Tesla Roadster earns praise, but Elon Musk’s promises raise doubts
Tesla unveiled a new Roadster that climbed an inverted slope, took off into the air and landed on its wheels. Reaction in technology circles has been mixed.
Gurban Gurbanzadeh2 min read
Tesla unveiled the new Roadster at a presentation on Thursday at a SpaceX facility in the US state of Texas. During the demonstration, the car climbed an inverted slope, lifted off the ground, performed a turn in the air and landed on its wheels. The maneuver was made possible by a thrust system that Tesla developed together with SpaceX, the rocket company led by Elon Musk.
According to the company, the car accelerates from zero to 60 miles per hour, or roughly 97 kilometers per hour, in 0.81 seconds. Tesla says such figures exceed the capabilities of traditional sports cars. The demonstration drew mixed reactions in technology and economic circles: some praised the car's unusual capabilities, while others doubt that what was shown can be turned into a production car.
Praise and skepticism
American investor Jason Calacanis compared what he saw with technology from science fiction films. Technology analyst Jin Monster called the car a demonstration of exceptional engineering capabilities that reflects the level of cooperation between Tesla and SpaceX.
OpenAI head Sam Altman praised the new design, although his disagreements with Musk are well known. YouTuber specializing in technology Marques Brownlee, known as MKBHD, questioned the stated specifications, primarily the speed and the ability to perform the announced aerial maneuvers.
Meta's head of artificial intelligence, Alexandr Wang, asked who was driving the car during the demonstration. Programmer John Carmack expressed concerns about the safety of the technology, given possible risks associated with the use of thrust systems in cars.
Production timeline and limits
Musk said production will not begin before 2028. The first concept of this car was presented in 2017, and the project has since been delayed by years.
Tesla says a version with full flight capability is not approved for use on public roads and will be available only by invitation. A limited series with exceptional acceleration figures requires a financial commitment of $250,000 within ten days after submitting a reservation request.
The car's design has also drawn mixed assessments. Tesla moved away from the smooth lines of the first model in favor of a harder shape that partly resembles a fighter jet. The company's ability to deliver on its production and safety promises will, in effect, determine whether the Roadster becomes a commercial product or remains a demonstration of Tesla's technological capabilities.
Source: skynewsarabia.com
