The FLYING Tesla Roadster explained by the man who engineered it

Summary
Motoring journalist Henry Catchpole of Hagerty hosts an exclusive first look inside a SpaceX hangar at the next-generation Tesla Roadster, guided by Tesla Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy. Moravy breaks down the car’s rear-wheel-drive powertrain, 4680 battery pack, active aerodynamics, suction fan system, and the SpaceX-developed cold-gas thruster flight package. Catchpole then reflects on the vehicle’s engineering and observes the live night demonstration where stunt cars launch off an over-vertical ramp.

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What is shown

• [00:27–00:42]: Clips of the Roadster launching off an over-vertical ramp, firing thrusters mid-air, and landing.
• [01:18–02:05]: Catchpole arrives blindfolded in an autonomous vehicle at a SpaceX facility, enters a curtained enclosure, and unveils the white Roadster prototype.
• [02:40–04:30]: Walkaround discussion with Lars Moravy detailing the rear-wheel-drive setup, custom tires, and estimated curb weight.
• [04:51–07:30]: Standalone display of the structural battery pack and rear drive unit, showcasing double-sided cooling channels, aluminum 4680 cell cans, titanium upper protective plate, and inverter integration.
• [09:20–09:49]: Close-up of the ultra-slim (15 mm) pop-down front headlights and active hood cooling vents.
• [10:15–11:35]: Inspection of the active aero features, including front intake wings (up to 80° articulation), motorized bargeboards, and rear wing deployment.
• [12:43–14:15]: Demonstration of the rear diffuser fan system (“sucker system”) featuring four 20 kW electric compressor fans and deployable skirts.
• [14:35–15:15]: Close-up of the rear wing mechanism driven by adapted Tesla Optimus robotic leg actuators.
• [15:32–16:18]: Close inspection of the rear cold-gas thrusters and carbon-overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV).
• [20:33–22:32]: Detailed bench inspection of the 200-liter carbon-overwrapped nitrogen tank, Optimus-actuated throttle valve, and nozzle plumbing.
• [22:33–23:36]: Interior walkaround showing fixed-base bucket seats with adjustable pedal box, steer-by-wire yoke, and driver-tilted central display.
• [26:16–27:03]: Postscript shot at night outdoors as attendees walk away from the illuminated stunt ramp following the launch show.

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Claims & numbers

• Drivetrain & Power: Lars Moravy states the prototype is exclusively rear-wheel drive, powered by two rear motors generating over 1 MW (>1,340 hp) and over 1,400 Nm of torque (Catchpole adds 1,341 hp and 1,033 lb-ft).
• Weight: Moravy targets a curb weight just under 1,700 kg.
• Battery & Charging: Utilizes in-house 4680 cells with aluminum casings, double-sided cooling, and an 800V–1,000V architecture; claims 15% to 80% DC fast charging in 10 minutes and a range exceeding 300 miles.
• Aerodynamics & Downforce: Active conventional aero produces over 2G of downforce at speeds above 200 mph.
• Suction Fan System: Four 20 kW fans (adapted from HVAC compressor motors) paired with four independent deployable skirts pull downforce from 0–50 mph, allowing over 2G of lateral grip at low speed.
• SpaceX Thruster Package: Standard “Thrust model” carries a 200 L COPV storing nitrogen at 10,000 psi to drive four rear thrusters producing over 80 kN of thrust.
• Acceleration:
  • Performance model (fans only): 0–60 mph in 1.6 seconds (top speed 210 mph).
  • Thrust model: 0–60 mph in 0.85 seconds (or 0.55 seconds with rollout subtracted), pulling over 5G acceleration; top speed 230 mph.
• Flight System: Upgrades to 600 L of nitrogen storage (adding a 400 L tank that turns the car into a single-seater) and 6 additional thrusters (one at each corner and two front yaw thrusters) for controlled jumps and aerial maneuvers.
• Refill Time: Nitrogen tanks currently take 6–7 hours to refill, with engineering targeting roughly 30 minutes in the future.

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Notable quotes

• [02:43] Lars Moravy: “First thing I guess I’ll say, because it’s a bit of a surprise, is it’s only rear-wheel drive.”
• [14:52] Lars Moravy: “These are actually leg actuators from Optimus.”
• [15:56] Lars Moravy: “With the suction system and this, and the powertrain that is over a megawatt, we can actually do it in 0.55 seconds.”

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Assessment
This is an authentic journalistic first-look feature and technical interview produced by Hagerty in collaboration with Tesla engineering leadership. While the bench hardware, aerodynamic mechanisms, powertrain units, and static vehicle interior are presented live in-studio, the extreme flight stunts and high-speed launching clips seen in the intro and demo reels are promotional launch event captures. Catchpole specifically notes in his postscript that his initial studio reactions were filmed prior to watching the actual outdoor stunt show demonstration.

Described by gemini-3.8-flash on 2026-10-16 from the video’s audio and frames.