Tesla has officially unveiled the second-generation Roadster, a vehicle featuring a propulsion system developed by SpaceX. The car utilizes cold-gas thrusters, which rely on high-pressure compressed air stored in carbon-fiber tanks with a total capacity of 600 liters. This technology is derived from SpaceX rocket components and operates without fuel combustion or exhaust flames.
The vehicle is equipped with 10 nozzles providing a total thrust exceeding 80 kN, capable of supporting 8 tons. Four main thrusters are located in the rear diffuser, producing supersonic airflow. Additionally, the car features a fan-based suction system under the chassis, generating 2G of downforce to enable vertical climbing. The system is designed to be self-refilling once the air supply is depleted.
During demonstrations, the Roadster performed maneuvers including a vertical climb on a circular track and a jump over a fleet of vehicles. The car achieved a 0-96 km/h acceleration time of 0.81 seconds in testing. While the concept was first proposed by Elon Musk in 2018 to enhance performance, the company has now scheduled the official mass production of the model for 2028.
