Elon Musk hints at Tesla flying car, but details remain secret 

Elon Musk is once again blurring the line between reality and science fiction, this time by suggesting that Tesla may soon unveil a flying car. Appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the Tesla CEO said the company is “getting close to demonstrating the prototype” of what he described as “crazy, crazy technology.”   Musk told Rogan that the upcoming product demonstration “has a shot at being the most memorable product unveil ever,” but declined to offer specifics about the vehicle’s capabilities. When Rogan asked whether it would actually fly, Musk referenced venture capitalist Peter Thiel’s remark that “the future was supposed to have flying cars,” adding only, “We don’t have flying cars.” 

Pressed for details, Musk avoided confirming whether the new Tesla — widely assumed to be the long-delayed next-generation Roadster — would have retractable wings or some other form of lift. “I can’t do the unveil before the unveil,” he said, while hinting that the prototype could be shown publicly “in a couple of months.” He added that Tesla needed to “make sure that it works,” calling the underlying technology “some crazy, crazy technology… crazy, crazy.” 

Tesla has discussed a new Roadster for years, first unveiling a prototype in 2017 and delaying production repeatedly since its planned 2020 debut. Musk has often teased that the car would include a “SpaceX package” with cold-air thrusters or vacuum fans to improve acceleration and downforce. Engineers and analysts have speculated that these same systems could, at least theoretically, allow the vehicle to hover briefly — though not sustain actual flight. 

What remains unclear is whether Tesla intends to produce a true flying vehicle or simply a car that borrows from aerospace design for extreme performance. Musk’s phrasing leaves open both possibilities. Media outlets including Electrek and InsideEVs have noted that Tesla filed patents for a fan-based system capable of generating vacuum effects under the car to increase grip or provide limited lift. Whether that translates into a genuine “flying car” remains to be seen. 

Musk’s comments come as interest surges in advanced air mobility, with companies like Alef Aeronautics, Joby Aviation, and Archer Aviation developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Alef recently received limited FAA approval to test a road-drivable electric vehicle capable of short airborne hops. If Tesla were to enter that space, it would instantly bring enormous visibility — and regulatory scrutiny — to the sector. 

For the aviation community, the implications could be significant. A road-legal vehicle capable of even brief liftoff could demand an entirely new regulatory framework to address safety, maintenance, and operator licensing. A Tesla-branded flying car, even as a prototype, could move the discussion from niche innovation to mainstream debate. 

Still, Musk’s ambitious timelines have often slipped, and his language tends to blend engineering intent with marketing flair. Previous promises about self-driving cars, humanoid robots, and interplanetary transport have taken years to materialize — or remain aspirational. Even so, Tesla’s technical depth, combined with SpaceX’s aerospace experience, makes crossover technology between road and air more plausible than before. 

For now, Tesla has not confirmed a date, price, or specifications for the vehicle. Musk said only that the demo would happen “soon” and that the company is ensuring “it works.” Until then, the so-called flying car remains a tantalizing possibility — part hype, part ambition, and perhaps a glimpse of genuine innovation. Whether it hovers for seconds or truly takes flight, the unveiling will test not only Tesla’s engineering prowess but also the limits of how future mobility is defined. The post Elon Musk hints at Tesla flying car, but details remain secret  appeared first on AeroTime.

Go to Source