Tesla unveils the new Roadster with SpaceX propulsion. A show for Musk: the car flies

Reporting by La Repubblica (IT)Read the original at repubblica.it

Executive Summary

Tesla has unveiled the second generation of its Roadster, which was released almost nine years after the first model in 2008 and discontinued in 2012. The new Roadster is a two-seater capable of achieving 0-100 km/h in under one second and has a top speed of 370 km/h. This launch includes features developed with SpaceX, such as air-powered rockets for short-distance lift and landing, and an aspiration system to maintain road contact even when inverted. Demonstrations showed the vehicle traversing a ramp and rotating in the air before landing using integrated thrusters. Variants include a Performance version requiring a $50,000 deposit, a Thrust version with "acceleration thrusters" requiring a $250,000 deposit, and an invitation-only Rocket single-seater model with a "full flight system." Elon Musk stated that flying cars are a reality following the demonstration. A Morningstar analyst predicts Tesla will sell approximately 2,000 Roadsters annually, a fraction of the company's sales of Model Y and Model 3.

Facts Only

* The first Roadster model was released in 2008 and discontinued in 2012.
* The new generation Roadster is a two-seater roadster.
* Performance metrics include 0-100 km/h in less than one second and a top speed of 370 km/h.
* The vehicle features air-powered rockets for short lifts and landings, developed with SpaceX.
* It includes an aspiration system allowing the car to stay on the road when upside down.
* A demonstration involved traversing a ramp, rotating in the air, and landing using thrusters.
* Booking options include a Performance version ($50,000 deposit), a Thrust version ($250,000 deposit), and an invitation-only Rocket single-seater model with a "full flight system."
* Elon Musk stated that flying cars are a reality following the demonstration.
* Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein predicts annual sales of about 2,000 Roadsters.

Full Take

The narrative presented frames technological advancement as inherently disruptive, moving from conventional automotive design into speculative aerospace functionality. The integration of SpaceX technology—air-powered propulsion and flight mechanics—suggests a paradigm shift where transportation capabilities are defined less by terrestrial engineering constraints and more by theoretical potential. This moves the discussion beyond incremental automotive improvement toward conceptualizing vehicles as adaptable systems capable of manipulating physics in novel ways, symbolized by the demonstration of inverted flight. The financial structure, involving high deposits for variants like Thrust and Rocket, positions this technology not as a mass-market product but as an exclusive, high-barrier entry into experiential performance. Furthermore, juxtaposing this ambitious project with Tesla’s concurrent focus on autonomous driving (Optimus, Robotaxis) reveals a strategic tension: is the future of transportation defined by optimizing ground mobility or achieving novel physical feats through synergistic technological leaps? The projection of modest sales volume suggests that while these showcases generate significant media attention and capital commitment, the actual realization of such fantastical engineering in a mass-produced format remains tethered to substantial uncertainties regarding regulatory acceptance and scalable manufacturing processes. What questions remain about the feasibility of translating specialized aerospace demonstrations directly into road-legal or universally applicable physical systems?

From the original · La Repubblica (IT)

If time doesn't fly, the car does. Almost nine years after the first model, released in 2008 and discontinued in 2012, Tesla has unveiled the new generation of its Roadster, a two-seater roadster capable of impressive performance such as 0-100 in less than one second and a top speed of 370 km/h.

Read the full story at repubblica.it

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