Elon Musk brought his long-promised flying Tesla Roadster to the public eye for the first time, with a declaration that ‘flying cars are real’ and a promise to make them available by 2028.
Last year, Musk promised the retooled Roadster — Tesla’s original car that hasn’t been in production since 2012 — would fly, in part because he said fellow billionaire Peter Thiel wants a flying vehicle.
Musk appeared to make his dreams come true Thursday night at a reveal event live from SpaceX’s testing facility in McGregor, Texas.
In a shocking clip, the vehicle goes all the way up an upside down ramp before doing a flip in the air and falling toward the ground, but not before the attitude-control thrusters and rear rocket thrusters activate and allow it to hover to safety, as the crowd roars.
Musk declared the new vehicle is ‘going to crush every track record that has ever existed.’
‘It can basically fly like a rocket. It could do rolls. It could do crazy gymnastics. Whatever you want, really,’ he added.
Musk did caution, however, that ‘this is not necessarily a safety-optimized car, but it takes the fun meter to 11 out of ten.’
Tesla engineers claim the Roadster uses a suction fan system under the car that generates up to 2G of downforce that lets it stick to the road, Car Sales reported.
Elon Musk brought his long-promised flying Tesla Roadster to the public eye for the first time, with a declaration that ‘flying cars are real’ and a promise to make them available by 2028
Musk appeared to make his dreams come true Thursday night at a reveal event live from SpaceX’s testing facility in McGregor, Texas
The new Roadster can accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour in approximately 0.81 seconds and hit a top speed of 230mph.
Musk is ultimately targeting 2028 for production to begin and will sell the vehicle in some form, but promised the flying car will be available.
‘I’m not sure it’s necessarily legal in all jurisdictions, but there will be such a car that someone can own.’
In an interview with Joe Rogan last year, Musk insisted the car’s next unveiling is ‘getting close,’ and said a press event with the flying car will land before the end of the year.
During the three–hour podcast, he spent a few minutes trying to sell Rogan on the Cybertruck before Rogan cut in to ask: ‘What about the Roadster?’
‘Oh, that’s coming,’ Musk replied before coyly adding a few vague details.
‘We’re going to do something really special with that. It’s going to be the most memorable product unveil ever.’
Rogan asked him for more information after they turned off the recording equipment.
In a shocking clip, the vehicle goes all the way up an upside down ramp before doing a flip in the air and falling toward the ground, but not before the attitude-control thrusters and rear rocket thrusters activate and allow it to hover to safety
Musk did caution, however, that ‘this is not necessarily a safety-optimized car, but it takes the fun meter to 11 out of ten’
This isn’t the first time Musk has floated the idea. Back in 2018, he teased a ‘SpaceX package’ for the Roadster that would use cold–air thrusters — actual rocket tech — to boost performance, improve handling, and maybe even ‘hover’ for short bursts.
In 2017, however, Musk claimed flying cars would never take off.
‘Obviously, I like flying things,’ Musk told Bloomberg.
‘But it’s difficult to imagine the flying car becoming a scalable solution.’
He also said there’s a risk of falling debris if flying cars were to get in a mid-air crash.
‘If somebody doesn’t maintain their flying car, it could drop a hubcap and guillotine you,’ Musk said.
‘Your anxiety level will not decrease as a result of things that weigh a lot buzzing around your head.’
Earlier this year, Toyota announced it was doubling down on its vision of flying taxis after announcing a major new manufacturing partnership with California-based Joby Aviation.
Their goal is to mass produce electric aircraft capable of whisking passengers over congested cities at speeds of almost 200mph.
Tesla has been promising the Roadster since 2017 – and taking deposits on the high–powered vehicle
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The Japanese auto giant is taking a controlling 51 percent stake in the new venture, called Joby Toyota Aero Manufacturing Preparation Company, while Joby will own the remaining 49 percent.
The announcement sent Joby’s shares soaring as investors cheered what could become one of the biggest milestones yet in the race to bring commercial air taxis to everyday commuters.
Rather than looking like a conventional airplane, Joby’s futuristic craft is a cross between a helicopter and a sleek private jet.
The all-electric vehicle uses six tilting propellers to take off and land vertically before transitioning into forward flight like an airplane.
It can carry a pilot and four passengers, and it’s designed to reach speeds of nearly 200mph while producing far less noise than a traditional helicopter.
Toyota said the partnership will focus on improving manufacturing quality, reducing production costs and eventually mass-producing the aircraft.
