Tesla reveals SpaceX-powered Roadster that flies and falls with style

Tesla revealed a redesigned second-generation Roadster with SpaceX thrusters, which it claims can perform complex maneuvers and accelerate 0 to 60 mph in one second. The car, shown at an event in Waco, Texas, uses 10 thrusters connected to 600 liters of compressed air to lift and spin the vehicle in midair. The thrusters are packed with Carbon Fiber Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs), which Tesla claims fill every usable void in the car. The Roadster will be available in three trims: "Performance," "Thrust," and "Rocket," with ranges of 300 miles and speeds exceeding 230 mph. Tesla is offering reservations starting at $50,000 for the "Performance" trim and $250,000 for the "Thrust" trim, with the "Rocket" trim being "invite only." The Roadster is positioned as a "halo car" for Tesla, with Musk stating that safety is not the main goal, but the car is designed to be "safe" in the sense of not killing anyone. The car's design is angular, inspired by the SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft and the F-35 fighter jet, and is expected to be delivered in 2028. The event was held almost nine years after the first Roadster was unveiled, and Musk had previously delayed the reveal multiple times due to production issues and other projects.

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