Tesla’s long-awaited Roadster electric car has been unveiled, and the company is presenting it as more than an electric sports car. Elon Musk unveiled the vehicle on Thursday (October 15) at SpaceX’s development facility in McGregor, Texas. The top-spec version features thrusters designed to enable aerial movement.
A demonstration video shared by Musk on X showed the white Roadster lifting off the ground, hovering and performing aerial manoeuvres, using thruster technology developed with his rocket company SpaceX. Tesla’s Rocket configuration uses cold-gas thrusters positioned around the vehicle to support upward and forward acceleration, as well as lateral and rotational movement.
At the Texas event, Musk noted that the “future promised us flying cars”. He later shared the video on X with the caption, “Turns out the future does have flying cars.”
Turns out the future does have flying cars https://t.co/6fexPp6SXI
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 16, 2026
Key features of the Tesla Roadster
Concealed headlights and streamlined body: The design uses concealed headlights, a full-width rear taillight and flush-mounted aerodynamic elements. The company says the minimalist exterior is meant to combine a clean appearance with performance-focused engineering.
Ano White paint: Tesla calls the Roadster’s white finish Ano White. According to the company, the paint draws inspiration from aerospace techniques and is designed to protect against ultraviolet exposure, corrosion and other demanding conditions.
Gold-tinted glass and titanium accents: The Gold Glazed design features tinted windows inspired by the golden appearance of spacesuit visors, alongside titanium accents. Tesla presents these details as part of the car’s space-age styling.
Minimalist cabin with yoke-style steering: The interior combines an Ultrawhite finish with grey microsuede detailing and seats designed to provide additional grip. The cabin features a yoke-style steering control designed for steer-by-wire, along with a central touchscreen and two smaller displays.
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Lightweight materials: Tesla says the Roadster uses lightweight, high-strength materials, including magnesium, titanium and carbon fibre, as well as lightweight wheels. The company says reducing mass helps the vehicle respond more quickly to driver inputs.
Suction system for downforce: As per the company, the Roadster goes “Beyond The Limits of Physics”. The car has a multi-mode fan and ground-sealing system that draws air from beneath the vehicle to generate downforce. “This provides enough suction to hold the vehicle upside down, even when stationary,” says the Tesla website. The company says the system, combined with active aerodynamic wings, is designed to improve traction and cornering performance.
SpaceX package for sub-one-second acceleration: Tesla’s Thrust configuration pairs the suction system with cold-gas thrusters at the rear. The company claims this setup can take the Roadster from zero to 100 km/h (60 miles per hour) in under one second. The car has a top speed of 230 mph.
Rocket trim for flight: Tesla describes its Rocket configuration as an air-ready version of the Roadster, with seating for one and cold-gas thrusters positioned around the vehicle. The company says the system is designed to support forward, upward and rotational movement. However, according to the company, the Rocket trim is not available in all regions and is currently not approved for public road use.
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