Tesla unveils new Roadster and yes, it can actually fly
Tesla 's Roadster may be a few years late, but at least it launched with a bang.
The new Roadster , unveiled late on Thursday in McGregor, Texas, is an electric supercar boasting numbers that seem impossible.
Far more fascinating than the numbers was a demo in which the car was driven upside down on a ramp and then, using boosters on the bottom and the sides, flips itself over mid-air and gently lowers itself to the ground.
"You're gonna see what happens when you have a collaboration between the world's best car company, and the world's best rocket company," said Tesla CEO Elon Musk during the event introduction.
The car, as it was explained, has suction fans on the bottom allowing it to stick itself to a surface with an incredible amount of force, so it can actually remain upside down for a while.
This is good for stunts, but it will also be good for speedy driving, as the extra downforce makes the car extra nimble in turns.
The Roadster also has a retractable rear wing that can dynamically adjust downforce, further helping with the car's behaviour at high speeds.
Tesla Roadster goes from 0 to 60 mph in well under one second.
Credit: Tesla As for the rocketry that propels the Roadster upwards, that's "borrowed" from SpaceX, and it consists of ten air nozzles that use compressed air from a special tank to push the car up or sideways.
The important part: No special fuel is needed; it's all just air, and the tank can be refueled when needed.
In another demo, the Roadster performs a "kickflip" as it lifts itself into the air and does a roll over Tesla's entire fleet of cars, including the Tesla Semi.
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But is it quick, you may ask? Yes, it is.
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