By Ghazali Ibrahim
Elon Musk’s Tesla has unveiled a redesigned electric sports car capable of performing brief airborne manoeuvres, using rocket-style thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX.
The vehicle, the next-generation Tesla Roadster, was demonstrated on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at an event in McGregor, Texas, where it drove upside down along a ramp, flipped in mid-air and landed back on its wheels.
The demonstration also showed the car using its thrusters to jump over other Tesla vehicles, drawing attention to its unusual combination of electric-car technology and aerospace engineering.
According to reports, the Roadster uses compressed-air thrusters developed with SpaceX, Musk’s rocket company, to perform the airborne stunts. A suction system beneath the vehicle also allows it to travel along an inverted ramp.
Tesla claims the sports car can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than one second and reach speeds exceeding 230 miles per hour.
However, the demonstration does not mean the vehicle can fly like an aeroplane or operate as a conventional flying car for everyday transportation.
Tesla says production is expected to begin in 2028, nearly nine years after Musk first unveiled the next-generation Roadster concept in 2017.
The unveiling comes after several delays to the project, which has long been anticipated by electric-vehicle enthusiasts.
While the demonstration showcased the vehicle’s experimental capabilities, questions remain about the practicality, safety and commercial availability of its airborne features.
