The video posted by Elon Musk on X instantly went viral: a white Tesla Roadster accelerates along a curved ramp, flips upside down, lifts off the surface and performs a somersault in the air before landing softly.
The demonstration took place on 15 October 2026 at the SpaceX facility in McGregor, Texas. The remotely controlled car used an air-suction system under its floor that generates downforce of up to 4700 kg to hold it on the inverted surface.
Cold-gas thrusters borrowed from SpaceX were used for the maneuvers in the air: ten compressed-gas nozzles allowed the car to control its flight and landing. In the second stunt, the Roadster flew over a line of other Tesla models, including the Cybertruck and Semi, performing a "kickflip."
Musk wrote in the post: "Turns out the future does have flying cars." The clip racked up millions of views, and politicians and celebrities shared their reactions on social media.
The presentation also showed acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 0,81 seconds using the same thrusters. The top speed exceeds 230 miles per hour, and the range is about 300 miles.
Production of the second-generation Roadster is planned to begin in 2028 year. Three versions are available: Performance, Thrust and Rocket β the latter, with the full set of "flight" features, is available by invitation only.
The video has been confirmed as real: spectators on site filmed their own clips, and Snopes found no signs of editing or AI. But can this technology go beyond a spectacular demonstration?
For now, one thing is clear: Tesla and SpaceX have once again joined forces to show what an electric car with rocket technology can do.
