Tesla unveils Roadster 2 supercar that can leap into the air, opens bookings for three variants

Tesla, the electric vehicle maker led by Elon Musk, has unveiled its long-awaited supercar, the Roadster 2. The car was shown on Thursday at a SpaceX test centre in Texas during a large demonstration. The company claims the car will not only run fast on the road but can also leap into the air. Video of the demonstration is going viral across the world.

After a wait of about a decade, Tesla has shown the Roadster actually in motion. It combines automobile and aerospace technology, that is, technology from aircraft and rockets. Using SpaceX rocket technology, the car has been fitted with special cold-gas thrusters, which lift the car straight off the ground into the air and control it.

Tesla plans to bring the supercar to market mainly in three variants: Performance, Thrust and Rocket.

The Performance variant is designed as a "Road Ready" model for everyday use on the road. The Thrust variant is "Race Ready", meant for racing enthusiasts. It has air thrusters at the rear and a special suction system underneath. The system draws air from beneath the car to create heavy downforce of about 2G. This lets the car grip surfaces firmly, even upside down, both when stationary and at high speed. The Thrust model can go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 0.81 seconds.

The most eye-catching of the three is the Rocket variant, which Tesla has placed in the "Air Ready" category. It is a single-seat model with 10 high-pressure cold-gas thrusters around the car. The heavy pressure of air released from a 600-litre ultra-high-pressure air tank lets the car hover in the air for a few seconds, perform stunts and then land safely.

During the demonstration, the car made high leaps in the air over Tesla's entire line-up and over a Cybertruck. Those present watched in amazement. Notably, it will be the only supercar from Tesla, which makes autopilot and driverless vehicles, that drivers will be able to drive entirely by hand. In its post on the matter, Tesla wrote only, "Holy smokes".

Bookings for the car have opened worldwide. Customers must pay a deposit of $50,000 (about Rs 48 lakh) to book the Performance model. The Thrust model requires a deposit of $250,000. The top-tier Rocket model will be available by invitation only.

According to the company, the target is to begin official commercial production of the car in 2028. It is being seen as the biggest technological leap so far in the electric vehicle (EV) sector.