Tesla has unveiled its long-delayed next-generation Roadster with thrusters derived from SpaceX technology and a multi-mode suction system. At an event held at a SpaceX test facility in Texas, the two-seat electric sports car was shown driving on an inverted ramp, briefly lifting off the ground, turning in mid-air and landing back on its wheels. The company said it now aims to begin consumer production in 2028.
According to Reuters and the Associated Press, the vehicle uses cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX. The demonstration car was operated remotely or autonomously for safety. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said the eventual production vehicle would be designed for human control and described the Roadster as the company’s final car focused on manual driving.
Claimed acceleration below one second
Tesla vehicle engineering chief Lars Moravy said the Roadster could accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than one second and reach a top speed above 230 mph. Reuters reported that the company also stated a range of more than 300 miles on a charge. Those figures have not been independently verified on a production vehicle and remain claims based on the prototype and statements made at the presentation.
The most unusual part of the demonstration involved the suction system holding the car against an inverted surface and the thrusters lifting it briefly into the air. Tesla did not explain how much of that capability would be offered on a normal production version, what safety limits would apply or whether the functions could legally be used on public roads.
No final price, but new reservation options
Tesla did not announce a final sale price during the event. Reuters reported that the company’s reservation page listed a $50,000 deposit for a “Performance” version and a $250,000 deposit for a “Thrust” version equipped with acceleration thrusters. An invite-only, single-seat “Rocket” version was described as having a full flight system. The figures shown were reservation deposits, not confirmed retail prices.
The Associated Press noted that fine print on the reservation page did not guarantee when the car would be delivered, or that delivery would take place at all. Tesla first presented a next-generation Roadster in 2017 and originally targeted deliveries for 2020. The new 2028 production goal therefore follows a series of missed timelines stretching across most of a decade.
Regulatory questions remain
Using lift and mid-air maneuvering features in normal traffic would require the vehicle to comply with a range of federal and state safety and licensing rules. Experts cited by AP said allowing such functions on public roads would involve a lengthy approval process. Tesla did not provide a regulatory timetable or specify the conditions under which the features could become street legal.
The unveiling comes as Tesla shifts more of its attention toward autonomous driving, robotaxis and humanoid robots. Reuters reported that the company has stopped selling its Model S and Model X while emphasizing projects including Cybercab and Optimus. The Roadster is therefore expected to function largely as a showcase for Tesla’s engineering ambitions rather than as a high-volume product.
The prototype’s maneuvers were visually dramatic, but key commercial details remain unsettled. Production timing, final pricing, independently tested range, safety certification and road approval have not been completed. Whether the Roadster reaches buyers in 2028—and which of its demonstrated features survive into customer vehicles—will depend on further development and regulatory review.
