Tesla equipped the Roadster with cold-gas thrusters and a SpaceX-inspired suction fan, then admitted it will not be street legal.
Tesla staged a late-night demonstration in Waco, Texas, showing a Roadster drive up a multi-story ramp, launch off the edge, perform a mid-air kickflip over a row of Teslas, and land on cold-gas thrusters. The company equipped the car with 600 liters of compressed air, 10 directional nozzles, and a SpaceX-inspired suction-fan system.
Elon Musk framed the event as a reveal, but Tesla skipped pricing, battery range, and delivery details. The Roadster’s range estimate dropped from 600 miles to 300 miles, and Musk pushed production to 2028, more than a decade after early buyers placed $50,000 deposits.
Builders and operators get no purchasable product from the demo. Tesla says the Rocket configuration is invite only, removes the passenger seat for high-pressure gas tanks, and is not approved for public road use, so the vehicle has no clear commercial path.
Tesla’s production target for the Roadster now sits at 2028, and Musk has called the project small compared with mass-market models. Watch whether the company publishes pricing, range, or a real delivery schedule for the invite-only Rocket trim.
What matters
- Tesla launched a Roadster off a ramp in Waco and landed it with cold-gas thrusters.
- No pricing, battery range, or delivery dates accompanied the stunt, so operators get no product data.
- Watch whether Tesla ships the 2028 Roadster and whether the Rocket trim stays invite only.
Why it matters
Watch whether Tesla ships the 2028 Roadster and whether the Rocket trim stays invite only.
This GenAI News article was prepared in original wording using reporting and materials published by The Verge. Source reference: https://www.theverge.com/transportation/1012783/tesla-roadster-flying-stunt-production-reality-musk.
Drafted by the GenAI News review pipeline.