Elon Musk unveils flying car: Crowd screams as new Tesla with rocket thrusters takes off and flips mid-air
Elon Musk has presented a redesigned Tesla Roadster that uses rocket-style thrusters to lift, flip and hover in demonstrations at a Texas event. He said production is targeted for 2028 and described the vehicle as capable of dramatic manoeuvres, while cautioning that it is not necessarily safety-optimised.
The Roadster is being developed with SpaceX, according to the article, and Tesla claims it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 0.81 seconds and reach 230 mph. Reservations listed on Tesla’s website require a refundable $50,000 deposit for a performance model, while a thrust version requires $250,000; an invite-only rocket configuration is described as flight-capable. The full price and whether some features would be legal on roads remain unclear.
- Tesla demonstrated a Roadster that lifts and flips using thrusters.
- Musk says production is targeted for 2028.
- Price and road legality of its flight features are uncertain.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could argue that developing a high-performance Roadster pushes engineering forward and gives customers a choice of an ambitious, novel vehicle. If the technology can be made safe and lawful, demonstrations and advance reservations may help fund development and gauge demand before production.
The case against
Sceptics could argue that promoting dramatic aerial manoeuvres before safety, legality, price and production details are settled risks encouraging unrealistic expectations about a road vehicle. The large deposits and extraordinary performance claims also make clear evidence, consumer protections and careful testing especially important.