Tesla's Flying Roadster With SpaceX Thrusters Hits 60 MPH In 0.81 Seconds

Nearly a decade after its initial announcement, Tesla’s long-delayed Roadster 2.0 has finally debuted, showing off sub-1-second acceleration and rockets that allow it to fly. 

Has it been that long since Elon Musk first revealed the car back in 2017, where he had promised a 2020 market launch? In the years since, there have been repeated delays, growing skepticism, and not to mention leaving prospective buyers who put down five-figure deposits with nothing to show for it. Fast forward to October 15, the electric supercar finally re-emerged with a dramatic design (didn't Tesla get the memo that the Roadster is supposed to be a roadster?) and mind-bending performance worthy of an action movie set. Musk took the stage at a reveal event in McGregor, TX, to reiterate that the vehicle is all about pushing the absolute boundaries and will serve as a halo product for the brand's engineering capabilities.

Adding to the drama, the new electric sports car made a big entrance by driving upside down across an arching ramp before using SpaceX-supplied cold-gas thrusters to take flight, execute a mid-air barrel roll, and land safely on a cloud of white smoke. 

Musk demonstrated the Roadster’s mind-boggling acceleration capabilities, with the car running a 0-60 mph time of just 0.8 seconds on its second test run using its rear-mounted thrusters. Powered by ultra-high-pressure air tanks that the car recharges, the thruster system generates over 80 kilonewtons of force. Musk noted that while the car is aimed at taking fun to an unprecedented level, it represents a wild departure from conventional automotive safety standards, which is another way of saying "not street legal."

The Roadster also features an underbody fan setup that generates so much suction that it can keep the car glued to the road in extreme maneuvers. The exterior design (that sways quite a bit from the 2017 concept) sports an active rear wing that dynamically adjusts between high-drag and high-downforce modes. Inside, a minimalist two-seat cabin includes a yoke-style steering wheel set alongside a large horizontal touchscreen display, accessed via butterfly doors.

Tesla plans to offer the Roadster in three configurations: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket, with production slated to begin in 2028. The range-topping Rocket trim strips out the passenger seat to fit a suite of perimeter-mounted thrusters, enabling lateral rotation and flight maneuvers. Musk claims the hypercar will comfortably exceed 230 miles per hour while setting new benchmarks on race tracks around the globe.