Real life, baby https://t.co/3QEqn18wig
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026
Tesla has unveiled a redesigned, production-intent version of its long-delayed second-generation Roadster, combining extreme electric-car performance with SpaceX-derived propulsion technology that the company says can enable sub-one-second acceleration and airborne maneuvers. CEO Elon Musk said Tesla plans to begin producing the vehicle in 2028.
The Roadster was demonstrated at an event outside Waco, Texas, where the vehicle used a combination of high-powered fans and thrusters to climb an inverted ramp, rotate in the air, and return to the pavement. Tesla also showed the car using its propulsion system to lift itself over a Cybercab, Cybertruck, Tesla Semi, Model Y, and Model 3 while moving.
Tesla plans three Roadster configurations. The two-seat Performance version is positioned as the road-focused model and incorporates active aerodynamics and a multi-mode suction system intended to improve performance both on and off the track.
The two-seat Thrust configuration adds rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters designed to push 0-to-60-mph acceleration below one second. The top Rocket version reduces seating to one and incorporates 10 cold-gas thrusters distributed around the vehicle to enable the aerial maneuvers Tesla demonstrated at the event.
Tesla Engineering Vice President Lars Moravy said the Roadster’s propulsion system uses 10 thrusters connected to approximately 600 liters of compressed air, with the air supply designed to be rechargeable. Tesla said available spaces throughout the vehicle are packed with carbon-fiber-overwrapped pressure vessels supporting the system.
Tesla showed the Roadster accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in approximately one second, while the Thrust configuration is designed to lower that figure further. The company is targeting more than 230 mph of top speed and approximately 300 miles of range across the three configurations. Edmunds also reported Tesla’s claim that the Roadster will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than one second and exceed 230 mph.
Tesla’s official Roadster page adds an important distinction to those specifications. The company says the features and specifications presented on the page reflect its optional Thrust augment, while certain features are available only with the Rocket trim, which will not be offered in all regions.
Tesla is also taking reservations for the new Roadster. The Performance configuration requires a $50,000 reservation payment, while the Thrust version requires $250,000. The Rocket configuration is being offered on an invite-only basis. Tesla has not announced final purchase prices for the newly unveiled models.
The new Roadster has moved substantially away from the design Tesla originally revealed in 2017. The latest version has a more angular exterior, with Tesla saying its evolving design language and aircraft including the SR-71 and F-35 influenced the vehicle’s appearance.
The unveiling comes nearly nine years after Tesla first showed the second-generation Roadster. The program has been delayed repeatedly as Tesla focused on other vehicles, including the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck. Musk first publicly floated the idea of installing approximately 10 SpaceX-style thrusters around the Roadster in 2018.
Tesla’s latest demonstration offers the clearest view yet of how the company intends to combine electric-vehicle engineering with aerospace-inspired propulsion. However, the 2028 production timeline, performance specifications, and final capabilities remain forward-looking, and the production vehicle could change before customer deliveries begin.
