So we have flying cars now.. What’s next?

Summary

A Tesla–SpaceX presentation at SpaceX’s McGregor, Texas, test site unveiled a rocket-equipped Roadster prototype, which presenters described as a flying car. The event connected the vehicle to Tesla’s original Roadster and its earlier collaboration with SpaceX, which sent a Roadster into space with the “Starman” mannequin.

Vehicle and technology claims

• SpaceX-derived propulsion: Presenters described compressed-air thrusters built into the car, including rear main thrusters and attitude-control thrusters for maneuvering. They cited two carbon-overwrapped pressure vessels holding a total of 600 liters of air, with about 250 kilograms of air, and 10 nozzles. The tanks can reportedly be recharged onboard without special propellant.
• Fan-based downforce: A suction system beneath the car is said to pull it toward the road with up to 2 g of downforce. Presenters said this could improve cornering and, in demonstrations, allow the car to stick to a surface upside down. The system has high-downforce and low-drag modes, while a variable-pitch rear wing adjusts automatically.
• Roadster design: The two-seat car has a yoke and steer-by-wire controls for steering, braking, and throttle. Its seats are molded into the chassis, and presenters said they prioritized lightweight construction.
• Demonstrations and performance claims: The presentation showed the car performing airborne stunts, including a maneuver called a “kick flip.” Presenters claimed acceleration from 0–60 mph could be under one second; the displayed test time appears to be about 0.81 seconds, though the transcript is unclear. They also cited a speed above 230 mph and discussed aiming for substantially higher speeds, including 300 mph or more. One presenter claimed the thrusters produce over 80 kilonewtons of thrust.
• Caveats: The car was described as not necessarily safety-optimized, and presenters acknowledged it might not be legal in every jurisdiction. They said a car like this could eventually be owned, but gave no firm production date or price. The rocket-equipped version was described as invite-only. Prices mentioned in the stream were speculation, not an official announcement.

Commentary and coverage

Asmongold reacted to the launch and stunts, joking about the vehicle’s risks and potential uses, and comparing the polished presentation to other major product events. He also discussed online reactions and the possibility that the technology may not be practical or commercially viable.

The video is a reaction to a product presentation, not a review, guide, or tutorial. The technical details and performance figures are claims made at the event, not independently verified results.

Main speakers and sources

• Tesla/SpaceX presentation: Elon Musk, Fran/France (name unclear in the subtitles), and Lars, along with other Tesla engineering staff.
• Video commentary: Asmongold, reacting to the presentation and discussing audience and social-media responses.