One has rocket thrusters. The others weigh nearly three tons. Somehow, they're all getting airborne.

Well, the new 2027 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro can't exactly fly like the Tesla Roadster.

Buuuuuut…

Apparently, Toyota didn't get the memo that trucks are supposed to stay on the ground.

And with everyone losing their minds over Tesla's recent flying-car demonstration, I think it's only fair we give Toyota a little attention here.

Because while Elon Musk is busy trying to turn sports cars into spacecraft, Toyota has been teaching some VERY large trucks how to gracefully defy gravity.

Two completely different approaches to flight. One equally questionable relationship with common sense.

Let's talk about it.

First, the Tesla Roadster Actually Did WHAT?

If you've been anywhere near automotive social media lately, you've probably seen the footage.

On October 15, Tesla demonstrated its long-awaited next-generation Roadster prototype at a SpaceX facility in Texas.

And yes, the thing actually launched itself into the air.

Using cold-gas thrusters and some seriously unconventional engineering, the prototype performed brief airborne maneuvers, including a midair rotation.

A sports car. With thrusters.

Meanwhile, I'm still impressed when my Tundra's cameras help me avoid a shopping cart.

Now, before you start shopping for an airborne commute over I-10, a few reality checks: this was a specially prepared prototype, not a production car. Tesla is targeting production in 2028, and there are still plenty of unanswered questions about real-world practicality, regulations, and availability.

And we're talking brief, controlled stunts here. Not a flying car you can casually pilot over Houston traffic.

Still, whether you love Tesla or not, you've got to admit something.

That was pretty freaking cool.

Meanwhile, Toyota Has Been Giving Its TRD Pros Flying Lessons

While the Roadster was busy auditioning for SpaceX, Toyota's 2027 Tundra and Sequoia TRD Pros were taking a slightly more traditional route into the sky.

Ramps. Dirt. Momentum. And a whole lot of suspension engineering.

In a recent Road & Track test at Grand Junction Motor Speedway, both trucks tackled a purpose-built off-road course featuring jumps, steep berms, and rally-style obstacles.

And we're not talking about lightweight little dune buggies here.

These are nearly three-ton, full-size Toyota machines, powered by the i-FORCE MAX hybrid twin-turbo V6 producing 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque.

That's a tremendous amount of truck to send airborne.

But the most interesting part wasn't that they could jump.

It was how they landed.

FOX Shocks: Because Gravity Always Collects Its Debt

For 2027, Toyota upgraded the Tundra and Sequoia TRD Pros with enhanced FOX QS3 adjustable shocks.

Translation for those of us who don't spend our weekends studying suspension diagrams?

They're designed to help these massive vehicles maintain better control and composure when the terrain gets ugly.

During the test, the Sequoia's shorter wheelbase helped it navigate tighter obstacles, while the longer Tundra felt more at home carrying speed across the course.

And when the trucks came back down to Earth, those shocks had a pretty important job.

Because launching a vehicle is one thing.

Making sure your passengers don't need their vertebrae realigned afterward is another.

Of course, these were carefully controlled professional tests on purpose-built terrain.

Please don't try launching your family SUV off the nearest construction mound.

Your insurance agent has suffered enough.

Here's What Actually Excites Me

As someone who drives a Tundra myself, I love watching Toyota experiment with what its trucks can handle.

But I'm also realistic.

Most of us aren't buying an expensive off-road machine to jump over a dirt hill every weekend.

We're driving to work, hauling our families around Houston, towing something occasionally, and maybe escaping onto a trail when life gives us a chance.

And that's why the engineering matters beyond the cool videos.

The same attention Toyota puts into suspension, traction, torque delivery, and vehicle control can make a meaningful difference when you're choosing a truck or SUV for the way you actually live.

That doesn't automatically mean everyone needs a TRD Pro, either.

A Tundra Limited might make more sense. A different off-road package might hit the sweet spot. Or maybe the Sequoia is exactly what your family has been missing.

The most exciting Toyota isn't necessarily the most expensive one. It's the one that fits you.

So, What's the Verdict?

The Tesla Roadster has rocket thrusters.

The Toyota TRD Pro lineup has FOX shocks, hybrid torque, and apparently a healthy disregard for staying planted.

Two different kinds of automotive insanity.

And I love that we live in a world where manufacturers are still finding ways to make driving exciting.

Now, if Toyota ever gives the Tundra actual rocket thrusters, someone please tell them I volunteer my truck for testing.

Preferably with a parachute.

Curious About the TRD Pro?

I'm Thien Nguyen (Tee-en), a Toyota Sales Consultant at Toyota of Katy and a fellow Tundra enthusiast.

If you've been curious about the TRD Pro, wondering whether the upgrades are actually worth the money, or just want to talk trucks, I'd love to help you sort through it.

Come find me at Toyota of Katy, or reach out anytime.

No flight helmet required.

Tận tâm tư vấn. Đồng hành cùng bạn.

Thoughtful guidance. By your side.

Sources

Associated Press — Tesla Roadster flying demonstration

Road & Track — Toyota's Full-Size TRD Pro Trucks Know How to Fly

Edmunds — 2027 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia TRD Pro First Drive