'Cute demo, but totally impractical': Experts are skeptical that Tesla's 'Rocket' Roadster could actually work in the real world

Tesla has unveiled a new "flying" version of its Roadster electric vehicle (EV) that uses SpaceX tech to pull off seemingly impressive airborne acrobatics.

During a filmed demonstration at the SpaceX rocket testing facility in Texas Thursday (Oct.

15), the second-generation Tesla Roadster was shown accelerating up a curved ramp before launching itself into the air, performing a 180-degree barrel roll and touching back down to Earth.

In another stunt, the vehicle leapt over a row of parked Teslas.

For safety reasons, the vehicle was operated remotely in both instances.

"Turns out, the future does have flying cars," Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on X following the demonstration.

The Roadster's airborne capabilities are made possible by a system of cold-gas thrusters developed using technology from Musk's aerospace company, SpaceX .

These thrusters release bursts of high-pressure gas to generate thrust, allowing the vehicle to accelerate rapidly and, according to Tesla, become airborne for short periods.

The new Roadster will come in three variants: Performance, Thrust and Rocket.

Only the Rocket is capable of flight.

The Performance model is a two-seater equipped with a suction system that's designed to improve traction and handling (or drive up inverted ramps, as in Tesla's demo), while the Thrust model adds rear-mounted thrusters that Tesla claims can propel the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in under a second. (Image credit: Tesla) The highest-end model, Rocket, features SpaceX cold-gas thrusters positioned around the vehicle to enable short bursts of flight and in-air control.

This single-seat model will be available by invitation only, according to Tesla.

On the company's website, Tesla representatives explicitly stated that the Rocket isn't approved for use on public roads and that availability depends on regional regulations.

During the reveal, Musk told the audience that the Rocket "is not necessarily a safety-optimized car." Tesla hasn't disclosed how far or for how long its EV can remain airborne, nor is it the first company to develop a hybrid road-air vehicle.