Fan-based downforce predates the Tesla Roadster in cars like the Chaparral 2J and Brabham BT46

Tesla unveiled its next-generation Roadster with a demonstration of it driving upside down using a fan-based downforce system, but the technology is not new. The automaker claims the system generates up to 2 gs of downforce, allowing the car to defy gravity at any speed. Earlier vehicles used similar fan systems, including the 1970 Chaparral 2J, which used fans adapted from a military tank engine with skirts to create suction, and the 1978 Brabham BT46, an F1 car that won its only race. McMurtry Automotive's Spéirling, unveiled in 2025, also uses suction technology to cling to surfaces and corner at over 3 g. McMurtry will produce only 100 Spéirling units starting at $132,300, with deliveries expected before the end of 2026. The Tesla Roadster is slated for production in 2028, with reservations requiring $50,000 for the base model and $250,000 for the "Thrust" trim.