Tesla shares rose 4% in pre-market trade on Friday to $375 apiece after the electric vehicle maker unveiled its redesigned Roadster featuring compressed-air thrusters developed with SpaceX. SpaceX shares also climbed 1%.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk showcased the long-anticipated sports car at a SpaceX test facility in McGregor, Texas, on Thursday (local time). A livestreamed demonstration showed the driverless vehicle launching off a ramp, performing a mid-air flip and landing on its wheels. The vehicle was also shown accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour in under a second.
“Turns out the future does have flying cars,” Musk said at the event, according to ANI.
Real life, baby https://t.co/3QEqn18wig
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026
The Roadster uses advanced cold-gas thrusters operated by electric actuators to deliver precise thrust and help stabilise the vehicle during flight. The system is designed to support rapid acceleration and manoeuvres, while a multi-mode suction system generates downforce by drawing air from beneath the car.
According to Tesla, the suction system can generate enough force to hold the vehicle upside down, even when stationary. Powered fans and active aerodynamic wings are designed to improve traction and cornering performance, including at low speeds.
The redesigned vehicle also features a next-generation steer-by-wire system that adjusts feedback to different road conditions. Its Track Mode lowers the car and modifies its suspension, while high-downforce and low-drag settings can be activated depending on track requirements.
Tesla Roadster variants and features
Tesla has outlined two versions of the redesigned vehicle. The Thrust variant, planned as a limited release, is designed for two occupants and combines a multi-mode suction system with rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters. The company says the configuration enables acceleration from zero to 60 mph in under a second.
The rocket variant, meanwhile, is designed to accommodate one occupant and is described as air-ready, although it has not yet been approved for road use. Its cold-gas thrusters are positioned around the vehicle’s perimeter to enable forward and upward acceleration, as well as lateral and rotational movement.
Tesla highlighted the role of the thruster system in overcoming the limitations of conventional tyre grip.
“Every car on the road today is limited by one thing: tire grip Roadster’s thruster system generates 4–5x the force the tires can. More force on the same mass means significantly better acceleration – physics does the rest,” Tesla said on X.
The company also described the vehicle as a pilot-focused car, citing its active aerodynamics, multi-mode suction system and cold-gas thrusters.
Roadster has faced multiple delays
The latest unveiling follows years of delays since Tesla first announced the next-generation Roadster in 2017. The original Roadster, the company’s first product, was launched in 2008 and discontinued in 2012.
While the latest demonstration showcased the vehicle’s ability to perform aerial manoeuvres, the technology’s commercial deployment and the prospect of flying cars becoming a regular feature on roads remain uncertain.
The unveiling brings together Tesla’s electric vehicle engineering and SpaceX’s propulsion technology, although the company has yet to establish when the redesigned Roadster will be available to customers.
(With ANI inputs)