The Tesla Roadster is finally here, and it can stick to the road and float in the air
After nine years of silence, the Tesla Roadster launched with a wild demo. It can stick to the road, float in the air, and hit 0 to 100 km/h in 0.81 seconds.
After nine years of silence, the Tesla Roadster was officially launched this morning. The demo was not just about acceleration. The car showed it can stick to the road surface and float in the air before landing back down.
Tesla's official video, "The Ramp | Roadster", shows the car in action. On a scale of 1 to 10, this morning's demo might deserve a 20 for being so extreme and so unexpected.
Exterior and interior design
The Tesla Roadster is now planned to go on sale from 2028, according to Elon Musk. Its design echoes the angular front of the Lamborghini Gallardo, with lights hidden when not in use. At the rear, a red light bar and slightly exposed tyres give it the look of the Quadra Turbo-R V-Tech from Cyberpunk 2077.
It uses two butterfly doors, similar to those seen on the Cybercab. The cabin seats only two people in bucket seats, with a yoke style steering wheel. A central screen is angled toward the driver, while an active rear spoiler changes position with speed.
The suction fan system
The Roadster can stick to the road surface, even upside down, thanks to a suction fan system, a technology previously seen on the McMurtry Speirling. The system provides up to 2G of downforce, letting it corner at speeds that would send other cars off the road.
In this morning's demo, a compressed gas thruster system was also shown, giving quick bursts of acceleration and spinning the Roadster while airborne. After "flying" briefly, it floated using the same thruster system to land safely. SpaceX expertise was used to make this system work on the Roadster.
Performance and three models
According to Tesla, the Roadster can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 0.81 seconds, with a top speed above 370 km/h. Motor power, the number of motors, battery capacity, the charging system and driving range are all still undisclosed.
Three models will be offered:
- Performance, with the suction fan system.
- Thrust, with a thruster system that provides ultra fast acceleration.
- Rocket, with 10 compressed gas thrusters, but it is only offered through a special invitation system.
The Rocket model is invitation only, likely to limit liability in the event of an accident.
Price and pre orders
Tesla has not announced the sale price. However, new pre orders opened in Malaysia with a deposit of RM 203,000. That figure is an initial booking payment, not the full price of the car.
Why this news matters
The idea of a "flying car" has been talked about for more than a decade, but it rarely moves beyond the concept stage. This demo shows that at least one company intends to bring that idea to the road, using technology developed for rockets.
At the same time, it raises questions about safety, regulation and responsibility. A gas thruster system and the ability to stick to the road are not just performance features. They change how a vehicle behaves on the road, and local rules will need to keep up.
For tech fans in Malaysia, the pre orders opening show our market is being considered too, even if the actual delivery date is still far off. One thing is clear: after nine quiet years, this Roadster has given people something real to talk about.