On Saturday, October 17th, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk announced that the upcoming electric supercar Roadster would be flying over Snake River or the Grand Canyon.
In a post on the social media platform X, Musk stated, “Future Roadster demonstrations will include flying over Snake River or the Grand Canyon, touching down with its wheels and traveling at speeds exceeding half the speed of sound.”
The new Roadster made its debut in Texas last Thursday, showcasing itself as a classic creation of Tesla that seems to have turned science fiction into reality. The Roadster is not only capable of driving upside down but also of performing aerial flights and rolls.
The prototype of the Roadster was first unveiled back in 2017, but the production timeline has been repeatedly delayed. The latest showcase revealed how Tesla’s collaboration with SpaceX in developing the propulsion system allows the electric car to briefly leave the ground and navigate outside conventional roadways.
In a breathtaking display, the Roadster flew over a line-up of Tesla vehicles, including the Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, Semi electric truck, and Cybercab autonomous taxi, executing mid-air flips before smoothly landing back on the ground. Witnessing the success of the demonstration, Musk casually remarked on-site, “Well, it worked. So, it can basically fly like a rocket.”
Musk’s latest tweet reads, “Fate always loves to make ironic twists, so it’s not surprising that the Roadster ultimately becomes a flying car.”
Tesla has unveiled three configurations for the Roadster. The Standard Performance version features a two-seat design with a multi-mode thrust system, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds; the Thrust version also offers a two-seat configuration with a rear air thruster, claimed to accelerate in under 0.9 seconds.
The highest specification Rocket version comes with a single-seat design and multiple sets of thrusters around the body, enabling forward, upward acceleration, and mid-air rotations. Tesla claims that the Rocket version can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 0.59 seconds.
All three versions of the Roadster boast a range of over 300 miles, with the Rocket variant capable of reaching a top speed of 230 mph.
Musk has suggested that future production models may aim to challenge half the speed of sound, approximately 0.5 Mach, although this milestone has yet to be achieved.
The Tesla CEO promised on Thursday that the Roadster would begin production in 2028, asserting unequivocally, “For sure.”
However, given Tesla’s poor track record of delivery over the past 20 years, many are skeptical and state that they’ll believe it when they see it in 2028.
Some devoted Tesla fans have already paid a $250,000 deposit, waited nearly a decade, and still haven’t received their coveted Roadster.
Tesla’s Chief Engineer, Lars Moravy, disclosed in a video collaboration with the classic car insurance company Hagerty that Tesla has currently manufactured four to five Roadster prototypes.