Top Things To Know About The Flying Tesla Roadster: SpaceX-Powered Electric Supercar

A car that accelerates like a rocket, drives upside down, and even jumps over other vehicles? Sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi film, right? Well, Tesla has actually built one!

The all-new Tesla Roadster has finally been revealed, bringing some seriously wild technology to the world of electric cars. From SpaceX-powered thrusters to jaw-dropping performance, this electric supercar has plenty of surprises. Here are the top 11 things you need to know about the new Tesla Roadster.

It Took Tesla Nearly Nine Years To Reveal The New Roadster

Remember the Tesla Roadster concept from 2017? It promised incredible performance, a 1,000 km driving range, and a 2020 launch.

Well, 2020 arrived and went by. So did several other promised launch dates.

Tesla finally revealed the redesigned Roadster on 15 October 2026 at SpaceX’s testing facility in Texas. And after nearly nine years of waiting, the car has changed quite a bit!

Read our detailed report on the Tesla Roadster’s official unveiling.

Yes, The Tesla Roadster Can Actually Fly, Kind Of

Tesla decided that simply unveiling a supercar wasn’t exciting enough. So, it made the Roadster fly!

During the event, the car launched itself over five parked Tesla vehicles, including the Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, Robotaxi, and Semi truck.

It also performed a mid-air flip before landing safely on its wheels. Interestingly, no one was driving the car during these stunts. Tesla operated the prototype without a human inside for safety.

However, don’t expect it to fly across Dubai anytime soon. The Roadster can perform short airborne moves lasting a couple of seconds, but it hasn’t demonstrated sustained flight.

SpaceX Rocket Technology Makes It Possible

Here’s where things get interesting. Tesla worked with SpaceX to develop special cold-gas thrusters for the Roadster.

These thrusters release highly compressed nitrogen to push the vehicle forward or control its movement in the air. Think of them as small rocket boosters that don’t burn traditional rocket fuel.

The Thrust version features four rear thrusters, while the extreme Rocket version gets ten thrusters positioned around the vehicle.

But there’s a catch! The Thrust version reportedly provides only around five seconds of boost before its gas supply runs out. Refilling currently takes two to six hours, though Tesla wants to cut that to around 30 minutes.

It Can Drive Upside Down!

Flying wasn’t the Roadster’s only party trick. During the demonstration, the car also drove upside down along a curved ramp.

How? A powerful fan system underneath the vehicle sucks air away from the road surface, creating massive grip through the vacuum.

Tesla claims the system can generate enough suction to hold the car upside down, even when stationary. It also helps the Roadster maintain grip at high speeds while cornering.

Acceleration That Almost Sounds Impossible

The Roadster’s performance figures are just as impressive as its aerial tricks. Tesla showcased a 0-97 km/h acceleration time of just 0.81 seconds, with help from its SpaceX thrusters. That’s faster than almost anything ever built.

Here are some of its key performance targets:

• Power: Around 1,350hp
• Torque: Around 1,400Nm
• Top Speed: Over 370km/h
• 0–97 km/h: Under one second with thruster assistance
• Drivetrain: Dual electric motors driving the rear wheels

These are Tesla’s reported development figures, not independently verified production specifications.

Check out our list of the fastest electric cars in the world.

There Are Three Main Configurations

Tesla has introduced three official Roadster configurations, each offering a different level of performance.

Performance: The road-focused version gets two seats, active aerodynamics, and the advanced suction system.

Thrust: This limited-release version adds four rear thrusters for even quicker acceleration while keeping both seats.

Rocket: The wildest version gets ten thrusters, a single seat and the ability to perform short aerial manoeuvres. It is available by invitation only and is not approved for public-road use.

Its Design Looks Straight Out Of The Future

The new Roadster looks completely different from the rounded concept unveiled in 2017.

It now features a low, wedge-shaped body, sharp LED lights, upward-opening doors and an active rear wing.

The rear wing has another clever trick. It can adjust its angle to reduce drag at high speeds or act as an airbrake during hard braking.

There’s also a neat surprise. The Roadster gets two removable glass roof panels, giving drivers an open-air experience on nice days.

The Interior Is Surprisingly Simple

For a car that can perform aerial stunts, the Roadster has a fairly clean cabin. The dashboard features a central touchscreen, a slim digital display near the windscreen, and a yoke-style steering wheel. Lightweight sports seats, adjustable pedals and digital driving controls complete the setup.

Interestingly, Elon Musk has described the Roadster as potentially Tesla’s last manually driven car, as the brand continues pushing towards autonomous driving.

Practicality depends on the version. The Performance model seats two, while the Rocket replaces the passenger seat with extra equipment. Sorry, there’s no room for the whole family on this rocket!

It Still Offers A Decent Driving Range

Despite all the attention on speed and flying, the Roadster is still an electric car. Tesla is targeting a driving range of more than 480 km on a full charge. Engineers have also discussed ultra-fast charging that could top up a major portion of the battery in under 15 minutes.

However, the final battery capacity, official driving range, and charging specifications have not yet been confirmed.

Tesla Roadster Bookings Have Opened In The UAE

Good news for UAE enthusiasts! Tesla has opened reservations for the Performance and Thrust versions.

The booking amounts are:

• Performance: AED 210,000 total reservation payment
• Thrust: AED 1,020,000 total reservation payment
• Rocket: Invitation only

For both publicly available versions, customers initially pay AED 20,000, followed by the remaining reservation amount within ten days.

These figures are reservation deposits, not the final vehicle prices. Tesla has not yet announced how much the Roadster will cost.

More importantly, making a reservation only secures a place in the queue. It does not guarantee a final price or delivery date.

Production Is Expected To Begin In 2028

Here’s the catch. The Roadster may have finally been revealed, but it isn’t ready for customer deliveries. Tesla is currently targeting production in 2028, with deliveries expected afterwards. Tesla has not confirmed a UAE delivery date.

The company also needs to complete further testing and meet regional regulations, particularly for its unusual thruster technology. Until then, the Roadster remains one of the most exciting electric car projects to watch.

Whatever car you’re thinking of, find it on Dubi with over 25,000 listings.

Stay tuned to the UAE’s most popular auto blog for more automotive content.