Elon Musk appeared on a new episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast this week, offering new details — and some wild hints — about the upcoming next-generation Tesla Roadster. Musk said Tesla is “getting close” to demonstrating the prototype, and if his comments are anything to go by, the product unveil could be one of the company’s most ambitious yet.
“We’re getting close to demonstrating the prototype,” Musk said. “One thing I can guarantee is that this product demo will be unforgettable. I think it has a shot at being the most memorable product unveil ever; hopefully before the end of this year. This is some crazy technology that we got in this car. Is it even a car? It looks like a car. If you took all the James Bond cars and combined them, it’s crazier than that.”
When pressed by Rogan for more details, Musk hinted at the possibility of a Tesla flying car. Referencing entrepreneur Peter Thiel’s famous remark that “the future was supposed to have flying cars,” Musk joked that perhaps Tesla could finally deliver on that vision. While he stopped short of confirming anything concrete, Musk’s playful remarks are sure to fuel speculation about what the Roadster might be capable of.
Musk’s comments echo Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen’s recent statement that the long-delayed Roadster is still on track to be unveiled before the end of the year. Tesla has previously made some bold claims about the Roadster, including a jaw-dropping 0–60 mph time of under one second — though it remains to be seen how much of that performance will actually make it to production. The company recently posted a job listing for a Manufacturing Engineer role specifically tied to Roadster production, suggesting the project may finally be shifting into its next phase.
During the same podcast, Musk also discussed topics far beyond cars, sharing his vision of a post-smartphone world. “I am not working on a phone,” he said, before describing a future where traditional devices are replaced by AI-driven “edge nodes” that generate real-time video and audio. He went on to joke about Tesla bumper stickers reading “I bought this car before Elon went crazy,” suggesting they should have an addendum that reads, “Actually, now I realize he’s not crazy, and I’ve seen the light.”
Whether the next-generation Tesla Roadster flies or not, Musk clearly believes the car’s upcoming debut will be something extraordinary. Check out Episode 2404 of The Joe Rogan Experience for Musk’s full interview:
