Elon Musk has unveiled the latest iteration of the Tesla Roadster, showcasing the vehicle's ability to perform aerial maneuvers during a livestreamed event. Addressing the crowd, Musk emphasized the need for live verification of the car's performance, stating, "We need an audience to prove that it's not AI or SI. So, you guys can tell people that you saw it with your eyes. Because what you see with your eyes, you will not believe."
The demonstration featured the Roadster driving up a towering, curved ramp, going upside down before launching off the end, flipping in mid-air, and landing safely. Lars Moravy, Tesla's vice president of vehicle engineering, explained that the vehicle utilizes a "fan suction system" on its underside, which he noted can "pull up to 2 Gs in order to make the car go upside down." According to Moravy, the company also incorporated technology from SpaceX to facilitate the vehicle's unique capabilities. Musk confirmed that the car is equipped with "altitude control thrusters and main thrusters in the rear, so it can basically fly like a rocket." He jokingly added that it is "not necessarily a safety optimised car" while noting its ability to perform rolls and complex gymnastics.
In a second demonstration, the Roadster accelerated toward a row of other Tesla vehicles, firing into the air to perform a "kickflip" over them. The company also showcased the car's acceleration, which reaches 0 to 60 mph in under one second. Tesla is currently accepting reservation orders for three variants: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket, with the latter available by invite only. According to the company's website, the Roadster features a range exceeding 300 miles and a top speed surpassing 230 mph for the Rocket version.
"Then we borrowed some technology from SpaceX to do the rest," he said.
Another display showed the Roadster accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in under one second.
