Tesla Shows Roadster Aerial Stunts, Targets 2028 Production

Tesla unveiled a redesigned prototype of its long-delayed second-generation Roadster at a Texas demonstration, targeting production in 2028 after first announcing the car in 2017. The car drove upside down along a ramp using underbody fans, then launched, rotated and landed with help from compressed-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX. Tesla claims a thruster-assisted 0-to-60-mph time as low as 0.81 seconds and says its Rocket version could exceed 230 mph, but the staged demonstration did not show sustained, untethered flight, and the Rocket configuration is not intended for public roads. Thruster-equipped versions may be limited or invite-only, while the base Performance trim will not include thrusters. Tesla has not announced a price, and the prototype’s capabilities, regulatory status and delivery timeline remain uncertain; the company is still taking $50,000 reservations.