The Tesla Roadster spectacle

On October 15, Elon Musk unveiled the new, second-generation Tesla Roadster at the SpaceX facilities in Texas. It was a wild, impressive spectacle—but ultimately, it was just that: a spectacle. What we saw is not a car that will be driving on the streets by 2028—assuming there are no further delays or issues. No matter how much money you have, you won’t be getting a flying car to take you to your friends' party; then again, there’s no need to be a purist about it.

What we have just seen couldn’t happen in real life—it’s a spectacle, a staged performance. However, such elaborate, high-production-value promotional displays for vehicles have existed in the past. For instance, back in 1984, the Citroën Visa GTI was unveiled with the help of the French Navy in a commercial where the car was launched from an aircraft carrier via a catapult, only to later emerge from the water atop a nuclear submarine. Does this mean the car was actually capable of such feats? Of course not—but it was a spectacle, a striking presentation. Come to think of it, they don’t do such cool things in France anymore. I wonder what happened?

Tesla’s presentation was, once again, striking and spectacular—this time enlisting their colleagues at SpaceX to incorporate some impressive space-age tricks. But let’s take a closer look at the car: what was shown, what it can do, and what it cannot. First, what are the thrusters that allow the vehicle to fly and spin in the air? While they may look like rockets, they aren’t; they are cold-gas thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX. The version seen in the footage is the "Rocket" trim—which, despite the name, doesn't actually use rockets (there is no combustion or flame). Instead, it carries tanks of highly compressed air—the very same carbon-fiber vessels used by SpaceX.

It is believed that the system holds approximately 250 kg of compressed air within about 600 liters of tank volume. In fact, these tanks take up so much space that this "flying" version only has one seat: the pilot’s. This air is released at supersonic speeds through specially designed nozzles—up to 10 of them in the most advanced configuration. The resulting reaction—governed by Newton’s third law—generates thrust, which can propel the car forward, lift it, spin it, or stabilize it in mid-air. There is no combustion or flame; it is simply pressurized air. Naturally, the tanks can be refilled.

Tesla has stated that this "Rocket" version is not approved for use on public roads and will only be delivered by special invitation. I truly hope—though, given Elon Musk’s track record, I’m not entirely confident—that one of these units doesn't end up in the hands of some influencer or minor celebrity who lacks the common sense to do anything other than take a selfie. If they insist on filming themselves doing something foolish with the "Rocket," I urge them to do so on a closed track—and, for heaven's sake, they must never attempt to jump the car over people. Although the thrusters expel air, they are dangerous; the air is cold and under high pressure. If someone is near the nozzles or underneath the car during a jump, they could sustain injuries to their skin, eyes, or ears—much like what would happen if a powerful blast of industrial compressed air were directed straight at your face. Naturally, it also generates a great deal of noise.

Second point—another astonishing feature of this vehicle, and one that is far less dangerous: in the footage, we see the car driving upside down along a highly curved track. How does it manage to stay stuck to the surface like that? It’s almost like a Spider-Man car! This is made possible by a brilliant design from Jim Hall—based in Texas—originally created for the Chaparral 2J race car back in 1970.

That car featured two large fans at the rear, powered by an auxiliary two-stroke engine. These fans would draw air out from underneath the vehicle, creating a suction effect—essentially pinning the car to the ground. This allowed it to take corners at high speeds with no risk of sliding off the track. At this point, you might wonder: if this invention provides such incredible grip—allowing for perfectly safe cornering—why didn’t it become standard on all cars? Why don’t we see it on our streets today? The reason is that it came with two major drawbacks.

First, there was the issue of fuel consumption, as the fans required their own power source. Even more serious, however, was the fact that the system would suck up everything beneath the car—dust, small stones, debris—and hurl it toward any vehicles following behind. This made it extremely dangerous for anyone driving near a Chaparral. That was the situation back in the 1970s, but has Tesla managed to evolve this technology and overcome those original problems?

Tesla has developed three models of this vehicle. The base model is called "Performance"; to secure one, you must place a $50,000 deposit—note that this is just the deposit, not the final price, which remains undetermined. This base model does not feature thrusters, but it does employ a fan system far more advanced than the one found on the Chaparral cars of the 1970s. Like the Chaparral, it draws air from beneath the vehicle, generating enough suction—or a "vacuum effect"—to reach 2G of force. Official figures cite up to 4,700 kg of suction, which is an immense amount—enough to keep the car pinned to a surface, even while hanging upside down. However, be warned: Tesla’s engineers have not managed to resolve every issue that plagued the 1970s version.

Energy consumption remains high; as you might imagine, having a car act like Spider-Man doesn't come for free. The system is still very noisy and requires a pristine track surface, as it constantly sucks up and expels any dust or stones it encounters. Furthermore, you must keep an eye on the wear of the side skirts that create the necessary seal beneath the car—if they wear down, the vehicle will lose its suction capacity.

In any case, this system will be included in all three versions: the base "Performance" model, the "Thrust" model, and the "Rocket" model—the latter of which will be produced in very limited numbers. To secure the "Thrust" version, you would need to place a $250,000 deposit. The final price is also unknown. In addition to the suction system I mentioned, the vehicle will feature thrusters—specifically at the rear. These will be similar to the cold-gas thrusters we’ve seen before; again, they are located only at the rear. If you’re in the car and activate these thrusters, you could reach nearly 97 km/h in less than a second—in 0.9 seconds, to be precise. This is because the propulsion doesn’t rely on tire grip; instead, it pushes the car directly forward by expelling compressed air through rear-facing nozzles. This generates 3G forces, so it’s not for just anyone. It won’t break your neck—contrary to what I’ve seen in some videos—but it does require a level of physical fitness appropriate for such an experience.

Setting aside those novelties that can only be experienced on closed tracks—and assuming you have the funds to purchase one—you would end up with an electric supercar for two, capable of reaching 370 km/h with a range of approximately 480 km under normal driving conditions. (Though, as you might imagine, if you decide to take a shortcut by driving up a skyscraper, that range will drop significantly.) Production is currently scheduled for 2028—barring any further delays, which you are likely already aware of.

In short, this new Tesla Roadster is not the vehicle that will solve mobility challenges for the average person, nor is it the flying car dreamed of in science-fiction cities. It is an extreme luxury item, accessible only to a select few. Like many other companies, Tesla uses this model as a flagship—a showcase to demonstrate its engineering prowess and the limits of its capabilities. Oh, and one final note: just because it might be able to climb a wall, that doesn’t mean the wall—or the ceiling—can actually support its weight. You’ve been warned.