'Flying cars are real': Elon Musk's 'flying Tesla' takes off, flips mid-air and lands safely

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has unveiled the long-awaited next-generation Roadster, showcasing an electric sports car capable of performing dramatic aerial manoeuvres during a demonstration in Texas. The vehicle briefly lifted off the ground, flipped in mid-air and landed safely, drawing attention to Musk's vision of bringing flying-car technology closer to reality.

The demonstration took place on Thursday at a SpaceX facility in Texas, nearly nine years after Tesla first announced the redesigned Roadster in November 2017. During the event, the vehicle was shown driving along a large curved ramp, performing a flip and briefly hovering before returning to the ground.

Tesla's vice-president of vehicle engineering, Lars Moravy, described the technology as a breakthrough, saying,"Flying cars are real."

How does the Tesla Roadster 2 fly?

The Roadster's aerial capabilities are linked to technology developed in collaboration with SpaceX. According to reports, the vehicle uses a system of 10 thrusters connected to a compressed-air supply to generate thrust, allowing it to lift off the ground and perform controlled manoeuvres.

During the demonstration, the car also appeared to leap over Tesla vehicles, including the Cybertruck, showcasing the potential of the technology. However, the demonstration does not establish that the Roadster can fly like a conventional aircraft or function as an everyday flying vehicle.

Tesla has also highlighted the car's performance capabilities, claiming it can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in approximately one second. The combination of electric propulsion, high-speed performance and thruster-assisted manoeuvres makes the Roadster one of the company's most ambitious vehicle projects.

Tesla Roadster 2 launch and production timeline

Despite the dramatic unveiling, customers will have to wait longer before the vehicle becomes commercially available. First announced in 2017, the next-generation Roadster has faced repeated delays, with deliveries originally expected much earlier.

Tesla now plans to begin production in 2028, according to reports following the unveiling. The latest timeline means the electric sports car could reach customers more than a decade after its initial announcement.

Tesla Roadster 2 price and variants

Tesla has outlined three variants of the vehicle: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. The Performance version is positioned as a road-ready model, while the Thrust variant is aimed at track-oriented performance. The top-end Rocket version is described as an air-ready model and is available by invitation only.

According to reports,reservations for the Performancevariant require a deposit of $50,000, while the Thrust version carries a $250,000 reservation amount. The Rocket variant is not open for standard reservations.

Are flying cars becoming a reality?

The Roadster demonstration has renewed interest in the possibility of vehicles that can briefly leave the ground using advanced propulsion systems. However, there is an important distinction between a car performing a short, controlled aerial manoeuvre and a vehicle capable of sustained flight in everyday conditions.

Questions surrounding safety, regulatory approval, practical usability and the final production design remain. Tesla's demonstration offers a glimpse of what future automotive engineering might achieve, but it is too early to determine whether such technology will become a practical part of everyday transportation.

For now, the Roadster 2 represents an ambitious step in Tesla's pursuit of high-performance electric vehicles, even as its production timeline and the real-world applications of its flying capabilities remain uncertain.