A car lifts off the ground beside a large vertical structure, surrounded by smoke at night. — Tesla’s latest Roadster demonstration included a brief airborne maneuver during an Oct. 15 event in Texas. The company says the Rocket version is not approved for public road use.

Somewhere on GA 400, a driver watching Tesla’s new Roadster demonstration probably had the same thought as everyone else.

Can it get over this?

Tesla unveiled its latest Roadster in Texas on Oct. 15, showing a car that could briefly leave the ground and perform an airborne maneuver. Production is targeted for 2028. The flying Rocket version is invitation-only and, as The Washington Post reports, Tesla lists it as not approved for public road use.

So no, this is not your permission to launch over State Bridge Road.

But you can understand the appeal. You have been looking at the same brake lights for several minutes. Your navigation app has added another four minutes to the trip, as though you would not notice. In the passenger seat, dinner is getting cold.

A little altitude would be welcome.

Imagine the car beside you rising above the queue. Your first reaction would be amazement. Your second would be that they are absolutely going to merge back in ahead of you.

We already watch the driver racing along a disappearing lane. Now we would have to watch above us.

The fantasy works best, of course, when you are the only person with the flying car. You lift off, pass the congestion and arrive home early enough to become a more patient person.

Then everyone else buys one.

Now there are brake lights at two elevations. Someone is hovering in the left lane. Your navigation app has found a faster route, but it requires descending through a shopping center. The neighborhood association would like a word about your landing area.

And when you finally reach school pickup, your child is still inside looking for a water bottle.

For now, brief airborne maneuvers do not amount to a daily flight over traffic. The Rocket version’s restrictions keep this North Atlanta test drive firmly imaginary.

Still, we can appreciate the ambition.

For the next demonstration, we suggest 5:15 p.m., a left turn onto a busy road and groceries in the back.