Innovation2 min(s) read
People point out same problem as Elon Musk launches new Tesla Roadster 'that can fly'
Elon Musk's brand new Tesla Roadster is supposed to "fly" - but some sceptics of the billionaire tech mogul have all said the same thing.
Namely... is that car actually flying?
The latest car from Musk's Tesla range uses the technology from his own SpaceX rocket technology and can, Musk says, reach speeds of 60 mph in 0.81 seconds.
But some people remain more than a little skeptical following the car's unveiling.
Critics say Elon Musk's new Tesla Roadster cannot "fly"
During the initial presentation of the brand new Tesla Roadster, the company's newest car was unveiled.
To demonstrate not only its super-fast capabilities but Musk's own claims that his new car could "fly", the Roadster was set up on a backward-curving ramp during the launch event.
The car slowly crept up to the very edge of the curved racetrack upside down, before slowly reversing back to the ground. Then, it shot up the same track once more, before leaving the track completely, flipping through the air and igniting several rocket boosters to flip back the right way around and land back on the ground safely once more.
However, when the clip of the event was posted on X, more than a few viewers were skeptical over whether that means Musk's car could literally fly.
"That's not flying," one account wrote in response to the video. "That's falling with style."
Another added: "So... when does it fly?"
One person was a bit more direct with their criticism, saying: "I've had more airtime on a trampoline."
What is the Tesla Roadster?
The Tesla Roadster is a two-seater car that, Elon Musk says, can fly, flip, and reach 60mph in less than a second.
The billionaire mogul claims that the car's technology, which sees it fitted with both rocket thrusters and ground-hugging fans, will make it adept at corners as well as the open road.
The car may be in prototype mode now, but Musk expects work to begin on it quickly. He made comments that suggested the car could reach the mass market in 2028.
However, Musk himself still remains unsure whether the Tesla Roadster will actually be legal to buy in all markets.
“This will be an actual car that's on the roads," he said at the show. "[But] I'm not sure it's necessarily legal in all jurisdictions, but there will be such a car that someone can own. So, it's going to be pretty wild that you can have a rocket car.”