Tesla has unveiled a new Roadster electric vehicle that uses SpaceX thruster technology and achieved 0 to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds during a demonstration, the company said at an event delayed two weeks from an initial 1 October date due to weather. During the demonstration, the Roadster drove up a curved ramp using a vacuum fan system to grip the surface, launched off the ramp while inverted, performed flips in the air and used thrusters to land on the tarmac, The Guardian reported. The car also jumped over a line of Tesla vehicles, including a semi, inverted itself and used its thrusters to land.
Tesla said the vehicle comes in three configurations: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. The Performance version seats two, has a multi-mode suction system and achieves 0 to 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds. The Thrust version seats two, includes rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters and achieves 0 to 60 mph in under 0.9 seconds.
The Rocket version seats one, features perimeter-mounted cold-gas thrusters enabling forward, upward and lateral rotational movement, and achieves 0 to 60 mph in under 0.59 seconds. Tesla set the Rocket version as invitation-only and stated that flying the vehicle is not permitted on public roads. All three versions have a range exceeding 300 miles, and the car's top speed is up to 230 mph, the company said.
Musk, speaking at the event, said flying cars are real, describing the car as having altitude controls, thrusters and main rear thrusters enabling flight, rolls and aerial manoeuvres. He said the vehicle was not necessarily a safety-optimised car and acknowledged its legality was uncertain in all jurisdictions. Musk said the production model could aim for Mach 0.5, which he put at 383 mph, or half the speed of sound.
The demonstration showed a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX, the companies said. No single US federal agency has been identified as having clear authority over a vehicle that may leave the ground. The FAA determined that the Tesla vehicle falls outside its definition of an aircraft, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said federal motor vehicle safety standards remain binding on all manufacturers regardless of a vehicle's unusual capabilities.
Buyers seeking the Performance version must pay a $5,000 initial deposit followed by a $45,000 wire transfer within ten days, while the Thrust version requires a $250,000 deposit. No price was disclosed for the Rocket version. Tesla stated production of the Roadster will begin in 2028.
The next-generation Roadster was first announced in 2017, with deposits taken at that time and deliveries originally promised by 2020, leaving early reservation holders waiting for years. The original Tesla Roadster was released in 2008, remained on sale until 2012 and used a Lotus Elise chassis.
Buyers interested in the Performance version face a total upfront commitment of $50,000, while the Thrust version requires a $250,000 deposit and the Rocket version is available only by invitation with no released price. Production is not set to begin until 2028, and the Rocket version cannot be operated in flight on public roads.
Reporting: The Guardian, Yahoo News, Yahoo Finance
Background: Yahoo Finance
Written by Pick & Scroll News from the reporting and documents linked above.
