Tesla has presented a redesigned second-generation Roadster featuring a propulsion system inspired by SpaceX technology. At an event in Waco, Texas, the car performed a series of airborne maneuvers, including rising up a ramp, spinning and landing.
Compressed-air system at the centre
Tesla engineering vice president Lars Moravy said the vehicle uses 10 nozzles connected to a tank holding 600 litres of compressed air. The system can lift and rotate the car, and the tank can be recharged. Tesla also claimed the Roadster can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in one second.
The company says it plans to build the car in 2028. No price was announced. The demonstration offered a preview of an unusually ambitious performance vehicle, though its road-going capabilities and final specifications remain to be confirmed.
If brought to production as presented, the Roadster could expand expectations for how advanced propulsion systems are applied to high-performance cars.
