Tesla unveils its long-delayed Roadster with SpaceX-developed thrusters, eyeing 2028

Tesla revealed its long-awaited second-generation Roadster in a livestream on 15 October 2026, almost nine years after it first showed a prototype in November 2017. The new car, which Tesla says takes design cues from aircraft such as the SR-71 and F-35, comes in three versions, two of which add cold-gas thrusters that Tesla developed with SpaceX, the rocket company also led by Elon Musk.

The Performance version is a two-seat road car that Tesla says reaches 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds. The Thrust version adds rear thrusters and, according to Tesla, cuts that time to under 0.9 seconds, while the single-seat Rocket version, which is available by invitation only and is not approved for public roads, claims under 0.59 seconds and a top speed above 230 mph. Tesla quotes a range of more than 300 miles, Electrek reported.

How the thrusters work

According to Electrek, the thrusters run on gas stored in carbon-fibre-wrapped pressure tanks tucked into spare spaces in the car, and Tesla claims they can push with four to five times the force the tyres can handle. Fans that pull air from under the car are meant to hold it to the road, and a track mode lowers the body and deploys wings. The livestream included stunt demonstrations, among them a kickflip.

Price and timing

Tesla has not announced a final price. Reserving the Performance model costs $50,000, with $5,000 due immediately, which Tesla says is refundable, and the remaining $45,000 due within 10 days, Electrek reported. The only hint at timing came from Musk, who said: “2028, actually.” When Tesla first announced the car in 2017, it promised production in 2020.

A smaller promise

The specifications differ markedly from the original pitch. In 2017 Tesla said the Roadster would seat four, reach 60 mph in 1.9 seconds and travel 620 miles on a charge; the new car seats two at most and claims about half that range, Electrek noted. The site also questioned how many of the stunt-capable versions Tesla will actually sell, since they are limited or invitation-only and not all of them are road legal.

The unveiling did little for Tesla's shares, which gave up early gains and fell about 2% on 16 October, Yahoo Finance reported. CNBC's coverage linked the joint work with SpaceX to speculation about a closer combination of Musk's companies.