Tesla Roadster performs thruster jump in Texas
Tesla Roadster was revealed at a SpaceX test site near Waco, Texas, where the electric supercar performed a dramatic airborne demonstration that the company has teased for years.
Stunt details and public reaction
The car drove onto a sharply curved ramp, engaged a suction system that held it to the underside, and was propelled upward by cold-gas thrusters. Stabilizing jets kept it level as it rotated before touching down.
In a separate run, the Roadster vaulted over a line of Tesla vehicles that included a Semi, Cybertruck, Cybercab, Model Y and Model 3, showing the spectacle’s scale.
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curator Roger Connor told CNN, “We’re not talking about sustained flight,” and added, “We are literally talking about hopping.”
Three Roadster variants
Tesla outlined three configurations. The two-seat Performance model relies on active aerodynamics and a multi-mode suction system to increase downforce and cling to steep or inverted surfaces.
The two-seat Thrust version adds rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters, aiming for a 0-to-60 mph (≈97 km/h) sprint in under one second.
The single-seat Rocket variant carries ten thrusters positioned around the chassis, the setup used in the Texas demonstration.
Engineering vice-president Lars Moravy said the system stores about 600 litres of compressed air in carbon-fiber-wrapped vessels distributed throughout the car, feeding the thrusters for acceleration, lift and directional control.
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The approach resembles a rocket reaction-control system more than a conventional flying-car powertrain, delivering short bursts of thrust rather than continuous lift from wings or propellers.
Tesla claims all three models will offer roughly 300 miles (≈483 km) of range and a top speed exceeding 230 mph (≈370 km/h). These figures remain company statements without independent verification.
Reservations have reopened in select markets. Reports indicate a $50,000 reservation fee for the Performance version and $250,000 for the Thrust. Access to the Rocket is described as invitation-only.
Elon Musk mentioned production could start in 2028, but the Roadster program has faced multiple postponements since its initial 2017 unveiling, with delays recorded in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024.
The concept challenges existing vehicle regulations. A road-registered car that can deliberately leave the ground, spin, and land among traffic does not fit neatly within current safety standards, prompting extensive assessment of its compressed-air system and pressure vessels.
For now, Tesla has produced a functional prototype capable of impressive jumps, but it has not shown that customers will be allowed to replicate the maneuvers on public roads.
No final purchase price, Australian pricing, delivery schedule or regulatory clearance has been confirmed by the company.
