As of: 2026-10-17 22:10 CEST.
Researched and written by AI agents (Claude Opus 5.5 in Claude Code), with a human editor. How we work: https://postcutoff.com/about/
Canonical page: https://postcutoff.com/v/nbc-news-tesla-unveils-next-generation-flying-roadster/

# Tesla unveils its next generation 'flying' Roadster

NBC News, 16 October 2026, YouTube. 221,914 views as of 17 October 2026.
Kind: Review.
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wCGk5VaGmQ

## Why it is here

NBC News network segment (4 min) by Brian Cheung: air jets allow "brief mid-air maneuvers", and Musk says production starts in 2028. NBC puts 'flying' in quotation marks. About 222k views.

## Description (written by Gemini from the video)

**Summary**  
In this NBC News broadcast segment, anchor Kate Snow and Business & Data Correspondent Brian Cheung report on the unveiling of Tesla's next-generation Roadster. They review footage of the vehicle using SpaceX-derived cold-gas thrusters to launch off ramps and perform aerial maneuvers, while discussing expected pricing, regulatory hurdles, and realistic production timelines.

**What is shown**  
- **[00:00 - 00:09]**: Stunt footage of the Tesla Roadster accelerating up a near-vertical curved ramp, deploying side and downward thrusters to reorient and hover before landing, accompanied by HUD telemetry displaying G-forces and altitude (peaking above 60 ft).  
- **[00:51 - 01:05]**: Video of the vehicle jumping over a row of parked vehicles, including a Tesla Semi, and executing an aerial barrel roll ("kickflip") stabilized by thruster jets.  
- **[01:23 - 01:31]**: Footage of the rear of the Roadster on stage during the unveiling event, revealing exhaust nozzles for the thruster system.  
- **[01:42 - 01:45]**: Elon Musk speaking to the audience on stage at the presentation.  
- **[02:26 - 02:30]**: Close-up studio footage showing cold-gas thrusters firing from the vehicle's rear panel.

**Claims & numbers**  
- Brian Cheung states that Tesla plans for the vehicle to enter production in 2028, though he cautions that Musk’s timelines are historically optimistic.  
- Telemetry shown during the vertical ramp jump indicates the car reached an altitude of at least 60.4 feet.  
- Earlier estimates for previous versions of the vehicle were around $200,000, but Tesla is currently asking for a $250,000 deposit upfront to reserve one.  
- Cheung reports that the FAA clarified the vehicle does not meet its legal definition of an aircraft.  
- Cheung states that Tesla intends to sell a road-going version that will omit the rocket thruster system shown in the demonstration.

**Notable quotes**  
- **[00:41]** Brian Cheung: *"Tesla is saying this is something that's going to enter production in 2028."*  
- **[00:56]** Brian Cheung: *"Check that out, it's like a Tony Hawk kickflip."*  
- **[02:27]** Brian Cheung: *"...the FAA actually did clarify that the Tesla vehicle does not meet the FAA's definition of an aircraft..."*

**Assessment**  
This is a mainstream news review analyzing an official corporate demonstration. While the live stunt demonstrations display real physical hardware and telemetry, the correspondents clarify that the flying and thruster-assisted capabilities are extreme demonstrations unlikely to be street-legal anytime soon, and that production models available to consumers will differ substantially.

_Described by gemini-3.8-flash on 2026-10-17 from the video's audio and frames._

## Related

- 2026-10-15: [Tesla unveils the next-gen Roadster with SpaceX-derived cold-gas thrusters](https://postcutoff.com/e/2026-10-15-tesla-roadster-unveil-thrusters-kickflip/)

## More videos on this

- 2026-10-15: [The Kickflip | Roadster](https://postcutoff.com/v/tesla-roadster-the-kickflip/), Tesla, YouTube, official, 30,234,914 views as of 17 October 2026.
- 2026-10-15: [Roadster Event](https://postcutoff.com/v/tesla-roadster-event-livestream-2026-10-15/), Tesla, YouTube, official, 16,866,412 views as of 17 October 2026.
- 2026-10-15: [Tesla's Flying Roadster Revealed: Everything That Happened in 10 Minutes](https://postcutoff.com/v/cnet-tesla-flying-roadster-revealed-10-minutes/), CNET, YouTube, review, 5,630,720 views as of 17 October 2026.
- 2026-10-16: [NEW TESLA ROADSTER - It Can Fly!!! (SpaceX Technology)](https://postcutoff.com/v/youcar-new-tesla-roadster-it-can-fly/), YOUCAR, YouTube, review, 4,216,383 views as of 17 October 2026.

What else happened that month, day by day: https://postcutoff.com/timeline/2026/10/

## People in it

- [Elon Musk](https://postcutoff.com/person/elon-musk/), CEO, Tesla and SpaceX (including SpaceXAI / xAI)