The new Tesla Roadster drives upside down and can even fly. It accelerates to 100 km/h in less than a second

When Tesla unexpectedly unveiled the second generation of its electric sports car in 2017, it promised first deliveries as early as 2020. Deadlines were then repeatedly pushed back, and for years the car was mainly discussed in connection with Elon Musk’s unfulfilled promises. However, on Friday night, the Roadster finally made an appearance in Texas and performed stunts no one expects from a car: it stopped upside down, briefly flew, and accelerated to 97 km/h in 0.81 seconds.

How did the Roadster stay upside down?

The event took place near the Texan city of Waco and lasted less than half an hour. The Verge described it more as a stunt show than a new car presentation. The Roadster first drove up a tall vertical ramp and stopped upside down at the top. It was held in place by a system of fans under the chassis, which sucks the car to the surface with a force of up to two Gs. The fans were supplied by SpaceX, and according to Tesla, they can keep the car upside down even when it’s stationary.

Real life, baby pic.twitter.com/3QEqn18wig

— Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026

Then came the flight. The prototype, with no one inside, drove towards a line of other Teslas, including a Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, Semi, and the Cybercab robotaxi. It launched into the air, flew over them, and performed a 360-degree flip in mid-air. Tesla’s Vice President of Engineering, Lars Moravy, compared the maneuver to a kickflip, a skateboarding trick. The car’s landing was slowed by thrusters.

Thrusters lift the Roadster into the air

Flight is handled by cold gas thrusters, which use compressed air instead of rocket fuel. The car carries it in two high-pressure tanks with a total volume of 600 liters, holding approximately 250 kilograms of air. This air then escapes through ten thrusters, and electric controllers make minor corrections in fractions of a second during flight. Furthermore, the car can refill its tanks itself, without special chemical refills.

Musk made no secret of what such equipment is good for. “Essentially, it can fly like a rocket,” he said on stage, adding that it can also perform barrel rolls and other “crazy gymnastics.” At the same time, he admitted that it’s not necessarily a car optimized for safety. But according to him, it turns the fun up to eleven out of ten.

Beyond the thrusters, it’s a more classic supercar. According to Tesla, the design was inspired, among other things, by the SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft. Two-seater versions have seats molded directly into the chassis. It features scissor doors, hidden headlights, a full-width taillight, and a retractable rear wing. The steering, accelerator, and brakes have no mechanical connection to the wheels, and instead of a conventional steering wheel, it uses a yoke steering wheel known from other Teslas. The automaker saves weight with magnesium, titanium, and carbon fiber. However, it has not yet disclosed the power or torque.

What versions is Tesla preparing?

After the event, the automaker described three trims on its website, differing mainly in the number of thrusters. Acceleration is stated for 97 km/h, as is customary in the USA.

• Performance – a two-seater base version with active aerodynamics and suction fans, but without thrusters. It accelerates to 97 km/h in less than 1.6 seconds and has a range exceeding 480 kilometers.
• Thrust – again for two, additionally with thrusters in the rear of the car. Acceleration to 97 km/h drops below 0.9 seconds. Tesla will offer it as a limited edition.
• Rocket – a single-seater version with thrusters all around, which can also fly. It reaches 97 km/h in less than 0.59 seconds, and its top speed is expected to exceed 370 km/h. It will be available by invitation only and is not allowed on public roads, even though Musk promised a real road car on stage.

0-60 mph in 0.81 seconds pic.twitter.com/7Pp4oqJVzq

— Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026

Musk claims that the production car should surpass the demonstrated 0.81 seconds. However, he also admitted that the crew cannot be subjected to arbitrarily large g-forces. On the Czech website, Tesla states for the Thrust version that its thrusters will launch it from zero to one hundred in less than a second. However, all figures are manufacturer’s data, which no one has independently verified yet.

When can you buy the Roadster and how much will it cost?

Tesla did not announce the price or the date of the first deliveries at the event. Production is expected to begin in 2028 at the Giga Texas factory. Given the experience with this project, it’s good to take that with a grain of salt. When the concept was unveiled in 2017, the automaker promised a price starting from 200 thousand dollars (approximately 4 million Czech crowns converted) and a range of around 1,000 kilometers. The current Performance version, with a range of over 480 kilometers, is expected to manage about half of that.

The automaker has already opened reservations in the Czech Republic, but it does not state the price there either. It warns that availability depends on local regulations and the Rocket version may not be available in some countries at all.

Would you ride in a car that can take off for a few seconds?

Sources: The Verge, Tesla, Autoevolution