Tesla has revealed its new second-generation Roadster at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas, on October 15, 2026. The CEO presented this electric sports car, which he developed with SpaceX, at the exhibition, where it performed an astonishing show.
The Roadster ran up an inverted ramp, performed acrobatics in the air, and landed on the ground, jumping over several Tesla vehicles. The showy display was an unusual spectacle, although it remains to be seen how many of the features will make their way to the cars.
What Happened at the Tesla Roadster Demonstration?
The demonstration included a set of functions to make the car float and rotate in mid-air. The Roadster uses cold-gas thrusters, which Tesla engineering vice president Lars Moravy said were two inches in diameter and fed with compressed air from a 600-liter supply, and a separate suction fan to keep the vehicle from skidding on an inverted ramp.
Why the New Roadster Matters
The car’s ability to accelerate quickly is also a significant feature. The Tesla Roadster has a claimed 0-60 mph time of 0.81 seconds. Moreover, the automaker aims for a top speed of over 230 mph and a range of over 300 miles on a single charge. These figures have not been officially certified for a production vehicle.
The buyer will be able to choose among three variants. the Performance, described as “road ready”, the Thrust, described as “race ready”, and the single-seat Rocket, described as “air ready.”. The reservation page lists a MSRP of $50,000 deposit for the Performance and $250,000 for the Thrust, and the Rocket is invite-only and not street legal, with a final price not stated. The electric sports car’s arrival was delayed multiple times during the development period.
Tesla unveiled the second-gen Roadster in 2017, and the initial customer delivery was planned for 2020, but it looks like 2026 will mark the end of the long wait for the first car. At the unveiling, Musk said the new Roadster would be “the best of the last of the human-driven cars.”
What to Watch Next for the Tesla Roadster
Tesla aims to begin production in 2028, but it still has to establish an exact customer delivery date. Moreover, the final price has not been announced. Now it is possible to observe a prototype and hope that the production model will live up to the claims. Whether the Roadster will be able to carry out such spectacular feats outside the test track and provide the necessary level of safety is still an open question.
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