After years of delays, Tesla finally showed off its second-generation Roadster on October 15, 2026. The event took place outdoors near Waco, Texas, close to a SpaceX facility, and it was streamed live. The original date of October 1 was pushed back because weather made an outdoor event impossible.
The headline feature is the thruster system. The demo car used a set of cold-gas thrusters, fed by compressed air, to make small, precise adjustments in the air. At the event, the car drove up a ramp, lifted off, flipped, and landed. It also used its thrusters to move past five Tesla vehicles while still in motion. Tesla says the system produces several times the force the tires can put down, which is why the company is marketing the car on acceleration as well as spectacle.
Tesla has described three versions of the car. The Performance model has two seats, active aerodynamics, and a road-ready setup. Tesla claims it can reach 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds, and it is available by reservation. The Thrust model adds rear cold-gas thrusters, has a limited release, and is claimed to reach 60 mph in under 0.9 seconds. The Rocket model is a single-seat car with thrusters placed around the body. Tesla claims it reaches 60 mph in under 0.6 seconds and tops 230 mph. It is invite-only and, according to reports, not approved for public roads.
Tesla quotes more than 300 miles of range for the car. These figures come from the company, not independent testing, so treat them as claims until reviewers can measure them.
Pricing is still unsettled. No official retail price was announced for any version. Reports mention reservation deposits, with figures of $50,000 for the Performance model and $250,000 for the Thrust model, though different outlets describe the deposit structure differently. Production timing is also vague. Musk has pointed to 2028, and some reports suggest production could begin in 2027 or 2028 at Giga Texas. The car was first shown in 2017 with production promised for 2020, so buyers have reason to wait for confirmed dates.
Musk has also said the Roadster will not be a major revenue driver for Tesla. Its real value may be as a showcase for the company’s engineering and for how far Tesla is willing to push the car’s performance.
Is the “SpaceX-powered” label accurate? The thrusters are cold-gas units, a technology that SpaceX also uses in its spacecraft, and the event was held near a SpaceX site. However, the coverage reviewed does not clearly confirm that the production thrusters share hardware with SpaceX. Until Tesla or SpaceX confirms the details, it is safer to describe the system as rocket-inspired than as SpaceX technology.
For now, the Roadster is more of a bold demonstration than a car you can order today. Watch for official pricing, independent performance tests, and a firm production date before deciding whether it is worth the wait.
