American electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has officially unveiled a redesigned prototype of its long-awaited next-generation Roadster, demonstrating short aerial maneuvers powered by cold-gas rocket thrusters and targeting commercial production for 2028.
The demonstration took place at a SpaceX test facility in McGregor, Texas, nearly nine years after the initial Roadster concept was first presented. Developed in collaboration with SpaceX, the updated “production-intent” model incorporates attitude-control cold-gas thrusters and an underbody fan suction system capable of generating up to 2G of downforce, allowing the vehicle to hover, rotate mid-air, and execute rapid acceleration maneuvers.
During the event, Tesla demonstrated zero-to-60 mph acceleration runs clocked at 0.81 seconds, with claims that the car could hit 60 mph in under 0.59 seconds and reach a top speed exceeding 230 mph. The prototype features a redesigned two-seater cockpit constructed from carbon fiber, titanium, and magnesium aerospace materials.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that commercial production is slated to begin in 2028. However, industry analysts note that significant regulatory, safety, and road-legality hurdles remain before thruster-assisted personal vehicles can be legally driven on public roads.
