Tesla Flying Roadster Introduced: Pre-Production Specs, Air Thrusters & Launch
Elon Musk has finally introduced its revolutionary pre-production Roadster EV, which has been introduced in its pre-production reality, and has brought a new definition to the phrase “Electric Sports Car.” Tesla is known for its innovations and has made the first electric car to be capable of doing airborne maneuvers with gentle air thrusters.
Tesla Roadster EV: How the 'Flying' Tech Works
WORKING: One of the biggest highlights of Tesla’s new Roadster EV is its “Flying” capability. But how does an electric car leave the ground? Tesla is not using any jet fuel or burning propellant. Instead, the upcoming Roadster uses pressurised cold air expelled from specialised nozzles to generate thrust.
The stored pressurised air allows the car to briefly lift off the ground and maintain controlled movements in the air. In order to implement this, the new Roadster will be coming with three configurations.
- Performance Trim: It is the entry-level model, which includes a serious underbody suction fan capable of generating up to 2Gs of grip.
- Thrust Augment: It comes with the addition of rear-mounted air thrusters to the Performance base.
- Rocket Augment: This is where Roadster becomes impressive, as the top-spec model comes with an extensive setup of 10 individual thrusters, which is designed specifically for airborne maneuvers. To attach all of this hardware, the Rocket variant drops the passenger seat, thus turning into a single-seater sports car.
The result of this aerospace technology is that the new Tesla Roadster is capable of achieving 0-100 km/hr in under one second. Truly impressive.
A Complete Redesign
Tesla has redesigned the Roadster by adopting a highly aggressive, wedge-shaped silhouette, which bears resemblance to the Cybertruck, the SR-71 Blackbird, and the F-35 fighter jet. It comes with an angular “Cyber” styling.
Key Design Highlights include:
- Concealed headlights with a modern full-width LED taillight.
- An Active rear wing that helps the car to balance the downforce and aerodynamic drag.
- Flush-mounted surfaces and slim-spoke wheels for a hyper-clean look.
- The Roadster comes with an appealing new “Ano White” paint finish integrated with gold-tinted glass and sleek titanium accents.
Tesla Roadster EV Interiors
The interior of the new Roadster feels like sitting in a fighter jet, as it features track-focussed two-seat layout (If you choose the Rocket Version). The car also gets a yoke-inspired steering wheel which is integrated to an advanced steer-by-wire system. It also comes with fully electronically controlled throttle and braking inputs.
In order to regulate the weight of the big batteries and thruster tech, the minimalist, white and grey interior is heavily equipped with lightweight materials such as carbon fibre, magnesium, and titanium.
Tesla Roadster EV Expected Launch
According to Tesla, the Roadster will officially enter production in 2028. For the Indian market, Tesla has officially opened its bookings for the Performance trim and Thrust package with an initial deposit of Rs 5 Lakh. However, if you are interested in the airborne experience, the Rocket augment is only available with an invite-only program.
Tesla has also stated that the 10-thruster Rocket version is “not approved for Public road use”. For the street legality of standard Performance model and Thrust Augment, it is still uncertain in India.
Also check: Tesla Launches New Collision Repair Facility in Chennai
