The new Tesla Roadster arrived on October 15, 2026, and it did not simply roll onto a stage. Tesla revealed the redesigned electric sports car at a SpaceX test facility near Waco, Texas, where the prototype drove upside down, launched itself over a line of Tesla vehicles with cold-gas thrusters, and landed on its wheels. Tesla says it plans to start production in 2028. It has not announced a final retail price, and no one has independently verified its performance claims yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla showed the production version of its second-generation Roadster during a livestreamed event on Thursday evening, October 15. The company first postponed the event from October 1 because of severe weather, so the outdoor demonstration finally went ahead two weeks late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The demonstration had three parts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFlying cars are real,\u201d Musk told the audience, though he also said success is not guaranteed. Tesla engineering vice president Lars Moravy described the car as the result of close work between Tesla and SpaceX engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reveal also fuels speculation about the two companies\u2019 future. CNBC noted the event added to talk of a possible Tesla\u2013SpaceX merger<\/a>. Neither company has announced one. For wider market context, follow our Business coverage<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla offers the new Roadster in three trims. The company\u2019s own descriptions, as reported by The EV Report, break down like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla says the Thrust trim reaches 60 mph in under one second, and that every trim tops 230 mph (about 370 km\/h). Treat both as manufacturer claims. Tesla\u2019s company representatives made them at a demonstration, not in an independent test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The numbers also look different from Tesla\u2019s earlier promises. In 2017, Tesla claimed a 1.9-second 0-60 time and a top speed above 250 mph for the original second-generation concept. The thruster hardware, which Musk first floated in 2018, now drives the sub-one-second figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A fair benchmark helps here. The Rimac Nevera, the fastest independently tested electric production car, covers 0-60 mph in roughly 1.7 to 1.8 seconds. For a physical limit, the track-only McMurtry Sp\u00e9irling holds the 0-60 record at about 1.4 seconds, and it uses a ground-effect fan to stay planted. Tesla\u2019s number would beat both, which is exactly why independent testing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Roadster\u2019s thruster system is the headline feature. According to Moravy, the demonstration car carries 10 thrusters fed by 600 liters of compressed air. The tank is rechargeable, and electric actuators make small adjustments that stabilize the car in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla also showed a multi-mode fan and ground-sealing system. The company says it generates enough suction to hold the car upside down, even when it is stationary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can the Tesla Roadster fly? Not in the way an aircraft does. The thrusters launch the car for a few seconds and help it rotate and land. Tesla\u2019s website says the Rocket trim \u201ccan fly,\u201d but the demonstration showed short hops over vehicles, not sustained flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What remains uncertain. Tesla has not published how long the thrusters can fire, how many jumps one tank supports, or how the production configuration will differ from the demo car. Musk said the car on the road will match what Tesla showed, but Tesla has not yet released full specifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EV Report, citing Tesla\u2019s figures from the event, lists a range of 300 miles (483 km). Tesla\u2019s 2017 concept promised 620 miles from a 200 kWh battery, and some reference pages still carry that older number. Because the two figures conflict, check Tesla\u2019s official Roadster page before you rely on any range or battery number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla describes the car as built for low weight, using magnesium, titanium and carbon fiber. It features a steering yoke for a steer-by-wire system and a fixed seat position. The interior uses an ultrawhite finish with gray microsuede, a center touchscreen and two smaller displays ahead of the driver. Track Mode lowers the car and switches between high-downforce and low-drag settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla has not announced a final retail price. Musk gave no figure at the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What Tesla has announced is the reservation structure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The deposit amounts mirror the 2017 program, when Tesla took $50,000 deposits and $250,000 payments for 1,000 Founders Series cars. Because terms can change quickly, confirm the live deposit, refund policy and regional availability on Tesla\u2019s site before you pay anything. Searches for a 2026 or 2027 price have no real answer yet, since production does not begin until 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Musk said Tesla will build the car in 2028. Treat that as a target, not a promise. The Roadster has a long record of slipped dates: Tesla originally promised production for 2020, then repeated later targets that came and went, and the 2026 unveiling itself slipped from earlier plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla has not named a delivery date, a production site or a delivery order for the three trims. Until it does, the car is not for sale, and the reservation only holds a place in line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla says the Rocket trim is not approved for public-road use, and the company notes it is not available in every region. Do not read that limit across the whole lineup. Tesla markets the Performance trim as road ready, but the company has not published regulatory approvals for any trim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The legal questions are real. Existing vehicle rules do not account for compressed-air thrusters, and the car\u2019s maker has not said how it will certify them. As CBS and AFP noted, technical and regulatory hurdles have kept the flying-car sector from taking off so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The table separates independently measured results from claims, which is the key distinction for any comparison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Rimac Nevera remains the benchmark because outside testers have checked its numbers. The Aspark Owl posts a headline acceleration claim, but few people have driven one. The Lotus Evija has long been framed around targets for power and acceleration rather than a verified track record. The Roadster\u2019s thruster-assisted figure sits in a different category from all three, because it relies on compressed air, not only the motors and tires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Price also separates them. The Evija and Owl each carry multi-million-dollar price tags, while Tesla\u2019s reservation tiers suggest a wider spread, though its final price remains unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first-generation Tesla Roadster launched in 2008 and stayed in production until 2012. It became Tesla\u2019s first production car and proved that an electric sports car could sell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The new car shares only the name. It is a ground-up redesign with a very different mission:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Musk also described the Roadster as \u201cthe best of the last of the human-driven cars.\u201d He said the car may not move Tesla\u2019s revenue much, so the Roadster looks designed to showcase technology more than to drive sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When did Tesla reveal the new Roadster?<\/strong> How much does the new Tesla Roadster cost?<\/strong> When is the Tesla Roadster release date?<\/strong> What is the Tesla Roadster\u2019s 0-60 time and top speed?<\/strong> Can the Tesla Roadster really fly?<\/strong> Is the Tesla Roadster for sale now?<\/strong> What does the Tesla Roadster interior look like?<\/strong>\n
What Did Tesla Reveal About the New Roadster?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Tesla Roadster Features and Performance Claims<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Trim<\/th> Tesla\u2019s description<\/th> Seats<\/th> Key hardware<\/th> Reservation<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Performance<\/td> Road ready<\/td> 2<\/td> Active aerodynamics, multi-mode suction system<\/td> $50,000<\/td><\/tr> Thrust<\/td> Race ready, limited release<\/td> 2<\/td> Rear cold-gas thrusters<\/td> $250,000<\/td><\/tr> Rocket<\/td> Air ready, invite only<\/td> 1<\/td> Cold-gas thrusters around the car<\/td> Invite only<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Acceleration and Top Speed<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
SpaceX-Inspired Thrusters and Suction Technology<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Driving Range and Battery Details<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Design and Interior<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tesla Roadster Price and Reservation Details<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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When Will the New Tesla Roadster Be Released?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Is the Tesla Roadster\u2019s Flying-Car Feature Road Legal?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tesla Roadster vs Rimac Nevera and Other Electric Hypercars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Car<\/th> 0-60 mph<\/th> Top speed<\/th> Status of figures<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Tesla Roadster (Thrust)<\/td> Under 1.0 s<\/td> 230+ mph<\/td> Tesla claims; not independently verified<\/td><\/tr> Rimac Nevera<\/td> About 1.74 s<\/td> About 256 mph<\/td> Production car; top speed recorded by GPS in Germany<\/td><\/tr> Aspark Owl<\/td> 1.72 s<\/td> About 249 mph<\/td> Maker claims; around 50 cars planned<\/td><\/tr> Lotus Evija<\/td> Under 3 s<\/td> 200+ mph<\/td> Lotus targets; about 130 cars planned<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n How the New Roadster Differs From the Original Model<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Tesla Roadster<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tesla revealed it on October 15, 2026, at a SpaceX test facility in McGregor, Texas, near Waco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tesla has not announced a retail price. Reservations cost $50,000 for Performance and $250,000 for Thrust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Musk said Tesla will build the car in 2028. Tesla has not given a delivery date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tesla claims under one second to 60 mph for the Thrust trim and a top speed above 230 mph. Independent testers have not verified either number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It makes brief, thruster-assisted jumps and landings. It does not fly like an aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No. Tesla accepts reservations for two trims, and production is planned for 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tesla describes an ultrawhite interior with gray microsuede, a center touchscreen, two smaller forward displays and a steering yoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat to Watch Next<\/h3>\n\n\n\n