How the New Roadster Does Its Three Tricks: Fans, Thrusters and Wings, Explained Claim by Claim
By EV Bandit | Updated October 17, 2026
At a glance. The new Roadster shown on October 15 uses three separate systems: underbody fans that press it to the road, cold gas thrusters that move it through the air, and an active rear wing. Every number below is a Tesla claim. No customer car exists, and Musk put production in 2028.
Key takeaways
- The new Roadster shown on October 15 uses three separate systems: underbody fans that press it to the road, cold gas thrusters that move it through the air, and an active rear wing.
- Musk said the fan suction system can pull up to two g's in corners. Drive Tesla Canada says the demo generated over 4,700 kg of downforce, a single-sourced figure.
- TechCrunch reported Lars Moravy saying the car uses 10 thrusters connected to 600 liters of compressed air. Thrusters come only on the Thrust and Rocket trims.
- Every number is a Tesla claim. No customer car exists, and Musk put production in 2028.
The headline images from Thursday night were a car hanging upside down and a car flipping in mid-air. They come from two different systems, and mixing them up is the most common mistake in the coverage. This page separates them. For the full event record, the leaks and the patents, see our event page.
Trick one: the fans
Drive Tesla Canada reports that powered fans pull air from under the car while seals around the underbody create suction, so downforce does not depend on speed. Musk said the car has a "fan suction system on the bottom of the car that can pull up to two g's," and Tesla says it can support cornering above 2 g, against roughly 1.26 g from the tires alone.
The demo figure is bigger: Drive Tesla, citing its own post-event reporting, says the system generated over 4,700 kg of downforce, enough to hold the car upside down. It describes two modes, extra traction at low speed and open front and rear air passages at higher speed.
The fans push the car down. They do not make it fly.
Trick two: the thrusters
The flip and the jump came from cold gas thrusters. In our event page we reported, from TechCrunch, Tesla engineering VP Lars Moravy saying the car uses 10 thrusters connected to 600 liters of compressed air in a rechargeable tank. Drive Tesla adds that thrusters also make rapid stabilization adjustments while the car is airborne. Tesla offers thrusters only on the Thrust (rear-mounted) and Rocket (perimeter) trims; the Performance trim has none.
Trick three: the wing
Drive Tesla reports an adjustable rear wing whose actuators come from Tesla's Optimus robot program, with the angle adjusting automatically to balance downforce against drag. Tesla calls the overall package "the best passive downforce package of any road car" and Drive Tesla relays the claim that it approaches F1 levels. Tesla's earlier wing patent application describes a similar design; it is an application, not a granted patent, and does not name the Roadster.
The claims ledger
| Claim | Status | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Fans can pull up to 2 g in corners | Tesla claim, not independently tested | Musk at the unveiling, via Drive Tesla Canada |
| Over 4,700 kg of downforce in the demo | Single-sourced figure | Drive Tesla Canada only; we found no second outlet confirming the number |
| 10 thrusters, 600 liters of compressed air | Reported by two of our event-page sources | TechCrunch quoting Lars Moravy, per our event page |
| Wing actuators come from Optimus | Single-sourced | Drive Tesla Canada |
| This technology will reach other Tesla cars | Not claimed by anything we read | No source says so; the thrusters are limited to the Thrust and Rocket trims |
What we could not confirm
We could not independently test any claim. We could not re-open the TechCrunch and Electrek pages this session, so the thruster figures rest on our earlier reading of them. We do not know the price, the warranty position on the stunt features, or whether the demo car matches the production design.
Frequently asked questions
How does the new Tesla Roadster hang upside down?
Powered fans pull air from under the car while seals around the underbody create suction, according to Drive Tesla Canada. Drive Tesla says the system generated over 4,700 kg of downforce in the demo, enough to hold the car upside down. That figure is single-sourced.
How does the Tesla Roadster flip and jump?
The flip and the jump came from cold gas thrusters. TechCrunch reported Tesla engineering VP Lars Moravy saying the car uses 10 thrusters connected to 600 liters of compressed air in a rechargeable tank.
Which Tesla Roadster trims have thrusters?
Tesla offers thrusters only on the Thrust (rear-mounted) and Rocket (perimeter) trims. The Performance trim has none.
How much cornering grip do the Roadster fans add?
Musk said the fan suction system can pull up to two g's, and Tesla says it can support cornering above 2 g, against roughly 1.26 g from the tires alone. It is a Tesla claim, not independently tested.
When will the new Tesla Roadster go into production?
Musk put production in 2028. No customer car exists, and every number Tesla has given is a Tesla claim.
For reporters and researchers. Suggested citation: "EV Bandit, 'How the New Roadster Does Its Three Tricks,' October 17, 2026, evbandit.com." If you hold a primary Tesla document that settles an unconfirmed row, send it to us and we will correct the page and credit you.
Would you pay a $50,000 reservation for a car you will wait two years for? Tell us in the Tesla Model Y Owners group, 255,000 members strong.
Sources
- Drive Tesla Canada: Roadster fan suction system and downforce (Oct 15, 2026)
- TechCrunch: Tesla reveals SpaceX-powered Roadster (Oct 15, 2026)
- EV Bandit event page, with the full source list