Physix Frontier · News Briefing Card (Engadget · Oct 16, 2026)

Tesla Roadster Event Shows Jumping and Hovering Stunts

KEY FACTS

Tesla held a Roadster launch event where the vehicle performed stunts including hill climbs, driving upside down, jumping and hovering.
Using cold-gas thrusters derived from SpaceX, the Roadster completed an aerial flip and landed safely.
The car also performed a jump over vehicles parked side by side.
At the end of the event, the Roadster launched from a standstill, flipped in the air and landed hovering.
The new car is now open for reservations: a $5,000 deposit for the base version, with another $45,000 due within 10 days.
The version with suction and acceleration thrusters is priced at $250,000 for reservations, while the jumping and hovering version is limited to invited customers only.

KEY DATA

$5,000Base version deposit

$45,000Base version balance

$250,000High-end version reservation price

PHYSIX OBSERVATION

Selling cars with a stunt show, Tesla turned its launch event into an extreme demonstration of product performance. Features like cold-gas thrusters, driving upside down and hovering go beyond everyday driving needs, looking more like flexing muscle and driving up brand premium. For users, the $250,000 reservation threshold and invitation-only system show this car is positioned as a niche showpiece, unlikely to reach volume in the short term, but enough to keep Tesla's buzz alive.

Source: Engadget report