it the world’s quickest production car.
The two-seat Roadster model drove up a half-pipe ramp and launched off the top, remaining in the air for a few seconds before landing during a live event.
It also became airborne from the ground after building up speed on flat ground, launching over a row of parked vehicles – and from a stationary position.
A series of thrusters in the bottom and back propelled the car into the air and cushioned the landing.
It was designed by Tesla and SpaceX, both companies led by American businessman Elon Musk, who called the second-generation Roadster "a collaboration with the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company".
The thrusters can also fire rearward to boost acceleration. Tesla demonstrated the car reaching 60 miles per hour in a claimed 0.81 seconds, and said it would be the "quickest" production vehicle to 60 miles per hour.
On the half-pipe ramp, the vehicle was able to remain upside down due to a fan suction system. The air tanks in the vehicle are rechargeable and can be recompressed without fuel, according to Tesla.
Long term, Musk said the car will be the "only manual" vehicle in its lineup, referencing plans for driverless vehicles. Though the demonstration used a pre-programmed sequence with no driver.
Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen said the car was designed with an "aerospace aesthetic". It has an angular supercar exterior with scissor doors and a deployable spoiler, and is a coupe with a hard top.
The seats are moulded directly to the chassis, and it features wire steering, which replaces the mechanical link between the steering wheel and wheels with electronic controls.
Musk referenced the uncertainty of street legality of the vehicle and said that "success is not guaranteed" before the test.
Production on the vehicle is set for 2028, according to Tesla. The company first unveiled a second-generation Roadster in 2017, with deliveries planned for 2020.
Tesla's last major launch was the Cybertruck, unveiled in 2019.
Other recent concept cars include Alef's concept vehicle.
The imagery is courtesy of Tesla.
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