On episode 007, Nick described watching Tesla's new Roadster reveal live. It was a strange demo, and a lot of the headlines called it a flying car. Here is what was shown and what is still just a claim.
What was shown. According to Space.com and The Next Web, Tesla unveiled the second-generation Roadster on October 15, 2026 (Space.com's article also says October 16, but The Next Web gives the 15th and says the event was moved from October 1 because of weather), at SpaceX's rocket-testing site in McGregor, Texas. The event was livestreamed. In the demo:
- The car drove up a ramp that turned into a vertical wall and then an overhanging ledge, and clung to the surface upside down. Tesla credits a fan-based suction system.
- It then launched from under the ledge, did a barrel roll in the air, and landed softly.
- It was also launched over a line of six vehicles, including a Tesla Semi cab.
- A mannequin in a SpaceX spacesuit sat in the driver's seat, a nod to "Starman," the Roadster Musk sent to space in 2018.
How it "flew". The car carries 10 thrusters: main thrusters at the back and smaller ones for orientation. Tesla describes them as SpaceX cold-gas thrusters, meaning they push out compressed air rather than burning fuel. Tesla engineering VP Lars Moravy said they run on about 600 liters (roughly 250 kg) of compressed air held in carbon-fiber tanks that fill the car's unused space. So this is a short, powered hop and roll, not sustained flight like an aircraft.
The numbers. In a live test Tesla showed 0 to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds; the reports do not say how it was timed, and it has not been independently verified. Tesla says the underbody fan system can pull up to 2 G and that the car can corner above 2 G, compared with about 1.26 G from the tires alone. Musk said the production car will do better. Musk also said, "This is not necessarily a safety-optimized car, OK?" Production is stated for 2028, and Tesla has not announced final prices. The reporting we read gives no flight duration or range, and says a flying version is unlikely to be certified for everyday roads.
The variants. There are three versions:
- Performance: a $50,000 refundable reservation, 0 to 60 in under 1.6 seconds (Tesla's listing).
- Thrust: a $250,000 reservation, adds the rear thrusters, 0 to 60 in under 0.9 seconds.
- Rocket: invite-only and single-seat, 0 to 60 in under 0.59 seconds and a top speed above 230 mph in Tesla's listing; the reports give no reservation amount.
These are reservation amounts, not purchase prices.
Manual driving. At the reveal Musk said the Roadster "will actually be long term the only manually driven car that Tesla makes."
A bit of history. Tesla first announced the Roadster in 2017 with a 2020 target. A 2018 Musk post about a SpaceX thruster option package hinted at this idea.
What the sources say
Episode 007, 26:18: we said 0 to 60 in 0.8 seconds, with a 0.5 coming. That matches Tesla's live test (0.81 seconds), though it is Tesla's own, unverified number.
25:43: we said the fans hold about two Gs. Reports say the fan system can pull up to 2 G. Close.
We said a one-seat demo car. The Rocket version is single-seat, so that fits.
We said production in 2028. Correct per the reports.
34:06: we said it is "the last manual driven car" Tesla will make. Musk's words were that it will be "the only manually driven car that Tesla makes" long term. Close enough.
28:09 to 28:41: we said a $50,000 deposit and a top invite-only version at 500K. The $50,000 and $250,000 reservations are confirmed. The 500K was our guess at the Rocket's cost; Tesla has not announced a price or reservation amount for it, and it is invite-only.
The "flying" in the headlines is short thruster hops and rolls, not flight like a plane.
Why it is fun anyway. A car that sticks to a wall, hops with compressed air and lands softly is the kind of demo people talk about whether or not it ever ships. We will be watching for real numbers in 2028.
Sources:
