Tesla Unveils New Roadster with Flying Technology
CHICAGO (AP) — Tesla has introduced its new Roadster, a sports car that can actually lift off the ground. However, don’t expect to see it zooming through the streets anytime soon.
This week, Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company showcased the innovative features of its second-generation Roadster at an event. One highlight is a set of cold gas thrusters paired with a “multi-mode” suction system that allows the vehicle to take short flights and spin while in the air.
“Turns out the future does have flying cars,” Musk tweeted shortly after the event.
The presentation took place at SpaceX’s rocket testing facility in Texas, and Tesla’s team mentioned using some of SpaceX’s technology to enable the new Roadster to defy gravity. Alongside the aerial capabilities, they revealed that the car can accelerate from zero to 60 miles (96.6 km) per hour in less than a second.
After years of delays and anticipation, the launch of the Roadster led to a slight uptick in Tesla shares during Friday morning trading.
That said, Musk indicated that consumer production wouldn’t start until 2028, and Tesla hasn’t yet disclosed a price for this latest EV.
Moreover, flying vehicles like this one aren’t about to become commonplace. There are numerous regulatory challenges to address. Tesla’s website includes a note indicating the Roadster’s “rocket” feature is “not approved for public road use.”
Musk has often expressed his belief that driving in the future will be automated. Tesla has been focusing on enhancing self-driving features and recently launched a limited robotaxi service.
Nevertheless, the company claims that its new Roadster will cater to those who prefer to drive, labeling it as “the best of the last human-driven cars.”
During the event, the demonstration operated autonomously for safety reasons, as Musk humorously remarked, “to make sure we don’t kill anyone.” He added that this new model would be “the only manually driven car that Tesla makes.”
Musk also mentioned, with a chuckle from the crowd, that “this is not necessarily a safety-optimized car,” but emphasized its thrilling capabilities.
The original Roadster was launched in 2008, and in 2018, Musk famously sent a version of it into space with a mannequin named “Starman” at the wheel.
Once again, the second-generation Roadster isn’t set to be available right away. Whether this ambitious vehicle will have a significant impact on Tesla’s financial performance remains uncertain.
In the second-quarter earnings, it was reported that Tesla’s profits decreased due to increased spending on research and development for its robotaxi and robotics projects, which affected their revenue even as vehicle sales surged. The net income for that period was $1.11 billion, while revenue reached $28.24 billion.
