In brief
At a SpaceX test‑track in Texas, Tesla unveiled a Roadster equipped with small ion‑thrusters that allow it to hover and perform airborne maneuvers. Elon Musk presented the vehicle and dubbed the demo “crazy stuff”. Technology editor Zoe Kleinman explains the practical and regulatory hurdles that keep the idea from becoming a road‑legal reality. The article also touches on the car’s cost, safety requirements and the need for new aviation rules.
At a SpaceX test‑track in Texas, Elon Musk unveiled a prototype of the Roadster that can lift off the ground and glide for short distances. The car is fitted with four small ion‑thrusters tucked under the rear wheels that, when powered, push the vehicle up to five metres for a few seconds.
During a live demo, the Roadster launched straight up a steep ramp, performed a 360‑degree spin in the air and landed safely on a runway, all while a series of audio cues played in the background. Musk joked that the audience needed to confirm that the car “is not AI”.
Technology editor Zoe Kleinman cautions that a true flying car will still face engineering, legal and cost hurdles. “You need safer, more reliable lift physics, an autonomous guidance system and a cost‑effective battery pack to make it road‑legal,” she says.
The legal framework for a hovering vehicle is still undeveloped. Current road safety laws do not cover flight systems, so the Roadster would need a specialised licence, new air‑traffic regulations and a convincing safety case before free‑roaming becomes a reality.
This story originally appeared on BBC News.
