The Air-Assisted Tesla Roadster Flies in Demo, Hits 0-60 In 0.8 Seconds

Yes, the just-revealed Tesla Roadster astonished the reveal crowd by jumping without a ramp and driving upside down, but how did it do that? The electric sports car was able to lift off using cold-gas thruster technology from SpaceX and 250 kilos of compressed air. We’re not saying any of this will make it to production, but at least we can explain what we saw. Elon Musk has launched a Tesla Roadster all the way to space, but it was the much lower-altitude stunt reveal of the new Tesla Roadster that showed how much spectacle can still find an audience. While the two highlights—a jump-slash-flip and driving upside down on a half-circle ramp—felt like scenes from an action movie, they were real. Just like the movies, though, a bit of behind-the-scenes magic was needed to make it happen, like out-of-this-world components from SpaceX. Here’s how the new Tesla Roadster defied gravity in Texas. TeslaThrust from SpaceXLet’s start with the basics. The new Roadster is said to weigh around 3700 pounds and is rear-wheel drive only, with two electric motors in the rear that are said to produce up to 1500 horsepower and more torque than any Tesla Model S Plaid.

There are plenty of e-bike conversion kits designed to turn your existing bicycle electric, but most involve at least a bit of wrenching. Spiny 2 takes a different approach, using a removable friction-drive system that can apparently snap onto your bike in just three seconds. Now let me start by saying that this is a crowdfunding project on Kickstarter, so it’s a “buyer beware” situation. My long-time readers will know I have a rule about crowdfunding campaigns. I don’t cover them unless they either A) come from a company that has a track record of delivering products in the past, or B) I personally test out the product in advance to confirm it’s legitimate and works. In this case, I haven’t personally tested the Spiny 2 e-bike kit, but the brand does appear to have delivered hundreds of their previous version of the kit, so this isn’t a brand new, fly-by-night company.

It might ultimately still be vaporware, but it's vaporware that can fly Tonight, Tesla debuted the new Roadster by driving it up a vertical ramp that then went horizontal. Then, it repeated the feat but drove off of the ramp and used thrusters to flip itself over and make a controlled landing on the ground. After that, it did a barrel roll over the rest of the Tesla lineup and again landed without issue on the ground. Then, it did 0-60 mph in 0.81 seconds according to Tesla. All of that sounds amazing, and indeed, watching it happen was pretty spectacular, but boy do we have a lot to unpack.

Dan Clougher is an automotive journalist and former classic and sports car dealer with hands-on experience across luxury, performance, and collector vehicles. Before joining CarBuzz, he managed his own showroom and worked with both independent and franchise dealers, specializing in classic and high-end models. Since 2023, Dan has contributed to HotCars and CarBuzz, producing news coverage, buyer’s guides, and in-depth features on classic and modern cars. His work draws on a practical understanding of the used and collector car markets, with a focus on value, rarity, and historical significance. High depreciation in the luxury segment is nothing new, and in fact, it's something we've covered here plenty of times in the past at CarBuzz. However, while there certainly is plenty to celebrate about a $40,000 luxury sedan now selling for $12,000, or tanking EV prices, this piece zeroes in on some of the biggest losers when it comes to plummeting values. Fully loaded SUVs from some of the most prestigious automakers are, on paper, properly desirable cars.

Classic gems, tasteful customs, legendary supercars - for Silvian, they're all fair game. He's been in love with cars and motorcycles for as long as he can remember, so it made perfect sense to eventually turn that passion into a full-time writing career. Around six years and more than 3,000 articles later, he is still going strong and doesn't plan on hitting the brakes anytime soon. About a year ago, General Motors said it will be axing the current Cadillac CT5 after 2026, and production is scheduled to end in December. That said, the CT5 will be returning in about two years as a 2029 model, but the timeline leaves us with some important questions regarding one of GM’s production facilities. We’re referring to the Lansing Grand River plant up in Michigan, whose future seems very uncertain until CT5 production resumes. The factory might be on its way toward an extended pause while the next Cadillac luxury sedan is being developed, as GM hasn’t clarified its plans in that regard.

Matt Nelson is an automotive journalist with nearly a decade of experience in all things cars.  He's spent years working at dealerships in sales, finance, and service. He's since traded in his pens and wrenches for a keyboard, and leveraged the expertise gained from his work experience into a writing career. When it comes to cars, facts, and the truth, Matt’s equal love for all three meant automotive journalism was the only path forward. Ever since the age of six, when he’d spend his time helping his father fix his family’s old Buick, Matt has had a keen interest in anything and everything with four wheels. Naturally, once Matt started working, he ensconced himself in the automotive industry and held positions spanning from car detailer, mechanic, to automotive sales and finance. Because he’s seen it all, driven most, and heard a lot, auto journalism came naturally to him. With a passion for cars like Matt’s, it’s safe to say every article will showcase his penchant for truth, accuracy, and overarching desire to make sense of the modern, complex automotive world. This means every one of his readers can be at the forefront of the most important automotive news.