Tesla on Thursday unveiled its long-awaited next-generation Roadster, demonstrating a prototype that drove upside down, briefly became airborne and performed mid-air manoeuvres using cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX technology.
Chief Executive Elon Musk presented the electric sports car at a SpaceX facility in Texas, where the vehicle climbed a curved ramp while inverted, launched into the air, flipped and landed safely. In another sequence it cleared a line of other Tesla models, including a Cybertruck and Semi.
“Turns out the future does have flying cars,” Musk said. After one successful demonstration he added: “Well, it worked.”
Tesla said the Roadster uses a combination of underside fan suction capable of generating up to two Gs of force and rear- and perimeter-mounted cold-gas thrusters. The thrusters, adapted from spacecraft systems, are intended to provide additional thrust beyond what tyre grip alone can deliver.
The company outlined three configurations. The Performance version is a two-seater claiming 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in under 1.6 seconds. The Thrust model adds rear thrusters for a claimed time under 0.9 seconds. The single-seat Rocket variant, described as “air-ready,” is said to reach 0-60 mph in under 0.59 seconds and a top speed exceeding 230 mph (370 km/h), with thrusters enabling forward, upward, lateral and rotational movement.
During the event Tesla claimed a recorded acceleration run of 0.81 seconds to 60 mph. All versions are advertised with a range of more than 300 miles (480 km).
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— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 16, 2026
Musk described the Roadster as “the best of the last human-driven cars” and said production is targeted for 2028. He cautioned that the vehicle “is not necessarily a safety-optimized car. But it takes the fun meter to 11 out of 10.”
Tesla is taking reservations, with a $50,000 deposit for the Performance model and $250,000 for the Thrust version. The original second-generation Roadster concept was first revealed in 2017.
