WASHINGTON: Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has unveiled a new Roadster sports car that he says can fly, demonstrating the vehicle’s ability to flip through the air and land using air jets at a SpaceX test facility in Texas.
According to CNN, the two-seat vehicle climbed a steep ramp using suction, hung upside down before spinning off and flipping in mid-air, then landed on its wheels during the demonstration on Thursday.
Musk said the car uses 10 nozzles and ultra-high-pressure air tanks to propel itself, adding that it could accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than a second.
However, the demonstration did not establish whether the vehicle could sustain flight over longer distances, leaving questions about its ability to function as a true flying car.
Musk said production was expected to begin in 2028, although the vehicle’s flight capabilities and practical use remain to be proven.
