After nearly nine years of waiting, Tesla finally showed the second-generation Roadster to the public. The event was part car launch, part stunt show, and it left a lot of people asking what is real, what it costs and when anyone will get one. This page sums up what Tesla announced, as reported on October 18, 2026, and what is still unknown.
The event: when and where
The reveal ran on the night of Thursday, October 15, 2026, outside Waco, Texas, close to SpaceX's McGregor rocket test site. Tesla had set October 1, but postponed it because of the weather. On stage, the car drove up a curved ramp, turned upside down, lifted off and landed, and hovered over other Tesla vehicles. We cover that part in is the Tesla Roadster real?
Three versions, three very different cars
| Version | Seats | 0-60 mph (Tesla claim) | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2 | Under 1.6 seconds | Open for reservations |
| Thrust | 2 | Under 0.9 seconds | Limited release |
| Rocket | 1 | Under 0.59 seconds | Invite only; not offered in all regions |
These figures come from Tesla's published specs as reported by Teslarati. During the show, Tesla ran a 0-60 mph demonstration on screen, but that run is separate from the listed figures. No independent instrumented test exists yet, so every number here is a manufacturer claim.
Range, top speed and build
- Range: more than 300 miles (about 480 km).
- Top speed: more than 230 mph (about 370 km/h) for the fastest version.
- Materials: magnesium, titanium and carbon fiber to cut weight.
- Interior: a center touchscreen plus two smaller forward displays.
Tesla's earlier Roadster page listed 620 miles of range and over 250 mph. The redesigned car's published figures are lower, so be careful with older articles that still quote those numbers. For a version-by-version look, see Tesla Roadster 0-60 and top speed.
The thrusters and the "flying" part
Thrust and Rocket carry cold gas thrusters developed with SpaceX engineers. Tesla describes them as stabilization for moments when the car leaves the ground, and says they can produce four to five times the force the tires can. A fan and ground-sealing system pulls air from under the car so it can stay pressed to a surface, even upside down. Our explainers cover how the Roadster flies and how it drove upside down.
Price, deposit and release date
Tesla did not put a price on any version. Reservations reopened with a $50,000 deposit, and reports before the event described it as $5,000 up front with the remaining $45,000 due within 10 days. The full breakdown is in how much is the Tesla Roadster.
Production is planned at Giga Texas. Elon Musk talked about 12 to 18 months between the demo and production, which lines up with reports of 2027 or 2028. The Roadster was first promised for 2020, so a firm delivery date is still the missing piece.
Can you drive it on the road?
Not yet. Coverage of Tesla's spec sheet says the Roadster is not approved for public roads at this stage, and approval for a car with thrusters is an open question in the US and Europe. We explain the rules in will the Tesla Roadster be street legal? UK readers can find the local picture in our Tesla Roadster UK guide.
What is still unknown
- The price of each version, in any market.
- A confirmed delivery date.
- How long, how high and under what conditions the car can lift off.
- Which versions will be road legal, and where.
- Charging speed and battery size.
We will update this page as Tesla confirms more. If you already own an electric car, a more everyday problem may be closer to home: rodents chewing EV wiring, which we cover in rats and electric cars.