# Future Tech

By [DYLIT Chronicles](https://dylit.info/user/dylitmediabuzz)

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Flying Cars, Sort Of: Tesla's Next-Gen Roadster Leaves the Ground Nine Years Late, and Upside Down Tesla finally showed its second-generation Roadster on October 15, 2026, at a SpaceX test site near Waco, Texas. The car was first teased in 2017, and back then deliveries were promised for 2020. The "airborne tricks" were real stunts. The Roadster drove up a ramp that curled overhead and clung to it upside down. Then it spun off and eased itself onto the pavement using air thrusters. Later in the show it hopped over a Cybercab, Cybertruck, Semi, Model Y and Model 3 while moving. Nobody was inside. Musk said the demo ran without a driver so no one would get killed. Design: Spy Planes and a Bond Car The soft 2017 shape is gone. The new car, shown in stark white, is sharp and wedge-like, closer to the Lotus Esprit from "The Spy Who Loved Me." Musk owns that car, and it was on display at the event. Tesla says the SR-71 and F-35 jets inspired the look. Every trim gets active aerodynamics plus what Tesla calls a multi-mode suction system. Fans under the car pull it against the surface, which is how it stayed on an inverted ramp. Reports from the event also mention magnesium, titanium and carbon fiber, manual controls and a fixed seat to cut weight. Treat those as Tesla's claims for now. Propulsion: Batteries Plus Bottled Air It's still a battery-electric car. Tesla didn't disclose battery size, motor count or power output, so those remain unconfirmed. The flying part runs on cold gas, with no rocket fuel involved. Lars Moravy, Tesla's engineering VP, said 10 thrusters draw on 600 liters of compressed air. Tesla says every usable void holds carbon-fiber overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs), a tank design SpaceX uses. The physics is simple. Open a valve and high-pressure air blasts out a nozzle, pushing the car the other way. Aim nozzles down and you get lift. Fire them unevenly and the car rotates. The limit is supply. When the tanks run dry, the tricks stop until they're refilled. Moravy said the tank can be recharged, but Tesla didn't share hop duration or refill time. How It Would Work Day to Day Three trims are planned: Performance ("road ready"): two seats, active aero, suction system. $50,000 to reserve. Thrust ("race ready"): two seats, rear thrusters for sub-one-second 0-60 mph. $250,000 to reserve. Rocket ("air ready"): one seat, 10 thrusters around the body. Invite only. Tesla quotes 300 miles of range and over 230 mph for all three. Charging specs and final prices weren't announced. Production is targeted for 2028. Regulation is the big wall. Tesla's site says the flying model isn't approved for public roads, and no aviation certification was mentioned. Realistically, the Rocket is a machine for tracks and private venues. Musk has also said safety isn't the Roadster's main goal. What Stood Out Driving upside down with fan suction A midair spin and controlled landing Jumping a row of Teslas mid-drive A roughly one-second 0-60 run on stage Musk floating a Snake River Canyon jump (just talk for now) Can a Flying Car Help Tesla Sell Cars? Tesla's car sales have fallen for two straight years, and its lineup is aging. Here's how the Roadster could help, and where it could hurt. Marketing. Tesla barely advertises. A car flipping over its own lineup gets free attention around the world. Demand. Deposits bring in cash early and show how much real interest exists. But halo cars sell in tiny numbers, and Musk admitted he's not sure the Roadster moves revenue much. Brand halo. The bet is that the excitement spreads to the Model Y and Model 3. That's speculative. The Cybertruck drew huge hype and still fell short of Tesla's own hopes. Pricing and margins. With no price and exotic hardware, margins are anyone's guess. Low volume limits the upside either way. Credibility. This is the real risk. After nine years of delays, a 2028 target invites doubt. YouTuber Marques Brownlee asked online whether the whole thing was a prank. If the date slips again, the stunt could deepen Tesla's reputation for promising early and shipping late. The Bottom Line Tesla proved a car can hop, flip and hang upside down. It didn't prove you'll be able to buy a flying car. For a company that badly needs good car news, that may be enough for now. Sources TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/15/tesla-reveals-spacex-powered-roadster-that-flies-and-falls-with-style/ CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/15/business/tesla-unveils-what-it-says-is-a-flying-car Related YouTube Videos "REPLAY! Elon Musk Reveals Tesla Roadster At SpaceX's Testing Facility | McGregor, Texas": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JAEkcCZlfM Tesla Roadster unveiling livestream, Tesla's official channel (exact title not verified): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt5p-_tE8d0