Flying Cars Become Reality? Tesla Unveils 'Roadster' with Supersonic Thrust and Levitation
"Mass Production to Begin in 2028"
"A machine has been born that surpasses the Bond cars in the movies."
On Oct. 15 (local time), Tesla unveiled its next-generation Roadster at SpaceX's rocket testing center in McGregor, Texas. The vehicle is a cutting-edge technological powerhouse capable of high-speed acceleration and levitation.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed confidence that the car would outperform any special vehicle featured in a movie and open a new chapter in automotive engineering.
The new Roadster posted an astonishing acceleration time of just 0.81 seconds from a standstill to 60 miles per hour (about 96 km/h). The figure was said to push the physical limits of the human body when passengers are on board.
Tesla said it achieved this record by drastically reducing the vehicle's weight and combining that with powerful thrust. Commenting on its acceleration, Elon Musk said, "We'll push it to the limit without making the human retina detach," sparking amazement.
The Roadster's most notable feature is its extensive use of aerospace technology. Inside the vehicle are two carbon composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) based on SpaceX technology. They generate supersonic thrust using 600 liters of air and 10 nozzles. The vehicle demonstrated capabilities that break entirely from conventional notions of what a car can do, including leaping into the air and performing acrobatic maneuvers.
A special fan-based suction system is also installed beneath the body to improve high-speed driving and cornering stability. The system generates up to 2G of downforce, producing powerful suction that exceeds the tires' grip. Tesla engineers said the Roadster can freely switch between high-downforce and low-drag modes, delivering driving performance that seems to defy the laws of physics when cornering.
Elon Musk recalled, "When I proposed this idea to the team, I thought I was crazy, but in the end, a machine was born that surpasses the Bond cars in the movies." He added, "This project is not guaranteed to succeed completely, but it guarantees passengers 100% maximized excitement," emphasizing the project's bold spirit.
As Tesla positions Full Self-Driving (FSD) as a key part of future mobility, the new Roadster occupies a unique position. Elon Musk said the new Roadster would be "Tesla's last manual driver's car," built solely to maximize the joy of driving. It is designed with a steer-by-wire system and a yoke steering wheel so drivers can fully experience the limits of driving.
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Tesla officially announced that it plans to begin full-scale mass production in 2028, following testing and further engineering development.
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