Musk Unveils Roadster 2 'Flying Car' at Texas Demo — SkimNews
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- Elon Musk unveiled a Tesla Roadster 2 prototype at SpaceX's rocket development and testing facility in Texas, claiming it could "basically fly like a rocket" using SpaceX thruster technology.
- Musk said the sports car can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in less than a second and demonstrated it leaping over a line of existing Tesla models using jets.
- A demonstration video showed the Roadster 2 gripping a curved ramp upside down via suction, then using thrusters to flip, fly, and land, with Musk noting the car was remotely controlled "to make sure we don't kill anyone."
- Musk conceded the prototype may not be "legal in all jurisdictions" and called it "not necessarily a safety optimised car but it takes the fun meter to 11."
- The two-seater Roadster 2 enters production in 2028, starts above $200,000 (£150,000), and requires a £50,000 deposit for the "performance" version or $250,000 for the "thrust" version.
- Tesla's reservation website listed a one-seater "rocket" variant with "full flight system" as invitation-only, with Tesla stating flying is not permitted on public roads.
Why it matters: Musk himself conceded the prototype may not be 'legal in all jurisdictions' and Tesla's own website says flying is not permitted on public roads, framing the Roadster 2 reveal as marketing spectacle over imminent product. With production not slated until 2028 and the 'thrust' version demanding a $250,000 deposit, Tesla is collecting reservation money years before any regulatory framework exists for rocket-thruster sports cars.
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