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WASHINGTON - Tesla on Thursday unveiled a sports car capable of flying short distances using rocket thrusters, with chief executive Elon Musk announcing that the Roadster would enter production in 2028, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
During a presentation in Waco, Texas, the Roadster used cold-gas thrusters to fly over other parked Tesla vehicles and even perform a barrel roll. Musk said the car would be available for purchase.
No purchase price was announced. However, reserving the thruster-equipped version in the United States (US) requires a US$250,000 payment, with US$5,000 due upfront and the remaining US$245,000 payable within 10 days.
Tesla’s website explicitly states only that the initial US$5,000 payment is fully refundable.
During the demonstration, the Roadster accelerated from zero to 60 miles per hour (96.6 kilometres per hour) in just 0.81 seconds. Musk said the production model would be even faster.
The "Rocket" version, which can also fly using additional thrusters, will be available only by invitation from Tesla, according to the company’s website.
Tesla also warns that flying the car on public roads is not permitted and that the Rocket version may not be available in all regions.
It remains unclear how many Roadsters equipped with cold-gas thrusters Tesla plans to build.
Reserving the "Performance" version without thrusters requires a total payment of US$50,000.
All Roadster models are expected to feature a suction system designed to improve road grip.
During the presentation, the system kept the car attached to a ramp even when it was upside down.
Musk first unveiled a Roadster prototype in 2017, initially promising that production would begin in 2020. - BERNAMA
