tesla roadster 008 38xd
tesla roadster 006 a7ju
tesla roadster 007 3atk
tesla roadster prototype 2017 i p3ai
tesla roadster 001 axd8
Carsales Staff28 May 2021
NEWS

Elon Musk claims new Tesla Roadster will 'fly'

But will the SpaceX version of the electric hypercar really even hit 60mph in 1.1 seconds as claimed?

When Elon Musk revealed the second-generation Tesla Roadster ‘v2.0’ in concept form back in November 2017, he said it would become the “quickest car in the world” when it entered production by 2020.

He claimed it would hit 60mph (96.6km/h) in a staggering 1.9 seconds, 100mph (257km/h) in just 4.2sec and the quarter-mile (402m) in only 8.8sec, on its way to a top speed of more than 250mph (402km/h).

At the same time, the four-seat EV’s three-motor all-wheel drive powertrain was said to generate a phenomenal 10,000Nm of torque and deliver a driving range of 620 miles (998km).

Three and a half years later, all those figures remain on Tesla’s website, which continues to quote a base price of $US200,000 ($A258K) and accept reservations of $US50K in North America.

tesla roadster 006 a7ju

But last year Musk confirmed the new Tesla Roadster wouldn’t arrive in 2020 as promised, and would instead be delayed until 2022 at the earliest because the company was instead focused on development of the Tesla Cybertuck revealed in late 2019.

“Roadster is kind of like dessert,” Musk told Joe Rogan in 2020. “We gotta get the meat and potatoes and greens and stuff.”

Separately, the local arrival of the upgraded MY22 Tesla Model S and X won’t take place until next year, leaving Tesla Australia with only the Model 3 to sell this year, at least until the new Model Y mid-size SUV arrives here in late 2021 – or early 2022.

Next week (June 3) Tesla will stage the US launch of the Model S Plaid, which it says will be the world’s fastest production car with a 0-60pmh sprint time of under 2.0sec.

In the meantime, Musk continues to spruik the new Tesla Roadster, a prototype version of which arrived at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles recently, accompanied by the claim that a rocket-powered ‘SpaceX’ version would hit 100mph in a gob-smacking 1.1 seconds.

Back in November 2017, the Tesla CEO said the Roadster would be available with a “special option package that takes [the Roadster] to the next level” by employing rocket technology that will enable it to “fly short hops”.

“Not saying the next gen Roadster special upgrade package *will* definitely enable it to fly short hops, but maybe … Certainly possible. Just a question of safety. Rocket tech applied to a car opens up revolutionary possibilities,” tweeted Musk on November 19, 2017.

tesla roadster prototype 2017 i p3ai

And on June 10, 2018, he typed: “SpaceX option package for new Tesla Roadster will include ~10 small rocket thrusters arranged seamlessly around car. These rocket engines dramatically improve acceleration, top speed, braking & cornering. Maybe they will even allow a Tesla to fly…”

Last week Musk insisted the new Tesla Roadster will in fact be able to fly when questioned about the optional SpaceX rocket thruster package on Twitter.

“This will actually be able to fly very briefly. I always laughed at flying cars & now [I'm] making one,” tweeted Musk on May 21.

In a tweet the previous day, he said the Tesla Roadster with SpaceX rocket thruster option package would add thrusters to improve the car’s acceleration, lowering its 0-60mph time to 1.1sec.

“It will be safe, but very intense. Probably not wise for those with a medical condition – same as a hardcore roller coaster,” tweeted Musk on May 20.

Tesla is yet to reveal exactly how its new sports car will ‘fly’, but a plaque on the Roadster prototype at the Petersen museum states the SpaceX package will make use of cold-air rocket thrusters attached to the rear of the vehicle.

tesla roadster 007 3atk

Back in 2019, Musk tweeted that the thrusters could be powered by a high-pressure air tank that would take the place of the rear seats.

Around the same time, however, he himself questioned whether such technology would be legal on public roads.

“I don't think the law fully anticipated this situation,” he tweeted in 2019.

A handful of upcoming electric hypercars, including the Chinese 1MW XING Miss R are claimed to hit 100km/h in less than two seconds, but none are yet to become available.

As for Tesla bringing rocket propulsion to the road with its new Roadster, we wait with bated breath for that too.

Related: New Tesla Roadster to hit 400km/h
Related: Tesla Roadster blasts into space

Share this article
Written byCarsales Staff
See all articles
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Download the carsales app
    AppStoreDownloadGooglePlayDownload
    App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
    © CAR Group Ltd 1999-2024
    In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.