Tesla’s New Roadster May Actually Fly, With Musk Revealing a 2028 Target for the Bizarre Feature

'This will be the last manually driven Tesla car,' Elon Musk declared – just as his futuristic Tesla Roadster appeared to take flight.

Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster has finally taken its most spectacular leap yet – launching into the air after racing up a giant curved ramp – but customers who have waited nearly nine years for the electric supercar face another hurdle, with production now targeted for 2028.

The dramatic demonstration saw the next-generation Roadster climb the ramp, travel upside down, launch into the air and land safely, apparently using thrusters developed through Tesla's collaboration with SpaceX.

'We Seriously Got Flying Cars Before Gta 6?'

The demo had the crowd buzzing, cracking jokes, and wondering what happens to the daily commute when your car can officially rise above traffic. Literally.

'That was the most insane product demo I've ever seen. Well done Tesla!'

The reaction captured the spectacle of a vehicle apparently pushing the boundaries of conventional car design.

'This is what happens when the car guy is also the rocket guy.'

The comment pointed to the unusual team-up behind Musk's big idea: Tesla's know-how with electric cars, mixed with SpaceX's rocket-science smarts.

'We seriously got flying cars before GTA 6?'

The joke struck a chord with anyone familiar with seemingly endless waits for highly anticipated releases – a particularly fitting comparison for Roadster reservation holders.

'Elon Musk is the greatest living American.'

For Musk's supporters, the demonstration represented another example of his willingness to pursue ambitious engineering projects. Others, however, were already considering the practical complications.

'How exactly are the police supposed to pull over a car they can thrust itself over a building and fly around? This is the greatest achievement in car innovation since the invention of the car.'

'Better Than Any James Bond Car'

'Flying cars are real,' Musk declared during Thursday night's livestreamed reveal.

He described the vehicle as the culmination of extraordinary work by engineers from both companies.

'This is the culmination of incredible work by Tesla and SpaceX engineers working closely together to make something that you haven't seen in any movie. Better than any James Bond car. I've never seen anything like this.'

Musk also described the Roadster as the 'last manually driven Tesla car', a bold claim as the company increasingly shifts its attention towards autonomous vehicles and robotics.

But while the demonstration delivered the spectacle Musk had promised, the production timeline is a reminder that an extraordinary prototype and a finished product are two very different things.

Reuters reported on 15 October that Tesla plans to begin production in 2028, following years of delays. That is a significant departure from the original schedule, which originally planned to start deliveries in 2020.

From a 1.9-Second Promise to a Sub-Second Supercar

When Musk first unveiled the next-generation Roadster in November 2017, Tesla promised a 0–60mph time of 1.9 seconds, a top speed above 250mph and more than 600 miles of range.

But Musk later raised expectations even further. In 2024, he claimed the redesigned electric supercar would accelerate from 0 to 60mph in less than one second, describing that achievement as the 'least interesting part' of the car.

Yet the original delivery target came and went. The Roadster was repeatedly delayed as Tesla concentrated on other vehicles, robotics and autonomous driving.

Musk previously apologised to 'long-suffering' reservation holders, acknowledging that other projects had taken priority.

'Roadster is not just icing on the cake; it's the cherry on the icing on the cake,' he said. 'We are working on it, but it has to come behind the things that have a more serious impact on the world.'

Now, the latest demonstration appears to have delivered on that extraordinary acceleration claim. The Roadster reportedly reached 60mph in just 0.81 seconds, using technology associated with its SpaceX collaboration.

Customers can reserve the new Roadster in different configurations, with Tesla's post-event reservation page listing a $50,000 ( £37,675) deposit for the Performance version and $250,000 (£187,640) for the Thrust version, which includes 'acceleration thrusters'.

Tesla also lists a Rocket variant as 'invite only'. The single-seat model is described as featuring a 'full flight system', although the company has yet to establish what that system would mean for real-world flight or road use.

Musk also proposed a SpaceX package featuring cold-gas thrusters, suggesting the technology might 'allow a Tesla to fly'.

After years of delays, the car finally has its big moment. But hold your horses (or horsepower): going fast on stage isn't the same as proving every spec is true, and nobody knows yet if the version that lands in your driveway will pull the same tricks.

Tesla is now targeting production in 2028, meaning customers must still wait to discover whether the extraordinary figures translate into a finished car they can actually buy.

A Flying Car – Or Another Spectacular Promise?

The Tesla-SpaceX collaboration could mark an intriguing development in electric vehicle engineering, but the demonstration leaves important questions unanswered.

The footage alone does not prove that the Roadster is a practical flying car, nor does it establish how much thrust the system generates, how long it could remain airborne or what safeguards would be required to operate it safely.

There is also a crucial difference between performing an extraordinary stunt and producing a vehicle that can be manufactured, approved for use and delivered to paying customers.

For now, Musk has provided a spectacular glimpse of what he says is possible. Whether the Roadster can fulfil its extraordinary promises remains another matter.

For the customers who paid big deposits back in 2017, the real test isn't whether the car can lift off for a moment.

It will be whether, after years of waiting, they finally get the keys.