Tesla's Sports Car That Hops Into the Air

By Evan · Monday, October 19, 2026 · 2-minute read

Overhead view of a white Tesla Roadster hovering on four thruster plumes beside a lit ramp at night.
Courtesy of Tesla, Inc. · Source

The short version

At a SpaceX test site in Texas, Tesla showed a Roadster that drove up a ramp upside down, then fired thrusters, flipped, and flew. Elon Musk said it was flown by remote control. The flying version is invite-only, and Tesla says flying it isn't allowed on public roads.

A car with a jet pack

Remember the flying cars in old cartoons? Tesla just showed something close.

Picture a sports car wearing a jet pack. That’s the new Tesla Roadster 2.

The show

On Thursday night, October 15, Tesla held a show at SpaceX’s rocket testing site in McGregor, Texas. (SpaceX is Elon Musk’s rocket company.)

Plenty of news outlets covered the flying Roadster.

Here’s what the crowd saw:

  • The car drove up a curved ramp until it was upside down, holding on with suction.
  • Then it fired thrusters, flipped, flew and landed.
  • At one point, it leaped over Tesla’s line of cars, floating several feet over its big electric truck.

Musk said the car was controlled by remote “to make sure we don’t kill anyone.”

Tesla executives also said it can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about one second.

How does it fly?

Tesla says the car has four thrusters that run on compressed gas stored inside the car.

In Musk’s words

“Turns out the future does have flying cars,” Musk posted on X. That’s a change of heart. Back in 2014, he was doubtful about flying cars.

He was also honest about the risks. “I’m not sure it’s necessarily legal in all jurisdictions,” he said. He called it “not necessarily a safety optimised car but it takes the fun meter to 11.”

Can you buy one?

There will be three versions:

  • Performance: for the road. It does not have the thrusters.
  • Thrust: made for racing.
  • Rocket: a one-seat, air-ready version. It’s invite-only.

Just reserving one is pricey. The Performance version takes a $5,000 fee plus $45,000 more within 10 days. The Thrust version takes $5,000 plus $245,000 more within 10 days.

Tesla didn’t say what the car will finally cost.

And Tesla says flying it is not allowed on public roads.

Don’t hold your breath

Tesla first announced the Roadster 2 in 2017. It promised the car would ship in 2020.

Now Tesla says production will start in 2028.

Wired notes that Musk has a long history of missing his own deadlines.

Sources

  • The Guardian, “Elon Musk reveals ‘world’s first flying car’ at Tesla event” (Oct. 16, 2026): theguardian.com
  • Wired, “The Tesla Roadster 2 Is Here—and It Flies” (Oct. 15, 2026): wired.com
  • CBS News, “Tech stocks tumble as AI debt fears rattle Wall Street” (Oct. 16, 2026): cbsnews.com

This story was in the issue of Monday, October 19, 2026.