Tesla showed the next-generation Roadster on the night of October 15, 2026, at an event outside Waco, Texas, near SpaceX’s McGregor site. The livestream featured stunts but few details. Tesla posted the specifications on X afterward, according to Electrek. There is still no price and no confirmed production date.
Tesla streamed the event on its official YouTube channel:
The stream is Tesla’s own footage. The figures below come from Tesla’s posts as reported by the press.
What Tesla showed and said
In the demo, the car used a mix of fans and cold-gas thrusters to drive up a curved ramp until it was upside down, then flew off, flipped and landed, Teslarati reports. Elon Musk’s reaction, as quoted there:
“Well, it worked. Flying cars are real.”
Musk also said “this will be the actual car that’s on the roads,” per the same report. Tesla’s account on X described the car in a post quoted by Teslarati:
“So…yes, it can fly.” — Tesla (@Tesla)
Another Tesla post on X explained the thrusters: “Every car on the road today is limited by one thing: tire grip. Roadster’s thruster system generates 4–5x the force the tires can.”
The three versions
Tesla’s X thread listed three versions, according to Electrek:
- Performance: road ready, two seats, active aerodynamics and a suction system. 0 to 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds. Available by reservation.
- Thrust: race ready, two seats, adds rear cold-gas thrusters. 0 to 60 mph in under 0.9 seconds. Limited release.
- Rocket: one seat, thrusters around the car. 0 to 60 mph in under 0.59 seconds and a top speed over 230 mph. Invite only.
Tesla quotes a range of more than 300 miles. These are Tesla’s claims, not independent tests. Tesla says on its Roadster page that the Rocket is not approved for public road use, per Electrek.
Reservations, price and timing
Tesla reopened Roadster reservations at $50,000. Electrek reports $5,000 is due at reservation, which Tesla calls fully refundable, with $45,000 more due within 10 days or the reservation is canceled. Tesla gave no price for any version. On timing, Electrek quotes Musk saying “2028, actually,” while Teslarati reports production at Giga Texas in 2027 or 2028. Treat any date as unconfirmed.
What it means for most owners
The Roadster is a halo car. Teslarati quotes Musk saying he is “not sure it moves the needle massively from a revenue standpoint.” It does not change what you can order today. Tesla reports third-quarter earnings on October 21.
