Tesla’s New Roadster Takes Flight. By Christopher Otts at the WSJ.

After nine years, potentially millions of dollars in deposits and considerable hype, the Tesla Roadster is finally ready to launch—which it did.

The electric automaker on Thursday unveiled its second-generation sports car with a flourish of engineering prowess. Using SpaceX rocket technology, the angular sports car climbed a curved ramp and hurled itself to a controlled landing. Later, it leapt over five other Tesla vehicles while twisting in the air.

Three short clips:

 

The demonstration was held before a crowd of Tesla enthusiasts — some of whom paid $250,000 to reserve the car nine years ago — at a SpaceX rocket test site facility in McGregor, Texas. ….

The Roadster uses “a fan suction system” underneath to increase grip and downforce. Not long after that, the Roadster jumped through the air — as Musk long promised — using a pair of compressed-air thrusters.

Cost? No answer yet. Street legal? Depends which streets. Full self flying? No idea. Government involvement? As little as possible.

Turns out the future does have flying cars.