By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/teslas-new-roadster-car-can-thrust-itself-in-the-air-dont-expect-to-drive-it-anytime-soon Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Tesla's new Roadster car can thrust itself in the air. Don't expect to drive it anytime soon Nation Oct 16, 2026 10:16 AM EDT CHICAGO (AP) — Tesla has unveiled its new Roadster sports car, which can thrust itself up in the air. But drivers shouldn't expect to take it for a spin anytime soon. Elon Musk's car company this week debuted the latest bells and whistles of its second generation Roadster — chief among them, as shown off at a Thursday event, are a set of cold gas thrusters and a "multi-mode" suction system that can fling the car in the air for short spurts and spin the vehicle mid-flight. READ MORE: Elon Musk quietly becomes biggest known donor in midterm contests as he tries to save Republicans "Turns out the future does have flying cars," Musk, Tesla's CEO, wrote on his social media platform X shortly after. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Thursday's launch arrived after years of delays and anticipation around the new Roadster — and Tesla shares climbed about 2% in morning trading on Friday after its unveiling. READ MORE: Earnings at Musk's Tesla fall as spending on research cuts into profit from selling cars Still, Musk said production for consumers won't begin until 2028. Tesla also didn't immediately set a price tag on its latest electric vehicle. And of course, these kinds of cars aren't flinging themselves in the air on highways and streets just yet. There are ample regulatory hurdles for flying vehicles overall. The fine print of the Roadster's "rocket" feature on Tesla's website notes: "Not approved for public road use." A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Tesla has unveiled its new Roadster sports car, which can thrust itself up in the air. But drivers shouldn't expect to take it for a spin anytime soon. Elon Musk's car company this week debuted the latest bells and whistles of its second generation Roadster — chief among them, as shown off at a Thursday event, are a set of cold gas thrusters and a "multi-mode" suction system that can fling the car in the air for short spurts and spin the vehicle mid-flight. READ MORE: Elon Musk quietly becomes biggest known donor in midterm contests as he tries to save Republicans "Turns out the future does have flying cars," Musk, Tesla's CEO, wrote on his social media platform X shortly after. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Thursday's launch arrived after years of delays and anticipation around the new Roadster — and Tesla shares climbed about 2% in morning trading on Friday after its unveiling. READ MORE: Earnings at Musk's Tesla fall as spending on research cuts into profit from selling cars Still, Musk said production for consumers won't begin until 2028. Tesla also didn't immediately set a price tag on its latest electric vehicle. And of course, these kinds of cars aren't flinging themselves in the air on highways and streets just yet. There are ample regulatory hurdles for flying vehicles overall. The fine print of the Roadster's "rocket" feature on Tesla's website notes: "Not approved for public road use." A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now