Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that the automaker’s next-gen Roadster will have a ‘SpaceX package’, which will include “~10 small rocket thrusters.”

While it sounds like a joke, Musk has made other comments hinting at the plan actually being real.

Musk has been known to say crazy things on Twitter that sound like jokes but ultimately turn out to be true.

The best example is when he said that he will send a first-gen Roadster in space, which SpaceX actually did.

Continuing this SpaceX-Tesla Roadster relation, Musk now wants to add rocket thrusters to Tesla’s next-gen Roadster to “dramatically improve acceleration, top speed, braking and cornering.”

He wrote on Twitter that those small rocket engines could “even allow a Tesla to fly”:

SpaceX option package for new Tesla Roadster will include ~10 small rocket thrusters arranged seamlessly around car. These rocket engines dramatically improve acceleration, top speed, braking & cornering. Maybe they will even allow a Tesla to fly … — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2018

Musk first announced this ‘SpaceX Package’ for the upcoming Tesla Roadster earlier this week, but he only said that it would push the all-electric supercar’s previously announced base specs to a new level.

If it sounds like a joke, Musk added more details and he seems serious about the project:

Wait, so you are not kidding? — Fred Lambert (@FredericLambert) June 9, 2018

He is referring to a configuration using “adapted cold gas thrusters”, which SpaceX uses on the second stage of its Falcon 9 rocket.

It wouldn’t be the first time that Tesla and SpaceX share some technology.

We recently reported that Tesla and SpaceX are partnering up to create new materials to use on Earth and in space.

It was revealed last year that SpaceX transferred friction stir welding equipment to Tesla.

Tesla and SpaceX also both use the space-grade superalloy Inconel. In the case of Tesla, the automaker uses inconel for the main pack contactor on its “Ludicrous upgraded” battery packs, while SpaceX uses it to manufacture the SuperDraco engine:

Musk has been talking a lot more lately about improvements they are making to the next Roadster.

Earlier this week, he also said that Tesla’s upcoming new electric supercar will have an ‘Augmented Mode’ to help drivers handle all the power.

Electrek’s Take

After the unveiling of the vehicle, Musk talked about the next-gen Roadster using SpaceX’s “rocket technology” to enable crazy performance.

But most people thought it had to do with the use of the same technology to create rocket thrusters, like SpaceX’s Inconel expertise transferring to Tesla’s Ludicrous mode, not the use of actual thrusters.

With this said, it looks like he is being serious. What do you think?

Let us know what you think about Musk’s latest crazy plan and if you would actually order that SpaceX Package in the comment section below.

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