Elon Musk unveils Tesla Roadster that can fly; Here's what we know about variants, features

Elon Musk on Thursday unveiled Tesla's redesigned Roadster electric sports car with a dramatic demonstration in which the vehicle drove upside down on a ramp, flipped in midair and landed safely on the ground using built-in thrusters.

Tesla, which first showcased a next-generation version of the sports car more than a decade ago, said production of the new Roadster would begin in 2028.

"Turns out the future does have flying cars," Musk posted on X, sharing a video of the demonstration.

The white two-seater, developed in collaboration with Musk's rocket company SpaceX, used a suction system to drive upside down on a ramp before turning in the air and landing with the help of built-in thrusters.

In another demonstration, the vehicle used its thrusters to jump over a truck and other vehicles, twisting in the air during the manoeuvre.

Viewers astonished

The demonstrations drew astonished reactions from viewers, including Tesla investors and enthusiasts.

INSANE https://t.co/S3ZeCzGePX

— Kyle Conner (@itskyleconner) October 16, 2026

"That was the most insane product demo I've ever seen," Tesla investor and fan Sawyer Merritt posted on X. ""I just saw this in person, and I'm still asking how this wasn't AI."

"OMG… the Tesla Roadster just went upside down on a half pipe and landed!" another X user wrote.

"Totally insane!" Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma posted.

Tesla says the new Roadster can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in under a second and reach a top speed of more than 230 mph (370 kmph).

BREAKING: Tesla’s new Roadster: 0–60 in under a second.

It also flies, does barrel rolls, and drives upside down.

https://t.co/deLqJ2RvGC https://t.co/NWIfLivfvb

— KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) October 16, 2026

Three variants of Tesla Roadster

The company has revealed three versions of the vehicle: Performance, Thrust and Rocket.

The Performance variant, available by reservation, is designed for road use and features active aerodynamics and a multi-mode suction system to increase downforce.

The Thrust model, a limited release version, pairs the suction system with cold-gas thrusters at the rear to accelerate from zero to 100 in under a second, according to Tesla's website.

The Rocket variant, available by invitation only, is designed to accommodate one person and features thrusters positioned around the vehicle's perimeter to enable forward and upward acceleration as well as lateral rotational movement.

"So yes, it can fly," Tesla says on its website, noting that the Rocket version is not approved for public road use.

Tesla-SpaceX collab

Explaining the technology, the company said its "multi-mode fan and ground sealing system acts as a downforce generator", pulling air from beneath the vehicle to create enough suction to hold it upside down, even when stationary.

The system, combined with active wings, is designed to maximise traction and cornering speeds, while cold-gas thrusters use electric actuators to provide precise thrust and stabilise the vehicle in flight, Tesla said.

Musk and other executives did not disclose prices for the new Roadster at Thursday's event.

Tesla had quoted a base price of $200,000 for the vehicle nearly a decade ago.

The unveiling also renewed attention on the growing technological overlap between Tesla and SpaceX, both controlled by Musk, and speculation about a possible merger of the companies.

Asked during Tesla's second-quarter earnings call whether the increasing overlap could eventually lead to a merger, Musk said there was "more and more overlap" between the two companies on several fronts.

"Obviously, we can't talk about combining companies and that kind of thing on an earnings call. It's got to be done with the appropriate process," he said.

Musk also said SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service would be integrated into Tesla's Cybercab robotaxi and eventually into all Tesla vehicles in markets where the service is available.