Tesla Unveils Flying Roadster With SpaceX Rocket Thrusters
Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba
Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the new Roadster at a SpaceX facility in Texas, demonstrating its ability to briefly hover and maneuver in the air using SpaceX rocket thrusters. The car features a 200 kWh battery, over 1,500 horsepower, and will be offered in Performance, Thrust, and a specialized Rocket version. Pricing starts at $200,000, with the Israeli market expected to see prices around one million shekels.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Tesla's new Roadster was unveiled with SpaceX rocket thrusters enabling brief aerial maneuvers.
- CEO Elon Musk stated safety is not the primary objective for the high-performance vehicle.
- The Roadster boasts over 1,500 horsepower from three electric motors and a 200 kWh battery.
- Three trims will be available: Performance, Thrust, and the extreme Rocket version.
- The base model is priced at $200,000, with Israeli pricing estimated at one million shekels.
- The car utilizes a ground effect system for enhanced downforce and handling.
Tesla, under the leadership of Elon Musk, has officially revealed its next-generation Roadster, showcasing a version equipped with SpaceX rocket thrusters that allows for brief aerial maneuvers. The demonstration, held at a SpaceX facility in Waco, Texas, featured the car performing a short hover and a mid-air roll. Musk described the system as opening a new dimension of driving beyond tire grip on asphalt. He also acknowledged that the flying capabilities would likely face significant regulatory hurdles for public road use, noting that safety is not the primary objective for such a vehicle.
The new Roadster boasts impressive specifications, including a 200 kWh battery powering three electric motors to produce over 1,500 horsepower. The base model weighs approximately 1,950 kg, with the rocket-enhanced version adding about 150 kg. Tesla plans to offer the Roadster in three trims: Performance, Thrust, and the extreme Rocket version, which features a single central seat and the SpaceX-developed thruster system. The Performance model can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under 1.9 seconds and has a claimed range of up to 1,000 km.
The base Roadster is priced at $200,000, with the Thrust version costing $250,000. The price for the Rocket version has not yet been fully disclosed. In Israel, the car is expected to cost around one million shekels after taxes, with pre-orders requiring an initial deposit of 16,000 shekels. Despite its high price, it is positioned as less expensive than comparable hypercars from manufacturers like Rimac and Bugatti. The car's dynamic capabilities are further enhanced by a "ground effect" system that uses underbody tunnels to accelerate airflow, creating a suction effect that presses the car onto the road.
