Tesla’s flying Roadster is going viral – here’s what it can actually do
3 min read
When Tesla unveiled a new version of its long-delayed Roadster on 16 October, CEO Elon Musk declared: “Turns out the future does have flying cars.”
The video, filmed during a dramatic demonstration at SpaceX’s test facility in Texas, has generated millions of views on X. And it has renewed speculation about whether Tesla has genuinely created a flying car, or simply a sports car with some aerospace-inspired tech.
The answer lies somewhere in between…
What is the Tesla Roadster?
The Roadster is Tesla’s upcoming all-electric sports car. It was originally unveiled in 2017 as the successor to the company’s first production vehicle.
Tesla describes it as a vehicle that “can perform at levels unlike any other production car” and says it has been designed to push the boundaries of engineering and performance.
Reservations are now open for what Tesla has dubbed “a true Pilot’s car”.
Can the Tesla Roadster actually fly?
It depends how you define “fly”.
On Tesla’s website, the most advanced version of the Roadster is described as the “Rocket” model.
Labelled as “invite-only”, the vehicle is described as, “air ready” and includes seating for one.
The official spec continues: “Features a multi-mode suction system paired with cold-gas thrusters positioned around the perimeter of the vehicle that support forward and upward acceleration as well as lateral rotational movement. So yes, it can fly.”
However, it is not approved for use on public roads.
What are cold gas thrusters on the Tesla Roadster?
According to Tesla, the system uses advanced cold-gas thrusters controlled by all-electric actuators. Rather than using combustion like a traditional rocket engine, cold gas is released under pressure through thrusters positioned around the vehicle.
Tesla says the technology can provide thrust in multiple directions while making constant micro-adjustments to stabilise the vehicle.
And this, they say, “helps to stabilise it in flight”.
Tesla Roadster specification
Flying ability aside, Tesla says the Roadster will remain one of the fastest cars ever built.
Published figures include:
- 0-60mph in 1.9 seconds
- Top speed over 250mph
- 620 miles of range
- All-wheel drive
- Four-seat layout on standard versions
- 10,000Nm of wheel torque
Tesla has previously described the Roadster as the quickest-accelerating production car it has ever developed.
Turns out the future does have flying cars https://t.co/6fexPp6SXI
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 16, 2026
What happened during the Tesla Roadster demonstration?
During the video which Musk shared on X, the Roadster can be seen:
- Driving upside down using a suction-based downforce system
- Launching from a curved ramp and rotating in mid-air
- Clearing a row of parked Tesla vehicles
- Performing what appeared to be a “kickflip”-style aerial manoeuvre
- Landing back on its wheels
There was no driver in the vehicle during the demonstration.
“To make sure we don’t kill anyone,” Musk joked before the test. “Success is not guaranteed. I mean that. It’ll probably work, but if it doesn’t work, we’re at a safe distance.”
Will the Tesla Roadster make it onto public roads?
The Rocket version is not approved for public road use.
But whether or not customers ever use the Roadster’s flight capabilities in the real world, the unveiling is a significant moment for Tesla.
The company has spent nearly a decade promising a new Roadster. Now, rather than simply delivering another electric supercar, Tesla is attempting to create an entirely new category that combines electric vehicle technology with aerospace engineering.
