The Tesla Roadster Is Quicker Than Falling Off a Cliff

How does the new Tesla Roadster hit 0–60 mph in 0.81 seconds, hang upside down and even fly? This animated explainer shows how the Tesla Roadster actually works, from its suction fans to its SpaceX cold-gas rocket thrusters. On 15 October 2026, at a SpaceX test site in Texas, Tesla revealed the second-generation Roadster. It drove up a curved wall until it hung upside down, flipped in mid-air, jumped a row of parked cars and a Semi, and on Tesla's timer reached 60 mph in 0.81 seconds. That's more than three times quicker than a car falling off a cliff, and tyres alone can't do it. So we take the car apart. Inside, it's really three machines in one body: an electric car, a giant vacuum cleaner and a rocket. In this video: • Why grip, not horsepower, limits 0–60 times, and what "1 G" means • Two rear motors with over a megawatt (about 1,340 hp), an 8.4:1 planetary gearbox and torque vectoring with no differential • The "sucker system": four suction fans and drop-down skirts that create downforce at zero speed, the same idea as the 1978 Formula One fan car • The SpaceX package: a 200-litre carbon-fibre nitrogen tank at up to 10,000 psi, supersonic nozzles, and why nothing burns in a cold-gas thruster • Active aero and Track Mode: front edges that tilt up to 80°, barge boards, and a rear wing moved by Optimus robot actuators • The battery: 4680 cells, 800 volts, 500 kW charging, and why the range dropped to 300+ miles • The Rocket version that can fly: ten thrusters and 600 litres of nitrogen • A reality check on Tesla's claims, prices and the 2028 production date CHAPTERS 0:00 Tesla Roadster reveal: 0–60 in 0.81 seconds 1:07 Grip: why power isn't enough 2:45 Suction fans: how it hangs upside down 4:27 SpaceX cold-gas thrusters explained 6:27 Active aero and Track Mode 7:39 Battery, charging and weight 9:02 How the Roadster flies + reality check QUICK ANSWERS How fast is the new Tesla Roadster from 0 to 60? 0.81 seconds on Tesla's timer at the reveal. Tesla quotes under 1 second for the Thrust version. Can the Tesla Roadster really fly? Only the invite-only Rocket version. Its ten cold-gas thrusters and 600 litres of nitrogen allow short flights, and it isn't approved for public roads. How does it stay on the wall upside down? Four fans pull air out from under the car while skirts seal the gap. Tesla says the suction can hold the car upside down even when it isn't moving. How long do the thrusters last? Reports from the reveal put a full tank at roughly five seconds of thrust, and refilling takes hours. When does it come out, and how much is it? Elon Musk says production starts in 2028. Tesla hasn't announced a price; reservations are $50,000. What's the range? More than 300 miles, according to Tesla. Almost every figure in this video comes from Tesla or its engineers, not from independent testing. Earthwright is not affiliated with Tesla or SpaceX. Earthwright explains how the world is built, one animated story at a time. Subscribe for the next one. CREDITS Thumbnail photos courtesy of Tesla, Inc. #TeslaRoadster #Tesla #SpaceX