Tesla’s new Roadster used suction technology and SpaceX-derived thrusters to jump and flip—but production, price and road legality remain unresolved.
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Tesla has finally revealed its radically redesigned Roadster—and delivered the airborne spectacle Elon Musk has been promising for years.
Unveiled at a SpaceX testing facility near Waco, Texas, the new electric supercar drove onto a steeply curved ramp, used a suction system to cling to its underside and launched into the air. Cold-gas thrusters stabilised the vehicle as it rotated and returned to the ground.
In another demonstration, the Roadster cleared a line of Tesla vehicles that included a Semi, Cybertruck, Cybercab, Model Y and Model 3.
It was an extraordinary stunt. Whether it proved Tesla has created a genuine flying car is another matter.
The vehicle did not demonstrate sustained, controlled flight of the kind associated with an aircraft or electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle. Its thrusters instead produced brief powered leaps, rotation and landing control.
“We’re not talking about sustained flight,” Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curator Roger Connor told CNN. “We are literally talking about hopping.”
Tesla has outlined three intended Roadster configurations.
The two-seat Performance model is the comparatively conventional version, although little about it sounds ordinary. It uses active aerodynamics and what Tesla calls a multi-mode suction system to increase downforce and allow the car to adhere to steep or inverted surfaces.
The two-seat Thrust adds rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters, designed to deliver acceleration from zero to 60mph—approximately 97km/h—in less than one second.
At the top is the single-seat Rocket, equipped with 10 thrusters positioned around the vehicle. This is the version intended to perform the airborne manoeuvres demonstrated in Texas.
Tesla engineering vice-president Lars Moravy said the system uses approximately 600 litres of compressed air. Carbon-fibre-wrapped pressure vessels occupy available spaces throughout the car, supplying the thrusters used for acceleration, lift and directional control.
The technology is more closely related to a rocket reaction-control system than a conventional flying-car powertrain. Rather than producing continuous lift through wings or propellers, it releases highly pressurised gas to generate short bursts of thrust.
Tesla says all three versions will offer approximately 300 miles—or 483 kilometres—of driving range and a top speed exceeding 230mph, equivalent to about 370km/h.
These remain company claims rather than independently verified production specifications.
Reservations have reopened in selected markets. According to reporting from the launch, Tesla is seeking US$50,000 to reserve the Performance variant and US$250,000 for the Thrust. Access to the Rocket is described as invitation-only.
No final purchase price was announced, and Tesla has not confirmed Australian pricing, delivery timing or regulatory approval.
Musk said production would begin in 2028. That should be treated as an ambition rather than a settled delivery date.
The second-generation Roadster was originally unveiled in 2017 and was expected to reach customers within several years. The program was subsequently delayed in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024. Some customers have consequently held substantial reservations for close to a decade.
There are also formidable regulatory questions. A road-registered vehicle capable of deliberately leaving the ground, rotating and landing among other traffic does not fit neatly within existing vehicle standards. Its compressed-air system, pressure vessels and unconventional manoeuvres would require extensive safety assessment.
The more plausible outcome is that Tesla produces the Performance and perhaps Thrust versions for road and track use, while tightly restricting the Rocket’s airborne functions—or reserving them for controlled environments.
Tesla has produced a genuine moving prototype capable of remarkable stunts. It has not yet demonstrated that customers will be permitted to repeat them on public roads.
For now, the Roadster is real enough to jump. Whether it becomes a car people can buy, register and use as demonstrated remains the more consequential test.
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Just 20 examples of the bespoke Porsche 911 Turbo S Sadu Edition will be produced, celebrating Kuwait’s cultural heritage and the marque’s seven-decade history in the region.
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Porsche has unveiled a limited-edition 911 Turbo S created exclusively for Kuwait, marking 70 years since the first Porsche sports car was imported into the Middle East.
Called the 911 Turbo S Sadu Edition, the bespoke model is based on the latest 992.II-generation Turbo S, with production limited to just 20 vehicles.
The release commemorates the arrival of a Porsche 356 Cabriolet imported into Kuwait by Morad Behbehani in 1956, establishing Behbehani Motors Company as the brand’s first Middle Eastern dealership.
The special-edition model draws heavily on Al Sadu, the traditional wool weaving practice recognised as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020. Known for its bold geometric patterns and cultural significance across the Arabian Peninsula, the weaving style has been incorporated throughout both the exterior and interior detailing of the car.
“The Turbo S Sadu Edition combines high performance with exclusive craftsmanship,” Porsche Middle East and Africa CEO Dr Manfred Bräunl said.
“This very special project has been years in the making and the final product is a fitting tribute to the Behbehani family’s 70-year Porsche story.”
Finished in Cremewhite with black high-gloss accents, the car features bespoke Sadu-inspired decals across the lower doors and rear wing, alongside specially painted Sport Classic wheels and gold ‘Turbo S Sadu Edition’ badging.
Inside, the two-tone leather cabin combines black and Bordeaux Red finishes with GT Silver detailing and custom Sadu-pattern textiles integrated into the seats and door panels. The ‘70 Years’ anniversary motif has also been embossed into the headrests in Arabic lettering.
Additional detailing extends to the key case, owner’s manual wallet and illuminated door sill guards, while the car is equipped with Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, titanium sports tailpipes, a Burmester High-End Surround Sound System and front axle lift technology.
Behbehani Motors Company President Ali Behbehani said the model reflected both Kuwait’s traditions and Porsche’s bespoke craftsmanship capabilities.
The limited-run vehicles will be completed through Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur in Zuffenhausen, adjacent to the 911 production line.
