Elon Musk‘s 2019 claim that the next-generation Tesla Roadster could perform flying-car-like manoeuvres has resurfaced following the vehicle’s reported unveiling on October 15, 2026, at SpaceX’s test facility, Texas.
Nearly nine years after Tesla introduced the Roadster concept in 2017, the company reportedly demonstrated a driverless prototype climbing a curved ramp, briefly travelling upside down, launching into the air and landing with the help of compressed-air thrusters.
The demonstration closely matched an idea Elon Musk had publicly discussed seven years earlier.
What Elon Musk Said About the Roadster in 2019
On January 10, 2019, Musk responded to a post featuring a flying DeLorean from Back to the Future, writing, “The new Roadster will actually do something like this.”
Tech reviewer Marques Brownlee replied, “The thing is I feel like you’re not joking.”
Musk confirmed he was serious, explaining that the Roadster would use a “SpaceX cold gas thruster system with ultra high pressure air” stored in a composite overwrapped pressure vessel in place of the two rear seats.
Tesla Roadster’s Performance and SpaceX Technology
The new Roadster reportedly combines SpaceX-developed cold-gas thrusters with underbody suction fans designed to improve grip.
Tesla claims the electric sports car can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 0.81 seconds and exceed 230 mph.
Following the demonstration, Musk reportedly remarked, “Turns out the future does have flying cars.”
Tesla Roadster Prices and Production Timeline
Tesla’s reported reservation amounts start at $50,000 for the Roadster Performance and $250,000 for the Roadster Thrust. An invite-only, single-seat Roadster Rocket variant is also planned.
Tesla is targeting production in 2028, eight years after its original 2020 delivery target. The company has yet to confirm when customers will receive their vehicles.
Road legality also remains uncertain, particularly for versions equipped with thrusters capable of lifting the car off the ground.
A Seven-Year-Old Promise Moves Closer to Reality
Elon’s 2019 X Post, did not predict the Roadster’s exact final design, but they did describe the unconventional technology now reportedly being demonstrated.
What once sounded like an ambitious promise has taken a more tangible form. Whether Tesla can bring those capabilities to a production-ready, road-legal vehicle remains the bigger question.
For now, the 2019 exchange offers a glimpse of how long Musk has been pursuing the idea of a Roadster that can do more than drive.
Also Read: Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster Flying Car Arrives Before GTA 6! Here’s the Price and Launch Date
