Tesla has unveiled a redesigned Roadster sports car capable of briefly lifting into the air, turning mid-flight and landing on its wheels during a demonstration in Texas on October 15.

The demonstration, hosted by Tesla chief executive Elon Musk at a SpaceX facility, showed the electric vehicle climbing a curved ramp, travelling upside down before launching into the air and completing a mid-air turn. The car later demonstrated its ability to jump over other vehicles using rocket-style thrusters developed with SpaceX technology. 

The reveal has drawn widespread attention online, with viewers sharing footage of the demonstration. Musk also posted a video of the car on X, writing that the future does have flying cars. However, the demonstration showed brief aerial manoeuvres rather than sustained flight. 

Tesla vice-president of vehicle engineering Lars Moravy explained that the vehicle uses a suction system beneath the car to keep it attached to the curved ramp while upside down. Thrusters then help the vehicle lift off, turn in the air and return to the ground.

The company also demonstrated an acceleration run in which the Roadster reached 60 miles per hour (97 kilometres per hour) in 0.81 seconds. The performance figures and aerial capabilities were presented during the event and have not yet been established for a production vehicle. 

The unveiling comes nearly nine years after Tesla first introduced the next-generation Roadster in November 2017. The company initially planned to begin production in 2020, but the vehicle's development has faced repeated delays.

Tesla now expects production to begin in 2028. The company has not confirmed that every feature shown during the latest demonstration will be available in the production model. The rocket-equipped configuration is also not approved for public-road use. 

The Roadster is a high-performance electric sports car rather than a conventional flying vehicle. Its thruster system uses technology developed in collaboration with SpaceX, Musk's aerospace company, to perform brief aerial manoeuvres.