--- title: "Tesla Unveils Production Roadster: An Electric Car That Drives Upside Down and Jumps on SpaceX Thrusters" description: "Nine years after the concept, Tesla introduced the production Roadster: the car drives upside down using a vacuum system and performs jumps on SpaceX thrusters. Production starts in 2028." date: 2026-10-16T11:00:17.073Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/tesla-roadster-production-version tags: [tesla, tesla-roadster, electric-vehicle, spacex, ev-tech] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Tesla Unveils Production Roadster: An Electric Car That Drives Upside Down and Jumps on SpaceX Thrusters ![futuristic white Tesla Roadster electric car with angular design in a dark studio](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/16/tesla-roadster-serijnaya-versiya/tesla-roadster-serijnaya-versiya-1.webp) ## Key Points - Tesla unveiled the production version of the Roadster nine years after the concept. - The car can drive upside down thanks to a vacuum downforce system under the floor. - Controlled jumps and soft landings are provided by SpaceX cold gas thrusters. - During the demo stunt, the Optimus robot was in the seat, and maneuvers were fully automated. - Serial production is scheduled for 2028; deposit books are open ($5,000 + $45,000 within 10 days). - Stabilization systems are not standard: the "Thrust" package is +$245,000, and the "Rocket" version is by invitation only. Nine years after presenting the concept, Tesla has brought the production version of the Roadster to the stage—an electric car that, according to the company, is capable of not just accelerating, but changing spatial orientation and performing controlled jumps. The presentation took place in a dark hall with an emphasis on the body's light lines: the car drove onto a C-shaped ramp, stopped parallel to the ground, then jumped off the top of the structure, hovered in the air, and made a soft landing. All these maneuvers were demonstrated as features built into the production car rather than a one-off prototype trick. ### Robot at the Wheel: How the Stunt Was Executed A humanoid robot, Optimus, was in the driver's seat during the stunt, but according to the presentation description, all maneuvers were performed in a fully automated, programmed mode. This means the car was not driven "manually" by either a human or a robot in real-time: the stunt was a pre-rehearsed scenario showing that the stabilization and traction systems are capable of holding the vehicle in a given position and correcting its trajectory without operator intervention. ### Vacuum "Suction Cup" Under the Floor The ability to move upside down is provided, according to the company, by a system of fans and grounding that evacuates air from beneath the car's floor. This creates a powerful downforce that holds the electric car "upside down" even when stationary. Engineers describe this design as the equivalent of a suction cup under the bottom: it is what allows the vehicle not to flip or fall when the center of mass is shifted toward the sky. ### SpaceX Cold Gas Thrusters Maneuvering cold gas thrusters with electric actuators handle soft landings and jumps; Tesla claims they make micro-corrections in fractions of a second. These elements are borrowed from SpaceX and integrated into the production Roadster's design, turning the electric car into a platform capable of controlled "hovering" and precise landing after a ramp jump. ### Production and Pre-orders The launch of serial production for the updated Tesla Roadster is scheduled for 2028. Reservations are already open: a basic order requires a $5,000 deposit, plus an additional $45,000 within the first 10 days. Thus, the company is locking in buyer interest ahead of actual assembly and deliveries. ### Pricing and Option Packages Importantly, the innovative stabilization and acceleration systems are not included in the base package. The "Thrust" package includes the ground-clinging vacuum system and acceleration cold gas thrusters, costing an additional $245,000 USD. The "Rocket" version features a full flight system and will be available exclusively by special invitation from the company, making it essentially a limited offer for a narrow circle of buyers. ## Fact-Check & Sources - ["Летучий" суперкар с ракетными технологиями: Tesla показала долгожданный Roadster](https://auto.rbc.ua/ukr/news/letyuchiy-superkar-raketnimi-tehnologiyami-1792146139.html) - The only provided source; facts (ramp demonstration, vacuum system, SpaceX thrusters, Optimus robot, production start in 2028, deposit of $5,000+$45,000, Thrust package +$245,000, Rocket version by invitation) are presented sequentially and do not contradict each other. There is no independent verification in the provided sources. ## FAQ ### When will serial production of the Tesla Roadster begin? According to the presentation, production of the updated Roadster is scheduled to start in 2028. ### How does the car stay upside down? A fan and grounding system evacuates air from beneath the floor, creating a downforce that holds the car "upside down" even when stationary. ### Are the jump and stabilization systems included in the base package? No. The "Thrust" package with the vacuum downforce system and thrusters costs an additional $245,000, while the "Rocket" version with a full flight system is available only by special invitation.