Tesla has launched an official countdown on its website for the next generation Roadster, teasing what could be a hovering electric hypercar. The upcoming demonstration promises cold gas thrusters developed alongside SpaceX that can lift the vehicle off the ground. But full scale production remains years away following 9 years of delays and broken promises.
The teaser image on the official Tesla portal shows a red sports car sitting beneath vertical spotlights reminiscent of a rocket launch pad. A short caption reads Go for launch. Reports indicate the vehicle will use high pressure cold gas thrusters arranged around the chassis. During the live presentation, Tesla plans to demonstrate an unmanned car lifting off the asphalt and hovering through remote control.
Spectators will have to watch from far away. Rocket thrusters create extreme noise levels capable of damaging human ears. Because of this, the company will keep crowds at a safe distance while the autonomous test runs.
Buyers have been waiting for this car for a very long time. Tesla first showed off the original prototype almost 9 years ago. Elon Musk has pushed back the launch timeline at least 8 separate times since the initial reveal. During recent meetings with investors, leadership admitted that actual factory assembly will not begin until at least 2027 or 2028.
Patience is wearing thin. Many early supporters who paid upfront deposits between $50,000 and $250,000 have already cancelled their reservations. Nine years is a lifetime in the electric vehicle market, and customers are tired of empty promises.
Industry analysts do not expect this machine to land on normal public roads. Regulators are unlikely to approve rocket thrusters on everyday street cars. Instead, this flying version will likely end up as an expensive track only showpiece for ultra wealthy collectors.
The showcase looks more like a marketing blitz than a genuine car rollout. It highlights the close relationship between Tesla and SpaceX at a time when rumors of a corporate merger continue to circulate. Whether the car ever enters full factory production or remains an expensive stunt is a question Tesla still has to answer.
