Jump now, deliver later

A white Tesla Roadster climbed a curved ramp at a SpaceX facility in Texas last Thursday, kept going until it was upside down, then dropped into the air, flipped upright and landed on its wheels.

It later jumped over five parked Tesla vehicles, including a Semi truck, in a demonstration that looked more like something from a video game.

Elon Musk had promised something spectacular when Tesla unveiled its long-delayed second-generation Roadster on 15 October, and judging from the videos and reactions circulating online, he certainly delivered.

Musk said on X that the future now has flying cars, although what Tesla demonstrated was the ability to make brief, controlled jumps rather than sustained flight from one destination to another.

Filipino motorists, meanwhile, quickly imagined how they might use it on our roads.

Somebody suggested that a Roadster owner could leave the Skyway wherever he wanted instead of waiting for the next exit ramp.

Another replied that blasting floodwater away might work, although people nearby would probably not appreciate getting drenched by the resulting spray.

Some imagined using the car to jump over deep holes in the road, although another commenter pointed out that it might simply land in another one farther down the road.

Other commenters were more concerned about the electrical cables hanging above many of our streets.

One particularly amusing discussion concerned which government agency would have jurisdiction over such a vehicle, with the Land Transportation Office giving way to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

Filipinos can actually reserve the Roadster, though not the version seen performing aerial stunts. Tesla lists three versions, beginning with the two-seat Performance model, followed by the Thrust version with rear-mounted jets for additional acceleration.

The single-seat Rocket version has the equipment needed for airborne maneuvers, but it is available by invitation only and is not approved for public road use.

Reserving the Performance version costs P350,000 upfront and another P3.15 million within 10 days. The Thrust version requires the same initial payment, followed by P17.15 million. These are reservation fees, not the final prices. Tesla has yet to announce the prices and delivery dates.

The latest production target is 2028, eight years after the original 2020 deadline announced when Tesla unveiled the Roadster in 2017. Musk has delivered on ambitious promises before, but after several missed deadlines, buyers must read the reservation terms carefully.

I enjoyed watching the Roadster flip in midair and land safely on its wheels. The engineers deserve credit for pulling it off.

As for our roads, I think I would be quite happy with a car that could handle our badly maintained streets without having to leave the ground.