This is the dramatic moment Elon Musk appeared to unveil his first flying car, as he launched the new Tesla Roadster with a spectacular demonstration last night.
In a stunning clip, the vehicle goes up an upside-down ramp before doing a flip and falling toward the ground – but not before the attitude-control and rear rocket thrusters activate and allow it to hover to safety, as the crowd roars.
Musk declared the new vehicle is 'going to crush every track record that has ever existed', and claimed it would be available by 2028.
'It can basically fly like a rocket. It could do rolls. It could do crazy gymnastics. Whatever you want, really,' he added.
Speaking at the reveal event in McGregor, Texas, Musk explained that the car's impressive flipping abilities were due to the addition of 'altitude controls, thrusters and main thrusters in the rear'.
He did caution, however, that 'this is not necessarily a safety-optimized car, but it takes the fun meter to 11 out of ten'.
Last year, Musk promised the retooled Roadster – Tesla's original car that hasn't been in production since 2012 – would fly, in part because he said fellow billionaire Peter Thiel wants a flying vehicle.
He appeared to make his dreams come true last night at the event last night, live from SpaceX's testing facility in McGregor.
Elon Musk brought his long-promised flying Tesla Roadster to the public eye for the first time, with a declaration that 'flying cars are real' and a promise to make them available by 2028
Musk appeared to make his dreams come true Thursday night at a reveal event live from SpaceX's testing facility in McGregor, Texas
More clips of the new Roadster shared by Musk on X showcase even more dramatic flying abilities.
In one demonstration, the Roadster drives directly towards a row of parked vehicles before flinging itself into the air, flipping over, and landing safely on the other side.
In another, the Roadster jumps directly into the air from a stationary position, hovering as it rolls over and gently lowers itself back to the ground in a cloud of smoke.
The car's rapid-firing thrusters with their plumes of white smoke are reminiscent of the Reaction Control System used to control spacecraft and lunar landers, such as SpaceX's Starship Human Landing System.
This might not be much of a surprise, given that Musk says the new Tesla Roadster has been designed in collaboration with SpaceX.
Besides its stunning rocket abilities, Tesla says the Roadster can accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour in approximately 0.81 seconds and hit a top speed of 230mph.
The company's engineers claim the Roadster uses a suction fan system under the car that generates up to 2G of downforce that lets it stick to the road, Car Sales reported.
The vehicle goes all the way up an upside-down ramp before doing a flip in the air and falling toward the ground, but not before the attitude-control thrusters and rear rocket thrusters activate and allow it to hover to safety
According to the tech billionaire, this is what allowed the car to stick to a steel ramp even when upside-down.
Musk says he is currently targeting 2028 to begin production of the new sports car/
On Tesla's 'Reserve Your Roadster' webpage, customers can pay a refundable $50,000 (£37,525) deposit on a 'performance' model Tesla Roadster featuring 'active aero and a multi-mode suction system'.
Customers can also reserve a model with a 'thrust' augment, featuring 'acceleration thrusters' for $250,000 (£187,656).
Meanwhile, a 'rocket' augment is available on an invite-only basis, and claims to be: 'Air ready with seating for one. Includes Performance and Thrust, plus a full flight system.'
However, the full price of the vehicle is yet to be confirmed, and the road legality of some features remains unclear.
'I'm not sure it's necessarily legal in all jurisdictions, but there will be such a car that someone can own,' said Musk.
Musk's obsession with flying cars dates back to 2018, when he teased a 'SpaceX package' for the Roadster that would use cold-air thrusters – actual rocket tech – to boost performance, improve handling, and maybe even 'hover' for short bursts.
Musk declared the new vehicle is 'going to crush every track record that has ever existed'
However, in 2017, Musk claimed flying cars would never take off.
'Obviously, I like flying things,' Musk told Bloomberg.
'But it's difficult to imagine the flying car becoming a scalable solution.'
He also said there's a risk of falling debris if flying cars were to get in a mid-air crash.
'If somebody doesn't maintain their flying car, it could drop a hubcap and guillotine you,' Musk said.
'Your anxiety level will not decrease as a result of things that weigh a lot buzzing around your head.'
But if this latest demonstration is to be believed, Tesla appears to have overcome some of those technical limitations to bring flying cars from science fiction to reality.
In an interview with Joe Rogan last year, Musk insisted the car's next unveiling is 'getting close', and said a press event with the flying car will land before the end of the year.
During the three-hour podcast, he spent a few minutes trying to sell Rogan on the Cybertruck before Rogan cut in to ask: 'What about the Roadster?'
'Oh, that's coming,' Musk replied before coyly adding a few vague details.
'We're going to do something really special with that. It's going to be the most memorable product unveil ever.'
Rogan asked him for more information after they turned off the recording equipment.
Musk did caution, however, that 'this is not necessarily a safety-optimized car, but it takes the fun meter to 11 out of ten'
Tesla has been promising the Roadster since 2017 – and taking deposits on the high–powered vehicle
Should flying cars become mainstream, what risks and rewards do you foresee for our daily lives?
Earlier this year, Toyota announced it was doubling down on its vision of flying taxis after announcing a major new manufacturing partnership with California-based Joby Aviation.
Their goal is to mass produce electric aircraft capable of whisking passengers over congested cities at speeds of almost 200mph.
The Japanese auto giant is taking a controlling 51 per cent stake in the new venture, called Joby Toyota Aero Manufacturing Preparation Company, while Joby will own the remaining 49 per cent.
The announcement sent Joby's shares soaring as investors cheered what could become one of the biggest milestones yet in the race to bring commercial air taxis to everyday commuters.
Rather than looking like a conventional aeroplane, Joby's futuristic craft is a cross between a helicopter and a sleek private jet.
The all-electric vehicle uses six tilting propellers to take off and land vertically before transitioning into forward flight like an aeroplane.
It can carry a pilot and four passengers, and it's designed to reach speeds of nearly 200mph while producing far less noise than a traditional helicopter.
Toyota said the partnership will focus on improving manufacturing quality, reducing production costs and eventually mass-producing the aircraft.