Elon Musk has demonstrated a Tesla Roadster equipped with rocket technology, according to Dutch outlets covering the event. De Telegraaf reports that the car can reach 100 kilometers per hour in less than one second. Tweakers and AD.nl both describe the same acceleration figure, with AD.nl framing the vehicle as a "rocket car."
The question of how much the Roadster actually flies is central to De Telegraaf's coverage. In its headline, the newspaper compares the car to a chicken rather than an albatross — suggesting the vehicle's airborne capability is more limited than the name implies. NU reports that Tesla's newest model "flies," but notes it is unclear whether the car is permitted on public roads.
AutoWeek described the Roadster as the most absurd car it has ever seen, according to its headline.
The demonstration places the Roadster in a category of its own among production vehicles, with acceleration figures that no conventional car approaches. Musk has previously promised rocket-thruster technology for the Roadster, and this event appears to be the first public showing of that capability in action.
What remains unresolved is regulatory: no outlet in the coverage indicates that the Roadster has been approved for road use, and NU's report explicitly raises the question. Whether Tesla pursues certification, and how authorities would classify a vehicle with rocket thrusters, is the next thing to watch.