Tesla has finally shown the second-generation Roadster. The reveal took place on the evening of 15 October 2026 near Waco, Texas, after a delay from 1 October because of the weather. Tesla first announced the new Roadster in 2017.
It is not one car but three, and the most extreme of them is not road legal.
The three versions
Tesla's own Roadster page lists them like this:
| Seats | What it adds | Availability | Reservation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2 | Active aero and a multi-mode suction system | By reservation | $50,000 |
| Thrust | 2 | Cold-gas thrusters in the rear | Limited release | $250,000 |
| Rocket | 1 | Thrusters around the whole car, "a full flight system" | Invite only | Not listed |
Tesla's reservation page takes $5,000 up front, fully refundable, with the rest of the reservation amount due within 10 days.
Thrust: 0-60 in under a second
The Thrust version adds cold-gas thrusters at the rear. Tesla says they "propel Roadster from 0-60 in under 1 second." Tesla's page puts it simply: "We already put Roadster in a rocket. Now we put a rocket in Roadster."
Rocket: "So yes, it can fly"
The Rocket is a single-seater with thrusters "positioned around the perimeter of the vehicle that support forward and upward acceleration as well as lateral rotational movement." Tesla's own words: "So yes, it can fly." It is invite-only, and Tesla's page states plainly that it is not approved for public road use. Tesla says the cold-gas thrusters use all-electric actuators to make "micro adjustments within a fraction of a second" to keep the car stable in flight.
At the event, TechCrunch reports, the car used its thrusters to lift over a Cybercab, a Cybertruck, a Semi, a Model Y and a Model 3.
A suction system that can hold it upside down
All three versions have a multi-mode suction system. On its Roadster page, Tesla describes a fan and ground sealing system that pulls air from under the car with enough suction "to hold the vehicle upside down, even when stationary," plus a Track Mode that lowers the car and offers high downforce or low drag settings. Tesla footnotes that paragraph as available with the Rocket only, so it is not yet clear how much of it reaches the Performance.
The rest of the car
- Hidden aero: hidden headlights, a full-length taillight and flush-mounted aerodynamics.
- Ano White paint, inspired by coatings used on rockets, and gold-tinted glass meant to look like a spacesuit visor.
- Ultrawhite interior with grey microsuede, a yoke for the steer-by-wire system, a centre touchscreen and two smaller displays in front of the driver.
- Weight saving: manual controls, a fixed seat position, and magnesium, titanium and carbon fibre.
What Tesla said at the event
TechCrunch reports these figures from the reveal: about 300 miles of range, a top speed of more than 230 mph, and production in 2028. Elon Musk called it "the best of the last of the human-driven cars." These are not on Tesla's Roadster page yet, so treat them as the event claims until Tesla publishes a full specification.
Our take
The Roadster has turned into three different things: a road car you can reserve for $50,000, a thruster-assisted version at $250,000, and a flying single-seater you need an invitation for. The Performance version is the one most buyers will consider, and Tesla has published very little about it beyond the aero and the suction system. We will add the new Roadster next to the original Roadster once Tesla publishes a full specification.
Sources: Tesla, Roadster and Roadster reservation page, accessed 15 October 2026; TechCrunch, 15 October 2026 for the event, range, top speed and production date. Images: Tesla.