Tesla's Thruster-Powered Roadster Can Spin in the Air and Hit 60 in One Second

Tesla has revealed a redesigned second-generation Roadster with SpaceX thrusters. CEO Elon Musk presented the car at an event outside Waco, Texas, and said the vehicle shown will be the actual car sold for road use, according to TechCrunch.

The demonstration focused on thrust-assisted maneuvering rather than conventional track driving. Using high-powered fans and thrusters, the Roadster drove up an inverted ramp, spun in the air, and landed on pavement. In a separate sequence, it used thrusters to lift over a line of moving Tesla vehicles, clearing a Cybercab, Cybertruck, Semi, Model Y and Model 3 while they were in motion.

Tesla also ran the Roadster from 0-60 miles per hour in one second. Production is planned for 2028.

Engineering detail came from Tesla engineering VP Lars Moravy. He said the car uses 10 thrusters connected to 600 liters of compressed air to lift and spin in mid-air, supported by a rechargeable air tank. The architecture is pneumatic, meaning it releases pressurized cold gas rather than burning fuel, and the tank can be refilled for repeated use.

Tesla will offer three trims named Performance, Thrust and Rocket. Performance seats two and is described as road ready, with active aerodynamics, bodywork that adjusts to control airflow, and a multi-mode suction system that pulls the car down for grip. Thrust also seats two and is described as race ready, with rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters enabling sub-one-second 0-60 times. Rocket seats one and is described as air ready, with 10 cold-gas thrusters positioned around the car.

All three trims are listed with 300 miles of range and capability of over 230 miles per hour. Tesla is taking reservations, charging $50,000 to reserve Performance and $250,000 for Thrust. The Rocket trim is invite-only. Musk also said Tesla may try to jump Snake River Canyon with the Roadster.

From an engineering standpoint, the central problem is packaging. A 600-liter compressed-air reservoir plus valving, plumbing for 10 thrusters, thermal management for the battery system, and structures rated for landing loads must coexist in a two-seat or single-seat sports car envelope. Suction and active aerodynamics add another control layer, since the car must manage downforce on the road and controlled lift when thrust is engaged.

In my view, the trim split is the most telling part of the announcement. By separating a road-ready car from a race-ready car and an air-ready car, Tesla is acknowledging that one control strategy and one regulatory path cannot cover all three use cases. Cold-gas thrust for launch assist is one engineering task. Sustained lift, mid-air attitude control and landing are very different tasks, with different failure modes, service requirements and approval questions.

Looking ahead to 2028, what matters is what was not specified. Recharge time and cycle life for the air system, thrust authority across ambient conditions, tire and suspension behavior under combined aero and thrust loads, and the operating envelope for public-road use will determine how much of the Waco demonstration transfers to a customer car. None of those were specified in the reveal.

The broader context here is encouraging for performance EVs. Electric torque already reset expectations for launch. Controllable aero and suction are now mature tools for grip. Pneumatic thrust, if it can be made refillable, repeatable and safe to operate near other vehicles and pedestrians, would add a third control dimension. The Roadster program will test whether that dimension belongs on the road, on closed circuits, or in short controlled flight events.