After nine years of silence, the Tesla Roadster was officially unveiled this morning, featuring a demonstration that showed it could adhere to the road surface and hover before landing back on the ground. On a scale of 1 to 10, the demonstration performed by the Tesla Roadster this morning arguably deserves a 20—it was truly extreme and completely unexpected.
According to Elon Musk, the Tesla Roadster is set to go on sale starting in 2028. Its design features an angular front end reminiscent of the Lamborghini Gallardo, complete with retractable headlights. At the rear, it sports a red light bar and partially exposed tires, bearing a striking resemblance to the "Quadra Turbo-R V-Tech" vehicle driven by the character V in *Cyberpunk 2077*.
The car utilizes two gull-wing-style doors, similar to those seen on the Cybercab. The cabin accommodates two occupants in bucket seats and features a yoke-style steering wheel. A center screen is mounted at an angle, facing the driver. At the rear, an active spoiler adjusts its position based on the vehicle's speed.
The Roadster can adhere to the road surface—even to the point of driving upside down—thanks to a suction fan system, a feature previously seen on the McMurtry Spéirling. This system generates up to 2G of downforce, allowing the car to corner at speeds that would typically cause other vehicles to lose control.
During this morning’s demonstration, a compressed-gas thruster system was also showcased, capable of providing rapid acceleration and rotating the Roadster while it is airborne. After a brief "flight," the vehicle uses this same gas-thruster system to hover and land safely. The expertise of SpaceX was leveraged to integrate this system into the Roadster.
According to Tesla, the Roadster can accelerate from 0–100 km/h in just 0.81 seconds, with a top speed exceeding 370 km/h. Details regarding motor power, the number of motors, battery capacity, the charging system, and the vehicle's range remain undisclosed.
Three models will be offered to the market. The 'Performance' variant features a suction fan system, while the 'Thrust' variant utilizes a propulsion system that delivers ultra-fast acceleration. Finally, there is the 'Rocket' model, equipped with 10 compressed-gas thrusters; however, this version is available exclusively by special invitation—likely a measure to mitigate liability in the event of an accident.
Tesla has yet to announce the retail price, but pre-orders are now open in Malaysia, requiring a down payment of RM 203,000.
