According to the producer overseeing the event broadcast, this was not a technical glitch but an "Easter egg"—an hidden detail, message, image, or feature—designed to illustrate the electric supercar's acceleration capability.
This unusual detail appeared during the launch on 15/10, when the Roadster demonstrated its ability to accelerate from 0-96 km/h in just 0,81 seconds. While most of the audience focused on the car, a banana fell from the gate, serving as a mechanical stopwatch.
The banana's purpose became clear only after a sharp-eyed audience member noticed it and shared a clip on the social media platform X.
Zack Pittman, President of Cinelive and Pittman Media Group—the company responsible for designing and broadcasting the event—explained the mechanism behind this unique demonstration.
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The banana was suspended above the gate where the Roadster would pass during its record acceleration. Photo: Zack Pittman |
According to Pittman, the banana was suspended by a fishing line above the upper left side of the gate. A laser sensor triggered the banana's release as soon as the car's wheels began to roll. The banana was hung at a height precisely corresponding to a 1-second acceleration from 0-96 km/h, the planned timing for that moment.
"The banana hit the ground precisely as the car reached the laser wall. It coincided within the same frame", Pittman stated in a post on 18/10.
However, the actual performance surpassed the earlier test runs. The Roadster accelerated even faster, reaching 96 km/h in only 0,81 seconds.
The launch of the flying Tesla Roadster supercar.
The Roadster launch was already full of surprises, featuring a cold gas thruster system capable of lifting the car off the ground and a fan-generated downforce mechanism. These features allowed the Tesla electric car to cling to a wall upside down before a brief flight and a safe landing. Pittman noted that it was one of the most logistically challenging live performances his team had ever undertaken. "10 months of planning was absolutely worth every bit of effort!", he said.
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