Tesla unveils Roadster with thrusters that apparently allow hovering
A new version of Tesla's Roadster, equipped with thrusters, was shown in Texas, but the BBC's technology editor explains why a road-legal flying car remains unlikely.
At a glance
- Tesla unveiled a new Roadster with thrusters that apparently allow hovering and mid-air turning.
- CEO Elon Musk presented it in Texas at a SpaceX facility that helped develop the model.
- The BBC's technology editor says there are reasons a flying car is unlikely on roads soon.
Tesla has unveiled a new version of its Roadster electric sports car in Texas, equipped with thrusters that apparently allow it to hover and turn in mid-air. The vehicle was presented by Tesla CEO Elon Musk at a facility owned by his SpaceX company, which helped develop the model.
'You're going to see some crazy stuff tonight,' Musk told the audience. He said an audience was needed to prove the car 'is not AI' before showing a demonstration of the Roadster driving up and off a steep ramp, spinning in the air, and landing using air jets.
The event showcased the thruster system. The BBC's technology editor, Zoe Kleinman, explains that there are several reasons we are unlikely to see a flying car on our roads anytime soon. Those reasons are set out in the BBC's video report.
Musk's presentation highlighted the collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX on the model. The Roadster, an electric sports car, has been reimagined with air jets that the company says enable hovering and mid-air manoeuvres. The demonstration showed the car performing a ramp launch, a mid-air spin, and a jet-assisted landing.
Despite the spectacle, the BBC notes that a road-legal flying car remains a distant prospect. The BBC's technology editor, Zoe Kleinman, explains the reasons in the video report. The BBC video asks whether Tesla really just unveiled a flying car, and Kleinman's analysis suggests caution about that claim.
The thrusters apparently allow hovering and mid-air turning, but the BBC's report indicates that this is not the same as a car that can fly on public roads. The Roadster remains an electric sports car, and the thruster-equipped version is a new development shown at the Texas event.
Source: BBC Science.
Questions and answers
- Did Tesla unveil a flying car?
- Tesla unveiled a new version of its Roadster with thrusters that apparently allow it to hover and turn in mid-air. The BBC notes several reasons a flying car is unlikely on roads soon.
- Where was the Tesla Roadster unveiled?
- It was unveiled in Texas at a facility owned by SpaceX, which helped develop the model. Elon Musk presented the vehicle.
- What did Elon Musk say at the event?
- Musk said, 'You're going to see some crazy stuff tonight,' and that an audience was needed to prove the car 'is not AI' before a demonstration.
