On Oct. 15, 2026, Tesla livestreamed the next-generation Roadster reveal from SpaceX's McGregor, Texas test site. The prototype drove up a curved ramp and clung upside down using a fan-based suction system, then used cold-gas thrusters to flip and land. It also jumped over five parked Tesla models (Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, Semi, Cybercab) and recorded 0-60 mph in 0.81 seconds. Tesla's website now lists three tiers: Performance (0-60 under 1.6s, 300+ mile range), Thrust (under 0.9s), and Rocket (230+ mph, 0-60 under 0.59s, invite only, not approved for public road use). Production is targeted for 2028; price not announced.
The Roadster was first shown as a concept in 2017 and repeatedly delayed. The new version uses SpaceX-derived cold-gas thrusters and a suction system to generate downforce and short, controlled "flight." Musk said the live audience was needed to prove the car "is not AI or SI," referencing President Trump's term "Super Intelligence" for AI.
Tesla did unveil a thruster-powered Roadster prototype that jumped over five parked Tesla vehicles at a SpaceX test site in Texas; the event was livestreamed and attended by a live audience. The other claims about corporate espionage and local autonomous models are too vague to verify.
Tesla unveiled the next-gen Roadster at SpaceX's McGregor, Texas site on Oct. 15, 2026. It used SpaceX cold-gas thrusters and a fan-based suction system to drive upside down, flip midair, and jump over five vehicles; Tesla timed 0-60 mph at 0.81 seconds, and the top Rocket tier claims 230+ mph, while the Performance tier targets 300+ miles of range.
CTesla just jumped a car over five parked vehicles. Not a render. Not a concept video. A real car, live audience, Texas test site.
MI saw the clip. It looked like a video game cutscene.
CSnopes confirmed it's real. The next-gen Roadster used SpaceX cold-gas thrusters to flip midair and land.
MSo the flying car is finally here. Except it doesn't actually fly.
CIt drove upside down on a curved ramp using a fan-based suction system. That's not nothing.
MIt's a stunt. A very expensive, very loud stunt. Zero to sixty in point eight one seconds is real, but the 'flight' is a hop.
CA hop over a Model 3, a Model Y, a Cybertruck, a Semi, and a Cybercab. That's a big hop.
MAnd Musk said the live audience was there to prove it's 'not AI or SI.' Because that's the bar now.
CHe's not wrong. After two years of AI-generated everything, people don't trust video anymore.
MFair. But Car and Driver said don't trust Musk until the thing actually ships. Production target is 2028.
CThe original Roadster was shown in 2017. Nine years later, we get a prototype that does a barrel roll.
MAnd three tiers: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket. The Rocket tier is invite-only and not approved for public roads.
CSo the fastest one is a track toy for billionaires. The regular one might be street-legal. Maybe.
MCNBC noted Musk said it's 'not necessarily a safety-optimized car.' That's a quote.
CThat's one way to sell a car. 'It's fast, it flips, safety is optional.'
MThe Verge called the demo impressive but said it'll come with heavy caveats if it ever goes into production.
CHere's my take: this is a marketing event disguised as an engineering milestone. And it worked.
MIt worked on you. You're already defending the upside-down driving.
CBecause it's genuinely hard! Suction downforce strong enough to hold a car upside down? That's real engineering.
MIt's real engineering in service of a party trick. Nobody needs a car that drives on ceilings.
CNobody needed a phone that could take pictures either. Until they did.
MThat's a terrible comparison. A camera phone fits in your pocket. This is a toy.
CThe tech trickles down. Cold-gas thrusters in a car could lead to better stability control, better safety systems.
MOr it could lead to nothing. Remember the Cybertruck's 'armor glass' that shattered on stage?
CThat was one demo. This one actually worked. Live. In front of people.
MIt worked as a demo. Production is three years away, price unannounced, and the top tier isn't street-legal.
CSo you're saying it's vaporware?
MI'm saying it's a prototype with a great PR team. Call me when someone buys one.
CFine. But if it ships in 2028, I'm first in line for a test drive.
MYou'll need a pilot's license for the Rocket tier.
CWorth it.
MSpeaking of things that might not ship: Wired reviewed Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip8. The littlest smartphone that could.
CCute compact, solid performance and camera, but pricier than the last one. That's the whole review.
MI like that Wired still reviews small phones. Everyone else gave up on them.
CBecause the market did. People want big screens. The Flip8 is for people who miss the iPhone 5.
MAnd for people who want a phone that actually fits in a pocket. Which is... a lot of people.
CBut they don't buy them. That's why Samsung keeps raising the price.
MDifferent world entirely: Wired also has a piece on split tunneling for VPNs. Their best feature, apparently.
CSplit tunneling lets you route some traffic through the VPN and some directly. So your banking app doesn't think you're in another country.
MIt's genuinely useful. I use it for streaming. Some services block VPNs, so I send that traffic around it.
CWait, you use a VPN for streaming? That's the most boring use case.
MIt's the most practical one. I'm not doing anything shady, I just want to watch shows that aren't available here.
CFair. Split tunneling is one of those features nobody knows about until they need it.
MAnd then it saves you from turning the VPN off every five minutes. Solid explainer from Wired.
COne more from Wired: the Turtle Beach Vulcan II XP keyboard. Clicky compromise.
MGreat for typing, fine for gaming, but too many compromises. That's a lukewarm review if I've ever heard one.
CMechanical keyboards are a rabbit hole. Once you go down it, you never come back.
MI'm still using the keyboard that came with my computer. It's fine.
CThat's like saying you still use the earbuds that came with your phone.
MI do. They're fine too.
CWe need to have a talk about your standards.
MMy standards are: does it work? Yes? Then it's fine.
CAnd that's why you'll never understand the Roadster.
MOh, I understand it. I just don't think it's a car. It's a flex.
CA flex that does zero to sixty in under a second. That's a flex I can respect.
MAnd that's our show. Tesla's flying car, small phones, and keyboard snobbery.
CComing up later: more from the world of tech. But first, a quick break.