According to a column published across Nine Entertainment newspapers, the Roadster was shown to a live audience on Thursday. Musk reportedly said he invited the crowd to prove the demonstration was not generated by artificial intelligence. The car uses "explosive aerospace cold-gas thruster technology," reminiscent of rocket systems, though the author noted its exterior design resembled "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's wet dream."
The internet responded with a mix of humor and serious analysis. One X post about the inefficiency of vertical rocket thrust for a two-tonne vehicle was cited: "Continually using thrust to hold a two-tonne vehicle against Earth's gravity is incredibly inefficient... you can't engineer away the fundamental problem."
Public curiosity was high, with "How much does a Tesla flying car cost?" becoming one of the top three "people also ask" questions on Google by the following Saturday. The column states the price is upwards of $200,000 and production is not scheduled to start until 2028.
The author also reflected on the mixed public perception of Musk, comparing him to Michael Jackson as a visionary whose personal life complicates public enthusiasm for his achievements.