After years of delays, the next-generation Roadster is being co-developed by Tesla Motors and SpaceX. The vehicle, set to debut later this year, will look significantly different from the prototype first shown nearly a decade ago.
Since 2017, the brand has explored multiple design concepts, with some drawing inspiration from the Lamborghini Countach and the Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" spy plane. Since the original prototype was unveiled in 2017, the supercar's release has been postponed at least eight times. The overall design has evolved from a traditional sports car structure to a new model built on a carbon fiber monocoque.
Tesla Motors plans to reveal the latest Roadster as early as this month and has been preparing a large-scale demonstration of a limited-edition model since the start of the year. This showcase is intended to highlight the vehicle's ability to hover close to the ground. CEO Elon Musk has previously expressed a desire to turn the Roadster into a "flying car."
The demonstration is expected to occur at SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas. Engineers from Tesla Motors and SpaceX are jointly developing cold gas thrusters, a system that can lift the vehicle off the ground. The demonstration plan prepared earlier this year included a series of stunts: driving on a track resembling a magnetized roller coaster rail, moving upside down, then returning to a normal orientation and hovering in mid-air. It is currently unclear whether this demonstration sequence has been adjusted. The vehicle will be operated remotely; due to the intense noise and vibrations from the thrusters, spectators will need to watch from hundreds of yards away.
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