Tesla has showcased a prototype of its new Roadster sports car that uses rocket technology to lift briefly off the ground, with Elon Musk announcing plans to begin production in 2028.
The demonstration took place on Thursday at a SpaceX testing facility in Texas, United States, where the two-seater vehicle performed several manoeuvres, including driving upside down before making a short airborne movement.
CNN reported that the prototype operated without a driver during the test. Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said the decision was made “to make sure we don’t kill anyone.”
“Success is not guaranteed. I mean that. It’ll probably work, but if it doesn’t work, we’re at a safe distance,” he said.
The vehicle uses 10 nozzles and high-pressure air tanks to generate thrust, with Musk claiming it could accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than a second.
He attributed the development to collaboration between Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, and SpaceX, the rocket company he also leads.
Musk described the project as “the results of what happens when you have a collaboration with the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company.”
He also sought to convince spectators that the demonstration was genuine, saying the audience could confirm what they had witnessed.
“We need an audience to prove that it’s not AI or SI. So you guys can tell people you saw it with your eyes, because what you see with your eyes, you will not believe,” he said.
However, questions remain about whether the vehicle can achieve sustained flight and how practical it would be for everyday transportation.
Also Read: Davido surprises Mayorkun with luxury Tesla Cybertruck
Roger Conner, curator for vertical flight at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, told CNN that combining the requirements of road vehicles and aircraft presented significant engineering challenges.
“Aircraft are extremely sensitive to weight, whereas with ground vehicles you want them to have bumpers and crumple zones and all that,” he said.
He argued that a vehicle designed to serve both purposes could perform poorly in the air and on the road while also attracting a high price.
Conner also questioned whether the demonstration qualified as flight in the conventional sense.
“We’re not talking about sustained flight. We are literally talking about hopping,” he said.
However, Jim Dukhovny, chief executive of flying car startup Alef, told CNN that the technology was feasible, although transitioning safely from vertical take-off to forward flight remained a major challenge.
He said engineers needed to ensure that such vehicles maintained lift and stability during the transition.
CNN also reported that Alef’s prototype weighs about 254 pounds, uses eight propellers and is designed to carry one person.
Tesla plans to begin production of the new Roadster in 2028, although the latest demonstration does not establish whether the vehicle can function as a practical flying car.
Punch News
