Elon Musk is Serious About the Tesla Roadster Rocket Thrusters
Last week it was reported the next-generation Tesla Roadster would be offered with a ‘SpaceX’ option package.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk didn’t make it immediately clear what the SpaceX branded pack would entail, but the outspoken executive shared a bit more details on Twitter this week and they are suitably ridiculous.
Musk says the next-generation Roadster’s SpaceX option package will include approximately 10 small rocket thrusters that will help to dramatically improve its acceleration, braking and cornering performance. Rather than combustion-powered rockets, however, these will essentially be ultra high-pressure air bottles that could be repressurized using an onboard air pump.
He claims the thrusters are a new type of composite cold air pressure bottle that SpaceX has designed for NASA missions and that they “literally bulletproof.”
Note, gas contained would be ultra high pressure air in a SpaceX rocket COPV bottle. The air exiting the thrusters would immediately be replenished whenever vehicle pack power draw allowed operation of the air pump, which is most of the time.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2018
Musk also claims the output of the thrusters is “insane.”
SEE ALSO: “SpaceX Option Package” on Tap for the Tesla Roadster
One drawback to the SpaceX option package is that the tanks will take the place of the Roadster’s rear seats, making it a two-seater rather than a 2+2. We imagine the tech-obsessed buyers of the Roadster won’t be too upset they had to forego rear seats for a grouping of powerful cold air thrusters, though.
The Tesla Roadster is still quite a long way out and the American automaker has a number of hurdles to clear before the six-figure supercar can be brought to market, namely its Model 3 production woes, but this frankly bonkers advancement will definitely have Tesla fans even more excited for its arrival.
Our only question is, will other automakers being to look at using compressed air thrusters to boost vehicle performance, or will this zany idea stay exclusive to Tesla?
Discuss this story on our Tesla Forum.
Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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P. T. BARNUM on steroids... good grief.
Man, you two are duds. Enjoy your boring lives, ya Negative Nancys. ;) haha