Is Tesla's 'flying sports car' safe? Musk: If safety is the primary goal, don't buy it.

BlockBeats news, October 16 — Tesla's second-generation Roadster launch event showcased extreme stunts including driving upside down, mid-air flips, and a 0-to-100 km/h time of 0.81 seconds, with each audience member receiving a pair of earplugs. The upside-down driving relies on a rear fan extracting air from beneath the car to create downforce of roughly 2 times gravity, while the mid-air flips rely on SpaceX's cold gas thrusters — 10 nozzles on the vehicle, storing approximately 250 kilograms of gas, occupying the rear seats. But based on a rough calculation of cold gas propulsion efficiency, keeping a 2-ton vehicle hovering requires ejecting about 28 kilograms of gas per second, meaning 250 kilograms at best would only sustain hovering for 9 seconds, with actual usable time being just a few seconds. Media described this not as flying, but as "falling with style."

The performance was spectacular, but the numbers severely contradict promises made 9 years ago: its range has shrunk from approximately 1,000 kilometers to approximately 480 kilometers, delivery has been delayed from 2020 to 2028, and pricing has yet to be announced. The version with thrusters will most likely fail to pass traffic regulations, and U.S. aviation regulators have never certified such devices. The risks of gas canisters storing hundreds of atmospheres of pressure behind the seats during crashes and rollovers were also not explained at the event. Musk's attitude has been consistent: "If safety is your primary goal, don't buy the Roadster."

Separately, according to BIT (bit.com) market data, Tesla's U.S. pre-market shares are currently up 4.3%, while SpaceX is up 1.9%. The Tesla Roadster is equipped with cold gas thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX.