Five Big Questions About the New Flying Tesla Roadster -- WSJ

By Owen Tucker Smith and Christopher Otts

The debut of the new Roadster was classic Tesla: a grand spectacle that seemed to turn science fiction into reality, and light on a few key details.

Thursday's demonstration at a SpaceX test site in Texas made good on a longtime promise from Chief Executive Elon Musk that the next Roadster would be capable of flight. Whether the actual production Roadster will be capable of hovering and vertical acceleration -- or where it could even legally do so -- is unclear. The price tag also wasn't announced.

The Roadster might not make drivers' Back to the Future fantasies of soaring over traffic come true. But auto experts and analysts say it could still drive value for Tesla, even if the company isn't likely to lean in to more flying cars long term.

1. It can fly -- but where?

The top Roadster model called the "Rocket" is described on Tesla's website as being equipped with "a full flight system" and is invite-only. The company says that it is a one-seat vehicle not currently approved for public-road use. It isn't clear who will be invited to own one. (Tesla didn't respond to a request for comment.)

A less advanced "Performance" version, with seating for two and without the thrusters, is described as "road-ready," while a "Thrust" version is described as "race-ready."

If the final production car is capable of flight, it could be limited to use at a specific, controlled site, like certain non-street-legal supercars from Ferrari or Pagani. Those vehicles are restricted to use on race tracks.

At least one politician is looking out for the Roadster. "We will make sure that it's legal," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X on Thursday night. "At a minimum could be used to leapfrog golf carts in the Villages."

2. Does it really have rocket thrusters?

The Roadster's Thrust and Rocket variants contain cold-gas thrusters, small rockets that release gas to propel the vehicle. This is said to be derived from SpaceX technology; a merger between SpaceX and Tesla has long been theorized. The two models are either invite-only or "limited release."

All Roadsters have a novel fan-suction system that can make the car hug the pavement at high speeds. The system pulls air from underneath, creating downforce to anchor the vehicle to the road. Another electric supercar, Britain's McMurtry Spéirling, uses a similar setup.

"This car really sucks," Musk said at Thursday's demonstration.

3. How quick is it?

Executives boast a top speed above 230 miles an hour. The Roadster's Thrust variant is said to hit zero to 60 miles an hour in less than a second. It isn't clear where this will be legal for use.

Those numbers would likely make the Roadster the quickest car in current production. Tesla said the baseline Roadster can achieve 60 mph in 1.6 seconds, a bit faster than high-performance cars on the road today, including Tesla's Model S Plaid.

4. Is it really coming soon?

Musk promised buyers on Thursday that the Roadster would begin production in 2028 -- "actually, for real." But the company had initially said it would start producing the vehicle in 2020, which never happened, and later missed other targets. Some Tesla loyalists have been waiting nearly a decade for their Roadsters after putting down deposits worth up to $250,000.

Some onlookers say they will believe 2028 when they see it.

"Given Tesla's history over the last 20 years, I have almost no expectation that it will actually go into production in 2028," said Sam Abuelsamid, a vice president of research at automotive advisory firm Telemetry.

Tesla has so far built four or five Roadster prototypes, engineering chief Lars Moravy said in a video with classic-car insurer Hagerty.

5. How does this fit into Tesla's broader business?

The Roadster isn't expected to be produced at a massive scale, so it might not wind up being a significant part of Tesla's business in terms of volume.

Analyst and Tesla bull Dan Ives said in a note that the vehicle would likely not be a major source of revenue for the company. "What it does is restore the brand halo at the top of the market," he wrote.

The vehicle may also play an important role in Tesla's lineup someday as its only car driven by humans, as the company leans further into autonomous driving, AI and robotics.

That is, if it materializes.

Phil Trubey, a California entrepreneur who attended Thursday's event, was disappointed that his Roadster isn't entering production sooner. He prepaid $250,000 for his car.

"That part was unfortunate; another two-year wait, and then, who knows?" he said.

Write to Owen Tucker-Smith at Owen.Tucker-Smith@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 16, 2026 14:09 ET (18:09 GMT)