Flying Tesla Roadster: the inspiration behind APEX / AIR

What does Tesla say about the flying Roadster?

Tesla’s Roadster material describes Performance, Thrust and Rocket versions. It says suction draws air from beneath the car to create downforce, while cold-gas thrusters provide a separate source of thrust. The Rocket version adds perimeter thrusters for upward acceleration and rotation. These are manufacturer descriptions, rather than independent test results. See Tesla’s detailed Roadster description (Greek).

Tesla describes the Rocket version as able to fly, but also says it is not approved for public-road use and availability varies by region. That distinction matters when reading “flying car”: it does not establish ordinary airborne commuting. Check the current Tesla Roadster page and its footnotes for the manufacturer’s latest wording.

Suction, thrusters and flight do different jobs

APEX / AIR turns those ideas into separate choices. Grip helps the car follow the road surface. Flight lifts it away from that surface. A powered kickflip rotates the Rocket around its length, and a clean landing completes the move. Learning which action you need is more useful than holding every button at once.

These rules belong to a browser game. The pressure meter, quick road recharge, forgiving recovery and stunt rewards are authored for play; they do not predict the capabilities or operation of a real car.

A flying roadster game you can play now

Choose Roadster Rocket in the garage and race three local AI rivals. Clocktower Sprint introduces bends and flight shortcuts. Skyloop Run adds a vertical loop. Clocktower Overdrive gives you three physical forks: a street route or a wall road, loop or flight bridge. Every Overdrive fork has a ground alternative, so you can learn the route before taking the airborne line.

The interesting decision is when to leave the road. A short flight can tighten a corner, but spending all your thrust leaves less room to correct the landing. A complete kickflip earns its racing reward when you return upright to the road. Nitro can then help on the next straight.

Our original vehicle art, courses and gameplay footage are part of that interpretation. The Roadster Rocket is not a Tesla digital twin, and the game makes no claim to reproduce real vehicle performance. For the track choices, trailer and full controls, visit the APEX / AIR overview.

Try a short flight before your first flip

1. Open the game, choose Roadster Rocket, Clocktower Sprint and Rookie. Acceleration is automatic, leaving you free to concentrate on steering.
2. On a clear straight, hold W or ↑ on a keyboard, or FLY on a phone. Watch the car rise and the thrust reserve fall.
3. Stay above the road, release FLY and land before the next bend. Practise that landing before adding E or FLIP for a powered kickflip.

The Roadster Rocket flying and stunt guide explains clean landings, separate thrust and nitro reserves, mobile controls and the different grip rules on Skyloop and Overdrive.

Sources and scope

We reviewed Tesla’s Roadster product page and detailed Greek-language page on October 17, 2026. Product descriptions can change. This article attributes real-car statements to the manufacturer; it is not a road test or an engineering validation.

The gameplay explanation describes APEX / AIR’s racing mode. For a practical next step, follow the Roadster Rocket beginner guide and try a controlled flight on Clocktower Sprint.