Image: Smnt / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
In short: On the evening of 15 October 2026 (US time), Tesla showed the new Roadster at SpaceX's test site in McGregor, Texas. Suction fans let the sports car drive upside down on a ramp. SpaceX-derived cold-gas thrusters flipped it in mid-air, made it jump over vehicles and let it hover gently to the ground. Even so, it is not a true flying car. The flight-capable "Rocket" version is a single-seater, sold by invitation only and not approved for public roads. Production is planned for 2028.
A promise from 2017
The new Roadster was first shown in November 2017, with deliveries promised for 2020 and a range of 620 miles. Neither happened. Elon Musk repeatedly delayed the car and teased a "SpaceX option" with thrusters. The October 2026 demo is the first public proof that this hardware exists.
What happened at the demo
According to Reuters, AP and Engadget:
- Driving on the ceiling: fans under the car create low pressure, so it could drive upside down through a ramp.
- Mid-air flip: cold-gas thrusters rotated the car after a jump.
- Jumping over vehicles: the Roadster leapt over parked cars.
- Hover landing: the thrusters slowed its descent for a soft touchdown.
Cold-gas thruster: an engine that expels compressed gas without combustion. SpaceX uses such thrusters to control the attitude of its rockets. They give short, precise bursts, not sustained lift. Fan car: a design that sucks air from under the vehicle to add downforce. The Brabham BT46B won a Formula 1 race with it in 1978.
Three versions
| Version | Features | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 0–60 mph in under 1.6 s, road car | $50,000 |
| Thrust | cold-gas thrusters, 0–60 mph in under 1 s | $250,000 |
| Rocket | single seat, "full flight system", invite only | not public |
Tesla quotes a top speed above 230 mph and a range of more than 300 miles, less than half the 620 miles promised in 2017. European prices have not been announced.
Is it a flying car?
No. The thrusters provide short bursts for jumps, flips and a braked landing. Real flight would require sustained lift from rotors or wings, aviation certification from bodies such as the FAA or EASA, and a licensed pilot. Tesla showed none of that, and the Rocket version is not meant for public roads.
A critical view
- Timeline: the Roadster is already about eight years late, so 2028 is an announcement, not a guarantee.
- Approval: a road car with gas thrusters raises EU questions on pedestrian safety, noise and pressure vessels.
- Show effect: the demo took place on a closed test site.
- Deposits: $250,000 is a lot to put down for a car that will be built two years from now at the earliest.
More in our Tesla section and our AI overview for autumn 2026.
Verdict
The new Roadster is a spectacular piece of engineering and a successful show, but it is not a flying car. Realistically it is an extremely fast electric sports car with an expensive stunt option, and Tesla still has to prove it can deliver in 2028.
Sources
