Tesla · Roadster
The Tesla Roadster Flipped and Flew: How It Works and the SpaceX Link
Nine years after it was first shown, the Tesla Roadster finally had its big night. It drove upside down on a ramp, flipped in mid-air and landed on bursts of compressed air, at a SpaceX test site.
What happened at the Tesla Roadster reveal
Tesla unveiled the Roadster on October 15 at SpaceX’s test site near McGregor, Texas, CNBC reported. Weather had pushed the event back from October 1. Elon Musk said on stage that production starts in 2028, The Next Web reported.
During the demo, Tesla ran it from 0 to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds, according to Not a Tesla App.
How the Tesla Roadster flip works
A fan under the car pulls air out from beneath it, so it sticks to the ramp, even upside down. Tesla engineering chief Lars Moravy said it can make up to 2 g of downforce, Teslarati reported. When the car leaves the top of the ramp upside down, cold-gas thrusters fire compressed air to roll it upright before it hovers and lands, Motor1 reported.
The stunt, step by step
- 1Floors it toward a curved ramp
- 2The fan sucks it onto the ramp, even upside down
- 3Leaves the top of the ramp, still upside down
- 4Thrusters puff air to roll it upright
- 5A short hover, then it lands
Is the Roadster related to SpaceX?
Yes. The Information first reported that the two companies built the thruster system together under the code name “A71,” Benzinga noted, and the reveal took place at SpaceX’s site. Musk first pitched a “SpaceX package” of small thrusters for the car back in 2018, Electrek reported.
| Tesla | SpaceX | |
|---|---|---|
| The car | Builds it | — |
| Thrusters | Co-developed | Co-developed |
| Reveal site | — | McGregor, Texas |
| Merger | Speculation only | |
The reveal also revived talk of a Tesla and SpaceX merger. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said it strengthens that case, Benzinga reported. Neither company has said it is considering one, The Motley Fool pointed out.
How fast is it, really?
0 to 60 mph, in seconds (lower is faster)
Tesla Roadster release date and price
Don’t expect one soon. Tesla didn’t announce a price; it quoted $200,000 for the base car nearly a decade ago, Fox Business noted. The car has missed at least eight deadlines since 2017, Electrek reported, and reports say its flight features aren’t approved for public roads. Musk has also said safety isn’t the main goal for this car, TechRadar reported.
Nine years of Roadster
- Nov 2017Unveiled, with production promised for 2020
- 2020 to 2025Deadlines come and go
- Oct 1, 2026Reveal delayed by weather
- Oct 15, 2026The flip, at SpaceX’s Texas site
- 2028Production, per Musk
My take
Nine years of waiting and Tesla shows up with a car that drives upside down. That’s kind of hilarious honestly.
The flip looked unreal and putting SpaceX thrusters on a car is the most Elon thing ever. I’ll believe the 2028 date when people actually have one in their driveway though lol.
FAQ
Is the Tesla Roadster related to SpaceX?
Yes. Its cold-gas thrusters were developed with SpaceX, and the car was revealed at SpaceX’s test site near McGregor, Texas. Talk of a Tesla and SpaceX merger is speculation; neither company has announced one.
Can the new Tesla Roadster really fly?
Only briefly. In the demo it left a ramp upside down, used compressed-air thrusters to flip upright and hovered for a moment before landing. Reports say the flight features aren’t approved for public roads.
When does the Tesla Roadster come out, and how much is it?
Elon Musk said production starts in 2028. Tesla hasn’t announced a price; it quoted $200,000 for the base car back in 2017. Reservations are open at $50,000.
How fast is the 2026 Tesla Roadster?
A 0 to 60 mph run of 0.81 seconds was reported during the reveal. Tesla originally promised 1.9 seconds in 2017. No independent tests exist yet.
Sources
- CNBC: Tesla unveils long-delayed Roadster developed with SpaceX
- The Next Web: production set for 2028
- Not a Tesla App: event recap, 0.81s 0–60
- Teslarati: the fan system and thrusters
- Motor1: Tesla flips the Roadster upside down
- Fox Business: the Roadster takes flight
- Benzinga (via The Information): the A71 thruster system
- Benzinga: Dan Ives on a Tesla and SpaceX merger
- The Motley Fool: Wall Street talks SpaceX, not cars
- Electrek (2018): the SpaceX package
- Electrek: nearly nine years of delays
- TechRadar: Musk on safety and the Roadster