Elon Musk Unveils Flying Tesla Roadster At Texas Event
On Thursday night, a SpaceX facility in McGregor, Texas, hosted Elon Musk as he revealed a flying Tesla Roadster. The event showcased a vehicle that hits 60 mph in 0.81 seconds and can drive upside down.
Musk told the crowd the car "can basically fly like a rocket" while performing aerial stunts. The New York Post reported the demonstration included the car flipping in the air before landing safely. Musk insisted on a live audience to prove the show was not fake. "We need an audience to prove that it's not AI or SI," Musk said, referring to super intelligence. The Daily Wire noted this was a key part of the presentation.
@ClayTravis It can also “fly” on the road; 0-60 in under a second 😳 https://t.co/SiQmgjoAZZ
— My moms caregiver ™ (@mymomcare) October 16, 2026
The car used a fan suction system to stick to a curved ramp while driving upside down. Lars Moravy, Tesla's Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, explained the tech to the guests. He said the system can pull up to 2Gs of force. SpaceX contributed ten thrusters to help the vehicle hover and spin in mid-air. The car lifted itself over other Tesla models like the Cybertruck and Model Y during the demo. Rotating occurred after the craft climbed to an altitude near 21 feet.
Production for the new Roadster is expected to begin in 2028. Musk laughed when promising the timeline, acknowledging the project has faced delays for nine years. The RedState report noted the car will be the only manual vehicle Tesla makes.
BREAKING: Tesla’s new Roadster just flew, pulling a barrel roll over a Tesla Semi.
@elonmusk: "I've seen a lot of things, but I've never seen that before."
"We call that the kickflip." https://t.co/pnJyuQREk3
— KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) October 16, 2026
Tesla has opened reservations with a $50,000 deposit for the "Performance" version. A "Thrust" model requires a $250,000 deposit and features cold-gas thrusters. A "Rocket" version is listed as invite only on the website. Musk called the vehicle "better than any James Bond car" during his remarks. "The best of the last of the human-driven cars" was how he characterized it as well. The RedState article quoted him calling it a demonstration of human driving.
Roadster event livestream https://t.co/G0jU4mWfid
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 15, 2026
With a battery range minimum of 300 miles, this vehicle boasts a top speed of 230 mph. Musk suggested the car could eventually reach half the speed of sound. Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla's Chief Designer, seemed skeptical of that claim. Some guests on social media asked if the cars were turned into cats during the flight. RedState Deputy Manager Susie Moore posted on X that the car looked like it was flying. The car is designed to be driven by a human, not by AI software. Musk stated the car could do "rolls" and "crazy gymnastics" while it was being showcased. He admitted he thought he was "crazy" when first suggesting the concept to his team. The New York Post reported he said the car was "crazy" to build.
The demonstration ended with the car landing using its built-in thrusters. Musk quipped, "Well, it worked," as the crowd reacted to the successful flight. The event proved the collaboration between the world's best car and rocket companies.
