At SpaceX’s test site in McGregor, Texas, a new Tesla Roadster prototype drove up a steep ramp, launched into the air and rotated approximately 180 degrees before landing on its wheels. The vehicle then cleared a row of parked Tesla vehicles using compressed-air thrusters developed with SpaceX technology.
No driverless Tesla was inside the car during either maneuver. Musk stated the vehicle ran driverless specifically to reduce safety risk to personnel.
The demonstration consisted of brief aerial maneuvers at a private test facility, not sustained flight or a commuter-ready capability. According to reporting by Fortune, the FAA told CBS News and Politico that the vehicle does not meet its definition of an aircraft. Tesla’s own product information, as reported by Fortune and NBC News, indicates the thruster-equipped version is not approved for public road use.
A production timeline of 2028 has been discussed by Musk and Tesla, though safety certification and regulatory approval remain open questions.
What You Can Actually Do Right Now
A free browser game built in a matter of days puts a version of the Roadster stunt in your hands, without the thrusters or the liability.
Montreal-based software engineer Niko Draca watched the Tesla demonstration and observed widespread online speculation about regular drivers replicating the maneuver on public roads. He responded by building Roadflip, a free browser game available at roadflip.lol.
According to the supplied research, Draca completed the project in a few days. The game’s mechanics draw inspiration from the exaggerated physics of classic skateboarding games.
Players control a virtual Roadster, attempt flips and airborne tricks, and earn points for clean landings. No official relationship between Roadflip and Tesla or SpaceX was identified.
Spectacle vs. Product
The gap between what Tesla demonstrated and what it can actually deliver to consumers remains substantial.
Tesla’s McGregor event drew significant attention, but attention and availability are separate things. The Roadster prototype that performed the aerial stunt is not a consumer product, and its thruster-equipped configuration is not approved for public road use. Tesla’s stated production target is 2028, with safety and regulatory questions still unresolved.
Roadflip fills that gap with something immediately accessible. The game is fan-made and unofficial, and no affiliation with Tesla or SpaceX has been established.
Roadflip does not validate the real Roadster’s performance claims, production schedule, or regulatory prospects. It simulates an entertainment spectacle, which is precisely what Tesla’s own demonstration was. For anyone curious about what a backflipping Roadster looks like in motion, a Gas vs Diesel vs Electric comparison may interest cost-conscious readers, while a browser tab is the only option currently available to the public for experiencing the stunt itself.
