Tesla's new Roadster: price, specs and what's actually confirmed

Tesla revealed its next-generation Roadster on 15 October 2026 at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas. The car uses cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX, which flipped it off a ramp during the livestream, and Elon Musk claimed 0-60 mph in under one second. Reservations open at $50,000, production is due in 2028, and Tesla did not give a final price.

What Tesla showed

The livestreamed demo leaned on SpaceX hardware rather than a normal launch event:

• The Roadster drove up a large curved ramp, held on by a fan-based suction system until it was fully upside down.
• Cold-gas thrusters, developed with SpaceX, launched it off the ramp into a midair flip and a safe landing.
• A second run cleared a line of cars and a semi-truck, and Tesla showed a "kick flip" over other Teslas.

Tesla said on X that the thrusters produce four to five times the force the tyres can, arguing that tyre grip is the real limit on how fast a road car can accelerate.

The specs that were stated

• Acceleration: Musk claimed 0-60 mph in under one second for some versions. GuruFocus reported a figure of 0.81 seconds.
• Top speed: above 230 mph for certain versions, according to Musk.
• Range and battery: not announced.
• Driving: Tesla described it as "the best of the last human-driven cars". It is not being sold as a self-driving car.

Versions and reservations

Tesla's reservation page after the event listed three versions:

• Performance: $50,000 reservation.
• Thrust: $250,000 reservation, with acceleration thrusters.
• Rocket: an invite-only single-seater with a "full flight system". No price was listed.

Tesla did not announce a production price. The 2017 prototype was announced at a base price of $200,000.

What is still unproven

• The date. The Roadster was first shown in 2017 with deliveries promised for 2020. Production is now set for 2028, about eight years later.
• The final car. There is no range, no battery figure and no full specification sheet yet.
• The thrusters on public roads. Tesla has not said how the thruster and flight features will be approved for road use.

The reveal also lifted Tesla's share price by more than 3% and, according to CNBC, added to speculation about a closer tie-up between Tesla and SpaceX.

What it means for businesses

The Roadster is a halo car, not a product most buyers will touch. The lesson for businesses is in the launch itself: Tesla turned a long-delayed product into a reservation campaign with a live, shareable demo. Paid reservations are a direct way to test demand before production, and a clear demo travels further than a spec sheet.

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