Tesla finally showed its long-promised next-generation Roadster on the evening of October 15, 2026, at SpaceX’s test facility in McGregor, Texas. The event was attended by a select group of fans, media and investors and livestreamed on X. It came nine years after Tesla first showed a concept for the second-generation sports car.
Upside down, then airborne
The demo explains why it was held outdoors. A prototype drove up a looping, track-like structure while a fan system underneath created enough suction to hold it to the surface upside down. SpaceX-supplied thrusters, said to produce more than 80 kilonewtons, then pushed it forward through a barrel roll before it set down on the ground. The thrusters are fed by ultra-high-pressure air tanks that the car can recharge itself, rather than by any kind of rocket fuel.
The performance claims
- 0-60 mph: a first run claimed at about one second, then a second run claimed at 0.8 seconds.
- Top speed: Musk said “over 230 mph,” with a goal of reaching half the speed of sound, about 383 mph.
- Aero: an active rear wing with high-drag and high-downforce modes, plus a two-mode fan system for low-speed grip and high-speed airflow.
Three versions, production in 2028
Tesla says the Roadster will come in three configurations. Performance is a two-seater with the active wing and fan system; Tesla’s site lists it for reservation with a $50,000 down payment. Thrust adds rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters. Rocket, an invite-only version, has a single driver’s seat and adds perimeter thrusters that Tesla says let it move upward, rotate and fly. Musk said building will start in 2028, but gave no price or full spec sheet.
Musk also said the Roadster will be the only manually driven car Tesla makes over the long term, implying the rest of the lineup is headed for autonomy. He acknowledged the flying features may not be legal everywhere, and AP noted the car isn’t ready for public roads yet.
Source: Car and Driver · KWTX · AP News