Elon Musk has unveiled a new version of Tesla's Roadster electric sports car, featuring thrusters that appear to allow the vehicle to hover and perform manoeuvres in mid air.

The Tesla CEO revealed the futuristic vehicle at a facility owned by his SpaceX company in Texas, which helped develop the model.

“You're going to see some crazy stuff tonight,” Musk told the audience as he introduced the car.

During the demonstration, the Roadster drove up a steep ramp before launching into the air, spinning and landing using jets of air.

Musk said an audience was needed to prove the car “is not AI”, highlighting the unusual nature of the vehicle's apparent capabilities.

The demonstration offered a glimpse of Tesla's ambitions to push the boundaries of electric vehicle technology, with the thruster system giving the sports car abilities more commonly associated with science fiction than traditional road vehicles.

However, further details about the technology, its practical applications and whether the capabilities could be incorporated into a production vehicle remain unclear.

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