According to a report carried by The Express Tribune, Tesla showed off the new two-seat electric sports car at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas. In the demonstration, the car drove upside down on a ramp using a suction system, turned in the air and used thrusters to leap over a truck and other vehicles before landing.
Tesla vehicle engineering chief Lars Moravy said the Roadster can go from zero to 60 mph in under a second, reach a top speed above 230 mph (370 kph) and travel more than 300 miles (480 km) on a charge. That range is less than half of what Elon Musk promised in 2017.
No prices were announced at the event, but Tesla's reservation page lists a $50,000 deposit for a 'Performance' version and $250,000 for a 'Thrust' version with acceleration thrusters. A 'Rocket' variant is described as invite-only.
The report says Tesla shares rose 5% in premarket trading on Friday. Some analysts called the show an engineering flex with limited commercial value, while others saw it as a sign of Musk's interest in bringing Tesla and SpaceX closer together.
The next-generation Roadster was first unveiled in 2017 with deliveries promised for 2020, but it was repeatedly delayed. The reveal comes as Tesla shifts its focus toward self-driving technology and robotics.
More on The Express Tribune.