Tesla CEO Elon Musk has unveiled a redesigned version of the company’s long-awaited Roadster sports car, showcasing a prototype that performed aerial stunts using technology developed in collaboration with SpaceX.

The demonstration took place on Thursday at a SpaceX testing facility in McGregor, Texas, where the vehicle drove up a steep ramp, remained upside down before launching into the air, performed a mid-air flip and landed using built-in air thrusters.

The two-seater electric sports car later demonstrated another manoeuvre, leaping over a row of parked Tesla vehicles using the same propulsion system.

Musk said the vehicle could accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than one second, a performance claim that would put it among the fastest-accelerating production-intended cars if achieved under real-world conditions.

The car was operated without a person inside during the demonstration, which Musk said was a safety precaution.

“Success is not guaranteed,” he told the audience before the display, acknowledging that the demonstration could fail.

Musk described the vehicle as the result of collaboration between Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, and SpaceX, his aerospace company. The Roadster uses a combination of an underbody suction system and high-pressure air thrusters to perform its unusual manoeuvres.

Tesla’s vehicle engineering chief, Lars Moravy, explained that the suction system helps the car remain attached to the curved ramp while upside down, while the thrusters provide the force needed for its aerial movements.

Despite the dramatic display, questions remain over how much of the demonstrated technology will be available to customers and whether the vehicle will be practical for ordinary road use.

The demonstration showed the car briefly leaving the ground and performing controlled aerial manoeuvres. It did not establish that the vehicle could sustain flight over long distances like an aircraft.

The distinction is important because developing a road vehicle that can also fly presents significant engineering challenges. Cars require structures designed to withstand collisions, while aircraft must minimise weight and meet demanding stability and safety requirements.

Roger Connor, curator for vertical flight at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, previously told CNN that combining the two functions could compromise performance in both areas and make the vehicle expensive.

Other companies are also developing flying vehicles. California-based start-up Alef, for example, has been working on a vehicle that uses multiple propellers to lift off vertically. However, such technology remains distinct from the capabilities demonstrated by Tesla’s thruster-equipped prototype.

Jim Dukhovny, Alef’s chief executive, told CNN that getting a vehicle off the ground was possible, but managing the transition between vertical lift and forward movement remained a major engineering challenge.

Tesla plans to begin production of the new Roadster in 2028, according to announcements made at the unveiling. The timeline follows years of delays since the next-generation model was first announced in 2017.

The company has not yet demonstrated that the Roadster can provide sustained, practical flight for everyday owners. Questions about its final specifications, price, regulatory approval and the availability of its aerial capabilities also remain.

For now, the unveiling represents a high-profile demonstration of Tesla and SpaceX’s ambitions to combine electric vehicle engineering with rocket-inspired propulsion technology, rather than proof that flying cars are ready for widespread use.