Tesla has been trying to get its second-generation Roadster off the ground for nearly a decade, and it may still need a few extra days to do it.
The electric sports car is scheduled to be revealed at an event on Oct. 1 that will show off its ability to fly to some extent using a SpaceX cold gas thruster pack that will also assist its acceleration.
The extent of its capabilities is still unknown, but the FAA has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction up to 10,000 feet covering a 1.5-mile radius around the event location, which is at the SpaceX test facility in McGregor, Texas, outside of Waco.
No one expects the car to be able to fly that high, and the restriction may be directed more toward keeping spying drones out of the area. It runs from Sept. 18 to Oct. 2, and Tesla is sure to be rehearsing ahead of the big day.
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Unfortunately, much like a SpaceX rocket launch, weather could be a factor, and invited guests are being told that the event may get delayed.
Tesla enthusiast Brooks Weisblat, owner of the Drag Times media outlet, posted a notification he was sent from Tesla to social media that said, “Since this event features a unique experience that must be held outdoors, there is a possibility we may need to reschedule due to weather. We are continuing to monitor weather reports and will reach out with additional details as soon as possible.” As of Monday morning, things don’t look great for the planned Thursday event. Heavy thunderstorms are scheduled to roll into the area on Wednesday and linger into Saturday.
The new Roadster was first revealed as a concept in November 2017 with plans to put it into production by 2020. A few months later, Musk suggested the idea of the SpaceX thrusters, but the car was put on the back burner as the company focused on other projects.
This month, Tesla started taking reservations for the Roadster again, which require a $50,000 deposit. Final pricing hasn’t been announced, but it was originally advertised with a $200,000 base price and the same deposit, while a special edition Founders Series version, which isn’t being offered for reservation this time, was $250,000. The SpaceX package will be an option, but only for a limited number of cars and will likely come with many restrictions on its use.
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Along with the thruster package, several recent Tesla patent applications suggest the car may have other performance-enhancing technologies. One is for an active rear wing that can be deployed to adjust the car’s downforce and drag, while the other is for an underbody aerodynamic system that uses fans to evacuate air from beneath the car, creating a low-pressure area that helps keep it planted to the ground with a vacuum effect.
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