Elon Musk: New Roadster surpasses movies, imagination, and humanity, yet is still made by humans on Earth
Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted that the New Roadster surpasses movies, imagination, and humanity, but is still made by humans on Earth.
The vehicle was publicly demonstrated at an event near Waco, Texas, using high-power fans and cold air thrusters to drive, spin, and land along an inverted slope, while jumping over models such as the Cybercab, Cybertruck, Tesla Semi, Model Y, and Model 3.
Musk stated that this is the result of close collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX engineers, aiming to create a product unlike anything seen in movies, superior to any James Bond car. During the demonstration, the vehicle achieved a 0 to 60 mph acceleration in about 0.81 seconds, with production planned to start in 2028.
The vehicle offers three configurations: Performance, which is road-ready, two-seater, equipped with active aerodynamics and multi-mode adhesion systems; Thrust, which is track-ready and adds rear cold air thrusters, achieving 0 to 60 acceleration in under 0.9 seconds; and Rocket, which is a single-seater with surrounding thrusters, supporting upward and rotational movement, achieving 0 to 60 acceleration in under 0.59 seconds, with a top speed exceeding 230 mph.
The vehicle has faced multiple delays since its prototype was announced in 2017, originally slated for production in 2020. Musk previously referred to it as the last Tesla vehicle intended for human driving, with future products shifting towards autonomous driving, and the company has ceased production of the Model S and X to free up capacity for the Optimus robot.
Market dynamics indicate that the event-driven nature stems from the long-delayed product demonstration and SpaceX technology integration, with funding flowing towards reservations and high-end limited configuration buyers. Tesla benefits from brand attention and engineering showcases, while traditional supercar manufacturers face pressure as acceleration and handling expectations are reshaped, but actual mass production, pricing, and regulatory compliance remain to be clarified.
Additional information shows that a refundable deposit of $5,000 is required for reservations, with an additional $45,000 to be paid within 10 days, consistent with the 2017 requirements, though specific model pricing has yet to be announced.
Source: Public information
ABAB AI Insight
Since Elon Musk announced the next-generation Roadster in 2017, the production timeline has been adjusted multiple times, from the original 2020 to 2028, during which Tesla shifted its focus to robots and autonomous driving, and ceased production of the Model S and X; SpaceX has continued to advance cold air propulsion technology, used for the brief hovering and flipping in this vehicle demonstration.
In terms of capital pathways, Tesla is channeling engineering resources into the integration of SpaceX's thrusters, with funding and talent shifting from mass-produced models to high-visibility demonstration projects, motivated by the desire to strengthen its image as a technology leader and attract high-end reservations; the reservation deposit mechanism continues the 2017 model, locking in some cash flow early, but the scale of mass production has limited impact on overall revenue.
This is analogous to early concept supercars or experimental vehicles making appearances after multiple delays, similar to some electric supercar projects or aerospace prototypes. Currently, Tesla is in a transition phase from purely electric vehicles to robots and autonomous systems, with the Roadster positioned as the concluding product of the human driving era.
The structural judgment indicates a technological substitution: cold air propulsion and adhesion systems transfer some acceleration and attitude control of traditional ground vehicles to rocket-derived technology, with the mechanism being that cross-company engineering integration lowers specific performance boundaries, expanding the definition of "car" to include short-duration flight and extreme maneuverability, shifting pricing power from traditional supercar manufacturers to integrators with aerospace capabilities.
ABAB News · Cognitive Law
A product delayed for nine years redefines boundaries through a single demonstration
The concluding vehicle for human driving integrates rocket propulsion technology
Performance surpassing movies, still mass-produced and delivered by Earth factories