A recent post on X (formerly known as Twitter) by Tesla CEO Elon Musk has sparked excitement with the claim that the Tesla Roadster will have flying capabilities. Though Musk provided no additional details, the statement has certainly captured the attention of industry experts.
Elon Musk's Claims and Track Record
It should be noted that Elon Musk has a history of making bold claims that sometimes do not come to fruition. Despite this, it is highly anticipated that the upcoming Tesla Roadster will be exceptionally fast. Musk has previously mentioned that the Roadster would have the ability to fly. There's been a long wait for the Roadster's release since it was first introduced seven years ago at Tesla’s Semi and Roadster event. The Roadster is considered Tesla's flagship vehicle but has remained unreleased since 2020. It was intended to succeed the 2008 Roadster, which was based on the Elise platform. The original Roadster marked Tesla’s initial foray into the electric vehicle market.
Performance Specifications
Initially, the Roadster was touted to accelerate from 0 to 62mph (100km/h) in 1.9 seconds. While this was impressive at the time, it is now less remarkable. Several vehicles from Tesla and Lucid can currently achieve better acceleration, reaching 0-62mph in under 2 seconds. Additionally, supercars in the same league as the Roadster can now hit this benchmark in 1.7 seconds.
In 2021, Elon Musk claimed that the Tesla Roadster could go from 0-62mph in 1.1 seconds, thanks to a SpaceX option package that would include up to 10 small rocket thrusters arranged around the car. This feature was first announced in 2018 and marked the first instance where Musk mentioned the Roadster’s flying capabilities.
Release and Pricing
If everything proceeds according to plan, the Roadster is expected to be released this year with production slated for 2025. The initial starting price was set at $200,000, although Tesla has not disclosed the current price.
