By: Anyone who has not seen the new Tesla Roadster, raise your hand! It has been discussed virtually everywhere today. We have heard it described as a flying car, a supersonic vehicle and a futuristic machine, but… how much of it is true and, above all, what applications can we expect in the near future?
Tesla: "The Roadster is a car for real drivers"
As conceived, the new Tesla Roadster is certainly not a runabout to give your child when they turn 18, but we fear it is not even a car that an experienced driver should get into lightly. Yet, in defiance of the sceptics, production is scheduled for 2028, with buyers also able to choose from several versions. Preferably if they are highly experienced.
The Roadster is, in fact, a car for real drivers, Tesla says: "active aerodynamics, multimodal suction system and cold-gas thrusters. Exterior: pop-up headlights, full-width rear light and flush surfaces for a minimalist, highly technical form. Super-light wheels with thin spokes that reinforce structural strength when on the ground. Ano White paint offers an aerospace-derived finish with UV and cryogenic protection, electrostatic dissipation and corrosion resistance. Gold Glazed tinted glass mimics the copper coating on space-suit visors, with subtle titanium accents", Tesla wrote in a post on X, Twitter. Given that claim, it would not be a bad idea for the American manufacturer to create a dedicated category solely to establish the precise potential of these cars and this technology. We are throwing out an idea that could even shake up Formula E and Formula 1 if it were taken up.
The Tesla Roadster does not fly, but it can land
In our view, however, Elon Musk’s real intention was not simply to unveil a car, but a technology. Make no mistake: the fact that the Tesla Roadster can stick to the ceiling is not entirely new. The McMurtry Spéirling (very similar to the Batmobile) was unveiled to the world in 2021 and was the first car to achieve this through forced ventilation. The Tesla Roadster uses the same concept, as well as gas thrusters to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under a second and reach 370 km/h. All things we have seen before. Or at least, things that already exist and have been developed further.
What is new are the stabilisers, the rocket thrusters, already used by SpaceX (the American aerospace company also owned by Elon Musk) to recover launch vehicles. The Tesla Roadster does not fly in the true sense of the word. However, it can jump and land perfectly at a predetermined point.
In our view, similar technology is not intended exclusively for the production car itself. The Tesla Roadster is merely a vehicle for presenting these innovations to the public. What could its applications be? Infinite: the limit is essentially imagination. Such technology could be used for military purposes, allowing even heavy vehicles to overcome obstacles. Another application could be in aerospace, with rovers able to inspect even the most confined terrain without the risk of being damaged or becoming trapped.
What is certain is that the new Tesla Roadster has opened up a new frontier for the automobile. For now, it is a prototype, but if it genuinely goes on sale in 2028, it will mark an epochal turning point in the automotive world. And perhaps… it already has.
Photo: X, Tesla
