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Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled a new Roadster sports car on Thursday, demonstrating a vehicle capable of jumping over parked cars, briefly taking to the air and accelerating from zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) in less than a second, although its ability to achieve sustained flight remains unproven.
The two-seat vehicle was introduced at a SpaceX test facility in Texas, where Musk presented it as a flying car equipped with high-pressure air jets designed to propel it both on the ground and through the air.
During the demonstration, the driverless Roadster climbed a steep ramp using suction technology beneath the vehicle, hung upside down and spun off the structure before using air jets to land.
The car later jumped over a row of parked Tesla vehicles and demonstrated its rapid acceleration using jets positioned at the rear.
Musk explained that the demonstration was conducted without a driver for safety reasons, acknowledging that the technology still carried risks.
"Success is not guaranteed," he told the audience, adding that the demonstration had been arranged to keep spectators at a safe distance.
According to Musk, the Roadster uses 10 nozzles connected to ultra-high-pressure air tanks to generate thrust, allowing it to carry out aerial maneuvers while also improving acceleration on the road.
He described the system as a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX and said the vehicle was expected to enter production in 2028, although previous Tesla projects have experienced delays beyond Musk's original timelines.
Despite the successful demonstration, the Roadster did not show that it could remain airborne for extended periods or travel meaningful distances through the air.
Roger Connor, curator for vertical flight at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, told CNN that combining the requirements of aircraft and road vehicles presents significant engineering challenges.
He explained that aircraft must minimize weight, whereas cars require protective structures such as bumpers and crumple zones, which are designed to absorb energy during collisions.
California-based startup Alef has also developed a vehicle capable of lifting off using eight propellers, although its lightweight design accommodates only one passenger.
Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny said getting a vehicle off the ground was technically feasible, but maintaining stability while transitioning from vertical lift to forward movement remained one of the biggest challenges.
Connor similarly questioned whether a road-legal sports car could perform genuine sustained flight, arguing that Tesla's demonstration showed a vehicle capable of hopping rather than flying over longer distances.
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