The single-seat Rocket trim pairs a multi-mode suction system with perimeter-mounted cold-gas thrusters for flight and rotational movement, claiming a 0 to 60 mph time under 0.59 seconds, a top speed above 230 mph and more than 300 miles of range, though it is not approved for public roads. The two-seat Thrust trim replaces the rear seats with a cold-gas tank and rear thrusters to hit 60 mph in under 0.9 seconds, while the road-ready Performance model uses active aerodynamics and suction to reach 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds. All models use a 1 MW rear-wheel drive unit and battery system with one-third more power and half the mass of the Model S Plaid's.
At Thursday's reveal at SpaceX's testing site in McGregor, Texas, the vehicle used 10 nozzles and 250 kilograms of compressed air to launch off a ramp, flip midair over a row of Teslas, and stick upside down using a fan-suction system rated up to 2G. CEO Elon Musk said the air tanks can recharge while driving and that the production version could target Mach 0.5 when manufacturing begins in 2028, nearly a decade after the second-generation sports car was first shown in 2017 with an original 2020 delivery target.