Tesla Finally Unveils the Roadster: A Thruster-Equipped Hypercar That Can Flip, Hover and Hit 60 mph in Under a Second

Tesla revealed its second-generation Roadster on 15 October 2026, nearly nine years after the first prototype. In a live demo near Waco, Texas, the car drove upside down on a ramp and used SpaceX-built thrusters to hop over a row of Tesla vehicles. Tesla says production starts in 2028 and has not announced prices.

The reveal

Tesla held the event outdoors near SpaceX’s McGregor site after delaying it from 1 October because of weather. Elon Musk called the car “the best of the last of the human-driven cars” and said the car shown will be the one that goes on sale. Tesla first showed a Roadster prototype in 2017 and promised deliveries from 2020.

Watch the demo

This is Tesla’s own post on X with the full livestream of the event.

Roadster event livestream https://t.co/G0jU4mWfid

— Tesla (@Tesla) October 15, 2026

What happened in the demo

• The car drove up a curved ramp until it was upside down, held in place by a suction system that Tesla says can generate up to 2G of downforce, then flipped off and landed on its wheels.
• It used cold-gas thrusters to leap over a line of Tesla vehicles, including a Cybercab, Cybertruck, Semi, Model Y and Model 3.
• Tesla claimed a 0-60 mph time of 0.81 seconds during the demonstration.

Musk said before the demo that success wasn’t guaranteed. Reports describe the demo cars as driverless prototypes.

Three versions

• Performance: road-ready, two seats, with active aerodynamics and a multi-mode suction system, and 0-60 mph in under 1.6 seconds. Available by reservation.
• Thrust: race-ready, two seats, with the suction system and rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters, and 0-60 mph in under 0.9 seconds. A limited release.
• Rocket: a single-seat version with thrusters around the body for upward and rotational movement, 0-60 mph in under 0.59 seconds and a top speed of over 230 mph. Tesla says it can fly. It is invite-only and not available in all regions.

Tesla quotes a range of over 300 miles (about 480 km). Tesla’s Roadster page says its headline specifications reflect the Thrust upgrade only, which is optional. Tesla says the thrusters generate four to five times the force the tyres can, and that the car stores compressed gas for them in pressure vessels packed into every usable gap.

Design and cabin

Tesla says the design draws on the SR-71 and F-35, with hidden headlights, a full-length taillight and flush-mounted aerodynamics. Its “Ano White” paint borrows from rocket coatings, and the tinted windows are meant to mimic a spacesuit’s gold visor. Inside are a yoke for steer-by-wire steering, a central touchscreen and two smaller displays in front of the driver. The seat position is fixed and the controls are manual to save weight, and the cabin uses magnesium, titanium and carbon fibre. In Track Mode the car lowers itself and deploys active wings, which Tesla says produce downforce approaching F1 levels.

What’s changed since 2017

Tesla’s 2017 promises were a 620-mile range, a top speed above 250 mph and seating for four. The new car is quoted at over 300 miles, up to 230 mph and two seats at most.

Price and timing

Tesla hasn’t announced prices for any version. It has reopened reservations instead. The Performance requires a $50,000 deposit (about AED 183,600), with $5,000 due at reservation and $45,000 within 10 days, and the Thrust requires a $250,000 deposit (about AED 918,100), according to Reuters. Musk said production begins in 2028. Tesla’s own Roadster page says the Rocket isn’t approved for public road use.

For UAE buyers

Tesla hasn’t announced UAE availability, reservations or pricing for the Roadster, and it says the Rocket trim isn’t available in all regions. For now it’s a halo car to watch.

Sources: Tesla, Roadster page; Tesla on X, Roadster event livestream, 15 October 2026; Electrek (details from Tesla’s X thread); Reuters via The Spokesman-Review; TechCrunch. Deposit conversions are approximate, at 3.67 AED per USD.