Elon Musk showcases Tesla Roadster ‘flying car’ in high-octane Texas stunt

At a SpaceX facility in Texas, Elon Musk revealed a prototype of the long-delayed Tesla Roadster, featuring 10 ultra-high-pressure air nozzles that enabled stunts like clinging to a ramp and jumping over parked cars. Musk claimed the production model will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under a second using rocket-thruster technology, with a 620-mile range and top speed over 250 mph. Three variants were announced: standard at $50,000 reservation, Thrust at $245,000, and invite-only Rocket at $245,000 with true flight capabilities but not road-legal. Aviation experts like Roger Conner expressed skepticism, noting that hybrid designs compromise aircraft and vehicle performance, and the demo showed only hopping, not sustained flight. Production is targeted for 2028, but Musk has a history of missed deadlines.

(Source：Interesting Engineering)