Author | Benyi

Editor | Dexin

In September 2018, Musk discussed the next-generation Roadster, already under development at the time, on Joe Rogan's podcast. He mentioned that the car would be equipped with rocket thrusters, using an electric pump to compress air to 10,000 psi (approximately 69 MPa) instead of burning fuel, stating, "You could make it fly."

Image source: HiEV, created from a screenshot of Joe Rogan's podcast

Rogan then asked if flying cars would truly become a reality.

Musk felt that flying cars would be too noisy and generate excessive airflow, making landings in residential backyards unbearable for neighbors. "If you want a flying car, just put wheels on a helicopter," he said.

Image source: Tesla X official channel

Eight years later, on October 15, at SpaceX's rocket testing facility in McGregor, Texas, the new Roadster drove up a curved ramp, hung upside down, then detached from the ramp, flipped in the air, and landed on all four wheels.

Tesla has truly achieved making a car fly.

Video source: Tesla X official channel

This video has been widely shared in the past few days. The entire unveiling event lasted less than 30 minutes, with no mention of price, release date, or core specifications. The day after the event, MotorTrend, Hagerty, and Top Gear one after another released exclusive interviews filmed on-site before the event.

After reviewing these interviews, official website materials, and the event's explanations, DaSuanLi found that many key components of the new Roadster come from other product lines at Tesla and even SpaceX.

The drive motor for the tail fin comes from the ankle of the Optimus humanoid robot, the drive motors for the four ground-effect fans at the bottom of the car are modified from those driving the compressor in the heat pump air conditioner, the electric drive system evolves from the tri-motor system of the Model S Plaid, and a specially customized 4680 battery cell.

Lars Moravy, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering at Tesla | Image source: Screenshot from Hagerty video

Lars Moravy, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering at Tesla, said in an interview with Hagerty, "Tesla has been building electric vehicles for over 20 years, and we've put everything we've learned into this car."

I. Performance Version and Two Tiers of "Enhancement Packages"

Image source: Screenshot from Tesla's official website

Tesla's official website clearly layers the new Roadster. The model itself is called the Performance version and is already open for reservations. It is a two-seater supercar, standard configuration (standardly equipped) with active aerodynamics and a multi-mode ground-effect system.

On this basis, the official website separately lists the "Augments" enhancement packages, divided into two tiers: Thrust and Rocket.

Image source: HiEV, compiled and produced based on publicly available information

The last sentence in the official website's description of the Rocket version is, "So, yes, it can fly," followed by a small print, "Not approved for use on public roads," and a footnote stating, "Only available with the Rocket version and not sold in all regions."

Image source: HiEV, translated and produced based on information from Tesla's official website

However, the electric drive systems are identical across all three versions.

All three tiers feature two motors driving the rear wheels, with power exceeding 1 megawatt, approximately 1,341 horsepower, and torque of 1,400 Nm. The differences in acceleration performance among the three tiers, as shown in the table, mainly come from the thrusters: all three tiers are equipped with ground-effect fans, with the Thrust and Rocket versions adding 4 and 10 thrusters, respectively.

Additionally, according to Top Gear, there is also a lower-tier Standard version, with power around 800 kW and no ground-effect fans, though it is not currently listed on the official website.

Image source: Tesla Roadster official reservation page

Compared to the concept car unveiled in 2017, the production version of the Roadster has undergone significant changes.

At the time, Tesla promised a 0-60 mph acceleration in 1.9 seconds, a range of 620 miles (approximately 1,000 kilometers), a 2+2 four-seat configuration, a starting price of $200,000, and a delivery date in 2020. However, the range of the quasi-production version displayed now has dropped to just over 300 miles (approximately 480 kilometers), the seats have been reduced from four to two (with the Rocket version having only one), and the production date has been pushed back to 2028.

II. Dual Motors, Yet More Powerful Than Plaid's Tri-Motor Setup

The new Roadster features only rear-wheel drive. Most high-performance vehicles developed by Tesla since around 2014 have been all-wheel drive, but this time, they returned to rear-wheel drive. Lars Moravy provided two reasons for this.

The first is the driving experience. A rear-wheel-drive car delivers all its power through the rear wheels, creating a sensation of being pushed forward from behind. Lars said in the Hagerty interview that this feeling "has a very instinctual, emotional quality."

The second reason is more critical. All-wheel drive is used to transmit more power to the ground. The new Roadster achieves this differently, using ground-effect fans and aerodynamic downforce to press the car to the ground. With sufficient grip, delivering all power to the rear wheels can still achieve extreme acceleration.

Image source: MotorTrend

The two motors on the rear axle each have a power output of approximately 500 kW. MotorTrend mentioned that this electric drive system evolves from the Plaid's tri-motor setup, with one fewer motor, making it smaller, lighter, and more powerful. According to Lars, the combined torque and power of the two motors are higher than those of the Plaid's three motors. The rotors retain the Plaid's carbon fiber sleeves, with cobalt added to the material, increasing power density to nearly three times the original, according to his description.

The transmission structure has also been simplified. Each motor directly drives one wheel through a set of planetary gears with a reduction ratio of 8.4, without a differential. The left and right wheels are independently controlled, with each inverter responsible for one motor, providing redundancy.

III. A 4680 Battery Redesigned for the Track

Image source: MotorTrend

The battery pack of the new Roadster is still laid out along the bottom of the car, featuring custom-designed 4680 battery cells. The internal material formula of the cells has also been specially adjusted for this vehicle. Lars explained that the customization aims to enable the battery to deliver greater power. The cells are produced on a pilot line in California. Compared to the standard 4680 cells, three specific modifications have been made.

First, the cell casing has been changed from steel to aluminum, making it lighter and improving heat conduction.

Second, the cooling method has been modified. The conventional approach involves placing a cooling tube between two rows of cells, with the coolant flowing in a U-shaped path. The new Roadster uses a cooling tube on each side of every row of cells, with the coolant flowing in from one side and out from the other, passing through only once.

Lars stated that the goal is to maintain stable power output from the battery throughout its lifecycle, aiming to support 25 to 30 minutes of unlimited-power track driving.

Third, the battery pack's upper cover has been changed from steel to titanium, achieving the same thermal protection but with a thinner and lighter design.

However, the battery's capacity specifications have not yet been finalized.

Image source: MotorTrend

Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla's Chief Designer, mentioned 115 kWh in an interview, while Lars revealed in another interview that it is "around 100 kWh, with the cell formula still being finalized."

Regarding fast charging, Lars said that this battery can support charging power exceeding 500 kW, with a goal of charging from 10% to 80% in around 10 minutes, "definitely within 15 minutes."

Right: Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla's Chief Designer | Image source: Screenshot from MotorTrend video

Like the battery capacity, these are still target values, with final data to be officially announced by Tesla before production begins.

The reduction in range from the initial 620 miles to just over 300 miles represents one of the most significant trade-offs made in bringing the Roadster from concept to production. Musk questioned the significance of "ultra-long range" in the Joe Rogan podcast in February 2021.

His exact words were: "If you ask people, they'll say they want a 600-mile range. But that means you're carrying around a battery that's unused most of the time, which slows down the car and affects handling." Lars explained it more directly: "A driver's car shouldn't weigh 2,000 kg, not even 1,800 kg."

The target curb weight of the new Roadster is under 1,700 kg, but the final data has not been announced. For reference, Musk mentioned in the 2018 Rogan podcast that the original Roadster weighed around 2,700 pounds, approximately 1.2 tons.

Image source: Top Gear

IV. Ground-Effect Fans: Motors Derived from Heat Pump Air Conditioning

The grip provided by tires has an upper limit. Lars stated at the unveiling that the figure is 1.26G, and he put it more bluntly in the Hagerty interview, saying that the friction coefficient of rubber "hardly exceeds 1."

Image source: Top Gear

To enhance grip, traditional methods rely on aerodynamic components like rear wings and diffusers, which use the high-speed airflow around the car to generate downforce, pressing the car to the ground. This downforce increases with speed but is nearly ineffective at low speeds. The new Roadster uses four fans to compensate for the lack of downforce at low speeds. Tesla internally refers to this system as the "sucker system."

The four fans are mounted at the position of the rear diffuser. The motors driving the fans are derived from Tesla's heat pump air conditioning system. The heat pump, introduced by Tesla starting with the Model Y, manages cabin heating and cooling, as well as heat distribution between the cabin, battery, and electric drive system. Its core component is a high-voltage compressor driven by a motor.

According to Lars, the Roadster's fans are modifications of this compressor motor (along with its matching (matching) inverter). The original motor used in the heat pump has a power output of 12 kW. Tesla has increased its speed to over 15,000 rpm, aiming for each fan to reach 20 kW, totaling approximately 80 kW for all four. Lars indicated that this aspect is still under tuning.

Image source: HiEV, DaSuanLi

Four independently adjustable skirts made of rubber with nylon bristles surround the bottom of the car. These skirts, considered consumable parts, create a sealed area roughly the size of the battery pack when lowered. The fans draw air out from this area, and the atmospheric pressure above the car presses it to the ground.

This system operates in two modes. At low speeds, the skirts are lowered, pressing the car to the ground and allowing it to maintain over 2G of lateral acceleration through corners. At high speeds, the front and rear skirts lift, turning the bottom of the car into a high-flow channel that works in conjunction with the winglets above the car.

Image source: HiEV, DaSuanLi

Tesla's official website features a diagram with vehicle speed on the horizontal axis and downforce on the vertical axis, with a "tire load limit" line drawn across it. The curve for the fans shows downforce even at zero speed, which is adjustable to fully utilize the tire's potential at low speeds. The downforce from the active winglets increases with speed, surpassing the tire load limit only at high speeds. The official description states that the suction force of this system is sufficient to allow the car to "hang upside down while stationary."

Image source: HiEV, DaSuanLi

However, a clarification is needed here. A footnote at the end of this entire description on the official website states, "Relevant features and parameters (reflecting only the Thrust enhancement package)." But Franz explicitly stated in the MotorTrend interview that the ground-effect fans are included starting with the Performance version, and the Performance introduction on the official website also mentions a "multi-mode ground-effect system." The reason for this labeling on Tesla's official website remains unclear.

Vehicles that use fans to draw air from beneath the car and press it to the ground are known as "fan cars" in the racing world, with the earliest example being the Brabham BT46B in F1 in 1978.

Image source: HiEV, DaSuanLi

The most famous recent fan car is the British McMurtry's single-seat electric vehicle, Spéirling, which also uses fans and skirts for ground effect and has performed inverted driving. MotorTrend's Ed Loh pointed out in an interview that he noticed a difference: McMurtry's fans draw air vertically upward, while the new Roadster's fans are tilted backward and upward, coordinate (working in conjunction) with the adjustable skirts to switch to another operating mode at high speeds.

V. Active Aerodynamics: Optimus's Ankle Supports the Rear Wing

The large rear wing of the new Roadster is usually retracted and extends backward and upward when needed.

Lars introduced in the MotorTrend interview that the structure is "just a four-bar linkage plus a pivot," driven by two motors. The lower motor extends the wing, while the upper motor adjusts its angle.

Image source: TopGear

These two motors come from the ankles of Tesla's Optimus robot.

Lars's exact words in the Hagerty interview were: "For such high downforce, you need very strong actuators, and no one in the world is better at making actuators than us." The team added a brake to the original motor, so the wing does not require continuous power when locked at a certain angle. The wing has three states: high downforce, low drag, and air brake. According to Lars, it can be continuously adjusted within its range.

Image source: TopGear

The front of the car is also dynamic. The intake hides rotatable winglets that can turn up to 80 degrees at the leading edge; the vents on the hood can open to expel hot air from the front; the deflectors behind the front wheels extend outward to relieve pressure in the wheel arches. This car has no front trunk, as the entire front is dedicated to aerodynamic components.

Lars said that at speeds exceeding 200 mph (approximately 320 km/h), these winglets can generate up to 2G of downforce.

VI. Cold Gas Thrusters: The Truly SpaceX-Derived Part

The systems introduced above are all developed by Tesla.

According to Lars's interview with Hagerty, the battery, electric drive, chassis, body structure, doors, seats, and even the ground-effect system are all developed by Tesla. Only the propulsion and flight packages are jointly developed with SpaceX, with the valve design being "very SpaceX."

The area behind the seats in the Thrust version, originally intended for luggage, now houses a black spherical carbon fiber-wrapped pressure vessel, "about the size of a large gym ball."

With a volume of approximately 200 liters and a maximum pressure of 10,000 psi (pounds per square inch, a British unit of pressure), equivalent to about 69 megapascals, comparable to the pressure in hydrogen fuel cell vehicle storage tanks, it contains high-pressure gas primarily composed of nitrogen.

Image source: TopGear

Why not use fuel? Lars's response was, 'Putting fuel in the car just doesn't feel right.'

Image source: TopGear

At each end of the gas tank, there is a flange (a circular rim at the interface of a container or pipe, sealed by bolting both sides tightly together), secured with 12 large bolts. All nuts are safety-wired to prevent them from becoming projectiles if they come loose. The valves at the flanges are controlled by Optimus's ankle actuators. The gas passes through two long titanium alloy pipes and is then split into four paths by an Inconel nickel-based superalloy manifold, ejecting supersonically from four nozzles at the rear of the car that resemble exhaust tips. Lars explained that the left and right pipes must be strictly equal in length, as 'a 10% difference would make the car spin,' so the left and right valves are controlled independently to correct the vehicle's yaw in real time.

Image source: TopGear

According to the figures released at the presentation, the thruster can generate over 80 kilonewtons of thrust, which Lars said is roughly equivalent to the thrust of an F-16 fighter jet engine without afterburner.

A rough estimate suggests that the two electric motors, assisted by ground-effect fans, can provide approximately 32.3 kilonewtons of thrust. With the thruster adding about 19.8 kilonewtons, a 3,750-pound (approximately 1,700-kilogram) car can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in 0.8 seconds.

The rocket version adds another 400-liter gas tank in the front passenger seat area, bringing the total volume to 600 liters and holding about 250 kilograms of gas. Among the six additional nozzles, four are directed downward behind the wheels to provide lift, while two at the front of the car eject gas left and right to control the vehicle's yaw, or the angle at which the front of the car swings left or right.

In total, the rocket version has 10 nozzles, consistent with Musk's proposal of 'about 10 small rocket thrusters' on Twitter (now X) in June 2018.

Image source: Tesla X Official Channel

Of course, the limitations of this system are also clear.

Top Gear reported that the 200-liter gas tank in the Thrust version would be depleted in about 6 seconds, 'requiring a refill at a station, making it a one-time-use setup.' The host of Hagerty's show said in the film that fully charging the 600-liter tank currently takes 6 to 7 hours, with Tesla aiming to reduce this to about half an hour.

Franz also pointed out in an interview with MotorTrend that this system 'cannot be refilled anywhere,' and is intended for a few seconds of propulsion on the racetrack.

This differs from the claims made at the presentation. According to MotorTrend, Musk stated at the presentation that the car could refill its own gas tank without the need for special propellants.

As for the scope of SpaceX's responsibilities in the development of the Roadster, external reports are not entirely consistent.

An article in The Verge mentioned that the ground-effect fan system is provided by SpaceX, which contradicts Lars's statement; meanwhile, Car and Driver wrote that the thrusters are provided by SpaceX, a claim confirmed by Lars.

Of course, the collaboration between the two companies is not limited to the development of the next-generation ROADSTER. Franz said that many engineers who participated in the development of SpaceX's Starship propulsion system are on the team. Lars also stated that SpaceX uses some of Tesla's drive units on the Starship, and the same person is responsible for materials on both sides.

MotorTrend also reported that SpaceX acquired high-pressure composite material gas cylinder manufacturer Hexagon Masterworks earlier this year.

According to a February report, SpaceX purchased this business from Norwegian company Hexagon Purus for up to $15 million. Hexagon Masterworks primarily produces high-pressure composite material gas cylinders for aerospace and rocket launches, such as the carbon fiber-wrapped gas tank behind the Roadster's seats.

7. Exterior and Cabin: Minimalist Shell, Ultimate Performance

Franz von Holzhausen summarized the design of the new Roadster in an interview with MotorTrend as follows: 'This car has so much performance, but we've hidden it away.' The body deforms when needed to reveal these components.

This philosophy permeates the design of the entire vehicle.

Image source: TopGear

The headlights are normally hidden and flip downward when needed. Lars said they could also flip upward, 'but flipping downward looks cooler.' The entire headlight assembly is only about 15 millimeters thick. The rear wing normally lies flush against the body, and Franz said you wouldn't feel like a fool driving it to the corner store.

The charging port is hidden under the rear wing, which must be raised for charging. According to him, 'every seam on the car has been considered and serves a function.' The windshield wipers can be quickly removed and are not installed when it's not raining.

Image source: TopGear

The design inspiration comes from three sources: the SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft, the hover-capable F-35, and 'a Lotus from a famous movie.'

The last one was spotted by the media before the presentation: the white Lotus Esprit from the 007 film 'The Spy Who Loved Me' that can transform into a submarine, owned by Musk himself. Note that it's not just the same model, but the very same car.

Image source: HiEV Garlic Granules

According to CNBC, Musk purchased this movie prop car for about $989,000 at an auction in London in 2013. At the time, he said he would replace its propulsion system with Tesla's electric powertrain to 'make it truly transform.'

Image source: Hagerty On Location

Lars said Musk loves this car, and many elements from it have been incorporated into the Roadster. His favorite part is the four propellers at the rear, 'which look just like our four downforce-generating fans.'

The materials and colors used in the new Roadster are also related to aerospace.

The prototype's body is made entirely of carbon fiber, while the materials for the production versions are still being finalized. The materials mentioned on the official website include magnesium, titanium, and carbon fiber. The white paint, called Ano White, is inspired by the ultraviolet, low-temperature, and corrosion-resistant coatings used on rocket surfaces, according to the official website. The golden windows, called Gold Glazed, mimic the coatings on astronaut suit visors. The doors are butterfly doors that open upward.

Image source: HiEV Garlic Granules

The core of the cabin is weight reduction. Franz said the team removed all motors from the seats, making them part of the interior structure. The seat cushion and hip point are fixed, the backrest is manually adjusted with a gas spring, the pedal assembly can slide back and forth by pulling a lever, and the steering column is adjusted with a roller on the steering wheel.

Image source: TopGear

The steering wheel is a yoke with steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, and throttle-by-wire systems. Franz said the yoke was chosen because steer-by-wire allows for a variable steering ratio, 'making it somewhere between a fighter jet and a race car.'

The yoke has turn signal controls, a button to manually raise the rear wing, and a 'push to pass' instant boost button. In the center is a large screen, with a thin display strip at the bottom of the windshield.

Image source: TopGear

Top Gear's evaluation of this design is that the cabin is 'more normal than expected' and feels 'more like a GT car than a stripped-down race car.'

Image source: Motor Trend

The two roof panels can be removed and stored in the rear compartment, making it a semi-convertible when the windows are lowered. The original Roadster also had a removable roof.

Another detail: Franz said the new Roadster would only offer a 'limited version' of FSD because the team wants to make it a pure driver's car.

8. Why Insist on an Electric 'Lamborghini'?

Musk said at the presentation, 'In the long run, this will be Tesla's only manually driven car.'

Tesla officially positions this car as 'the last and best driver's car.'

Image source: Screenshot of Tesla's official X account

As early as February 2021, Musk mentioned on Rogan's podcast that he personally led the product design of the original Roadster.

Image source: HiEV Garlic Granules

That car was based on the Lotus Elise, but the batteries increased the weight by 30%, the crash structure had to be completely redone, and only about 7% of the parts were shared with the Elise. He said, 'It would have been better to start from scratch.'

Left: Roadster prototype; Right: New Roadster | Image source: Wikipedia/TopGear

According to Franz, the new Roadster is a completely new design and does not carry over anything from previous concept cars.

Also on that episode, Musk described for the first time what he wanted this car to be. He said he wanted it to hover about a meter off the ground, 'so if it falls, it would only damage the suspension, and the person wouldn't die.' He also said the standard version would retain two small rear seats, but if the SpaceX package was selected, the rear seats would be replaced with a high-pressure carbon fiber gas tank with a pressure of 'about 10,000 psi.'

In the end, this gas tank was indeed installed in the original rear seat location, and the initially envisioned value of 10,000 psi matched the final figure.

In late October 2025, Rogan asked Musk again, 'Are you still working on the Roadster?'

Musk said yes, and the prototype was almost ready for demonstration. 'The one thing I can guarantee is that this demo will be unforgettable, for better or worse.' He borrowed a line from his friend Peter Thiel: 'The future was supposed to have flying cars, but we don't have them,' and added, 'If Peter wants a flying car, he should be able to buy one.'

Image source: HiEV Garlic Granules

So, who came up with the idea of putting rockets in a car?

Lars recounted the scene in an interview with MotorTrend: Musk gathered everyone in a room and said he wanted to build a car that would outperform all others. 'Tesla has great superpowers, but there are even more among his companies.' So Musk connected the Tesla team with SpaceX.

However, externally, there are different interpretations of the significance of the Roadster's existence.

Hagerty believes that simply replacing V8 and V12 engines with batteries and motors is no longer enough to impress supercar buyers; something 'unavailable elsewhere' is needed. The Verge's view is that in the nine years since, Rimac Nevera, Porsche Taycan, and Chinese automakers like BYD have all created high-performance electric vehicles. The Roadster is no longer the 'impossible prototype' that shocked the world. The industry has spent nine years turning Tesla's early renderings into reality, and now the Roadster is playing catch-up—except 'those cars can't fly.'

From a business perspective, Musk himself has said it won't 'make a big financial difference,' and the Roadster is just a 'small potato situation.'

Bloomberg's Craig Trudell pointed out the contradiction: Musk has been saying for years that the future belongs to autonomous driving, yet he's now introducing a new car focused on human driving.

Image source: Screenshot of Tesla's official website

9. Several Things Tesla Didn't Say Explicitly

If you carefully examine the official Roadster webpage created by Tesla, it's clear that Musk has a very special positioning for this car.

As mentioned earlier, only the Rocket version can fly. It is available by invitation only, has not yet been approved for public road use, and is not available in all regions. Thrust and Rocket are grouped under 'Enhancement Packages' on the official website as paid upgrades to the Performance version, following the same logic as Musk's 2018 mention of a 'SpaceX Option Package.'

Marques Brownlee, a well-known self-media blogger (we-media influencer), also pointed out in a reaction video after the presentation that the invitation-only sales approach could limit Rocket version buyers to a very small group, avoiding the responsibility of selling to ordinary consumers.

The HiEV editorial team even believes that what the Roadster mainly wants to sell may be its appearance—an electric supercar design in the vein of an 'electric Lamborghini,' a category Tesla currently lacks. So if Tesla wants to target supercar buyers, the prototype Roadster serves as an initial product and brand-building tool.

Image source: TopGear

However, delivery seems far from guaranteed.

YouTuber Brownlee read the Roadster reservation agreement in his account during a video. Article 4 states that the Roadster is still under development, and Tesla 'cannot guarantee when or if the vehicle will be delivered.'

Moreover, the demo performance at the presentation was not 100% prepared for mass production.

Musk emphasized at the event that to ensure no one gets hurt, the demo car was operated automatically, with a mannequin wearing a SpaceX spacesuit and an astronaut helmet inside. Some foreign media even noticed that the prototype used for stunts was not the same as the car displayed on stage; the stunt car used Cybercab-style wheel covers.

Image source: Screenshot of Roadster presentation video

When Musk announced the production timeline on stage, he smiled and added an 'actually.' Lars revealed in an interview with MotorTrend that the Roadster would be produced in a separate building within Tesla's Gigafactory Texas campus, called Roadster Factory Texas.

He also mentioned in an interview with Hagerty that Tesla would expand prototype production in early 2027.

The electric drives, cells, and heat pump motors in this new Roadster all have Tesla's existing mass-production foundations. However, the cold gas thrust system has never been used on any of Tesla's previous vehicles. Whether it can be mass-produced on time and delivered to the first batch of users who placed deposits in 2017 by 2028 depends on whether the SpaceX-responsible portion can successfully move from the testing grounds.