Tesla unveiled its long-delayed next-generation Roadster on October 15, 2026, at a SpaceX test facility in McGregor, Texas (near Waco), in a livestreamed event that featured thruster-powered aerial stunts.
The white two-seater prototype (developed with SpaceX) performed a series of demos: it drove upside-down on a curved ramp using a multi-mode fan/suction system for downforce (enough to hold it inverted even when stationary, with claims of up to ~2G), flipped in the air, and landed with compressed-air (cold-gas) thrusters.
It later jumped and twisted over a lineup of other Teslas (including the Semi) before controlled landings.
A live acceleration run hit 0-60 mph in 0.81 seconds (thruster-assisted); Tesla claims sub-1-second times in certain configurations, with Musk saying the production car should do better.
Variants and Specs
Tesla lists three configurations (Performance as the base, with Thrust and Rocket as “augments”):
- Performance (road-ready, 2 seats): Active aerodynamics + multi-mode suction system for track/road performance. Claimed 0-60 under 1.6 seconds. Reservations open.
- Thrust (limited release, race-ready, 2 seats): Adds rear cold-gas thrusters for sub-1-second (under ~0.9 s) 0-60.
- Rocket (invite-only, air-ready, 1 seat): Perimeter thrusters for forward, upward, and rotational movement—short hops/“flight.” Claimed 0-60 under 0.59 seconds. Explicitly not approved for public road use.
Shared claims include top speed over 230 mph and range over 300 miles (down from the 2017 prototype’s ~620-mile target).
Engineering notes mention ~10 thrusters fed by compressed-air tanks (e.g., 600 L vessels, refillable with ambient air) packed into available space, plus the suction fans.
Production, Pricing, and Context
Musk stated production starts in 2028 (“Actually, for real”).
No final price was announced at the event (attendees asked; it went unanswered).
Reservations are open: typically a $50,000 deposit for Performance ($5,000 due now, refundable, plus $45,000 within 10 days); higher deposits (around $250,000) have been referenced for Thrust.
The Rocket is invite-only.
This follows the 2017 prototype reveal (at the Semi event), which targeted ~2020 deliveries at around $200k (Founders Series higher).
Multiple delays followed, including an October 1, 2026 event postponed for weather.
Musk has long hyped SpaceX thruster collaboration (first discussed around 2018) and described the Roadster as a halo car and potentially “the last best driver’s car” amid Tesla’s broader shift toward autonomy and robotics.
The demo car ran remotely for safety. Street legality of the thruster features remains unclear beyond the Rocket note.
The event drew strong online reactions for the spectacle, though some noted the long timeline and reduced range/seating versus original promises. Official details are on Tesla’s Roadster page.
