Tesla has finally shown off its long-awaited second-generation Roadster. The electric sports car is extremely fast, packed with unusual technology, and able to do something few cars can: leave the ground.
At an event in Texas, Tesla demonstrated a version of the Roadster equipped with technology developed with SpaceX engineers. Using powerful fans and thrusters, the car drove up a curved ramp, turned in the air, and gently landed on the ground. It also briefly lifted itself over several other Tesla vehicles while moving.
The display looked like something from a science fiction film. But did Tesla really build a flying car?
Not quite.
The Roadster can lift itself off the ground and control its movement in the air for a short time. However, Tesla has not shown it taking off vertically, traveling through the sky, or making a normal flight like an aircraft. It may be more accurate to describe it as a supercar that can perform controlled jumps.
The technology is still remarkable. Elon Musk first discussed putting around 10 small SpaceX thrusters on the Roadster in 2018. These thrusters were expected to improve acceleration, braking, and cornering. Musk also suggested that they might one day allow the car to fly.
The new Roadster has been a long time coming. Tesla first introduced the second-generation model in 2017 and originally planned to deliver it several years later. After repeated delays, Musk now says production is expected to begin in 2028.
Many questions remain. The flying version is not currently approved for use on public roads, and it is unclear whether all the technology shown in the demonstration will appear in the final production car.
For now, the Roadster sits somewhere between a sports car and a flying machine. It may not be ready to carry drivers through the sky, but it has already made the idea of a flying car feel a little less impossible.