Tesla Roadster unveiled with thrusters, due in 2028

Tesla unveiled its second-generation Roadster on October 15, 2026, at an event outside Waco, Texas. The electric sports car comes in three versions, and one uses compressed-air thrusters to hop over other cars. Tesla gave no price, asked for $50,000 to reserve one, and put production in 2028, almost nine years after the car was first shown.

The Roadster is Tesla's halo car, a low-volume model meant to show off the brand. Elon Musk said as much: he is "not sure it moves the needle massively from a revenue standpoint," TechCrunch reports.

The three versions and their claims

Electrek lists the three versions as Performance, Thrust and Rocket. Only the Performance is open for normal reservations. The Rocket is invite only and is not legal on public roads.

Version	Seats	Claimed 0-60 mph	How to get one
Performance	2	Under 1.6 seconds	Reservation
Thrust	2	Under 0.9 seconds	Limited release
Rocket	1	Under 0.59 seconds	Invite only, not road legal

Both outlets say every version has more than 300 miles of range. They differ on top speed. Electrek gives over 230 mph for the Rocket, while TechCrunch says all three top 230 mph.

The car is styled in stark white and sharp angles, with hidden headlights and a full-width taillight. It steers by wire through a yoke instead of a round wheel, Electrek reports. Its active wings use actuators from Optimus, Tesla's humanoid robot.

How the thrusters work

The stunts came from cold-gas thrusters, which push the car by blowing out stored air. Tesla's Lars Moravy said the car has 10 thrusters fed by 600 liters of compressed air, which can be refilled, according to TechCrunch. The air sits in composite pressure tanks packed into every spare space.

At the event, a Roadster climbed an upside-down ramp, spun and landed. It also flew over a Cybercab, a Cybertruck, a Semi, a Model Y and a Model 3. Tesla claims the thrusters give four to five times the force the tires can handle, Electrek says. Electrek also warns that the stunts are not road legal and could affect the warranty.

Price, reservations and timing

No version has a price. Electrek says a Performance reservation costs $5,000 up front plus $45,000 within 10 days, or $50,000 in total. TechCrunch reports $250,000 to reserve a Thrust.

Musk put production at "2028, actually," Electrek reports. "This will be the actual car that's on the roads," he said of the car on stage, according to TechCrunch.

What changed since 2017

Tesla first showed a new Roadster in November 2017 and promised it for 2020. TechCrunch counts delays in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024. A reveal promised for April 1, 2026, slipped, and an October 1 attempt was stopped by severe weather.

Spec	2017 promise	2026 claim
Range	620 miles	Over 300 miles
Top speed	Over 250 mph	Over 230 mph
Seats	Four (2+2)	Two, or one in the Rocket
0-60 mph	1.9 seconds	Under 1.6 seconds (Performance)
Production	2020	2028

The 2017 figures come from Electrek. Some buyers paid $50,000 deposits in 2017, and 1,000 Founders Series cars were offered at $250,000, TechCrunch reports.

What this means for developers

• Read the reservation as a loan with no end date. A Performance buyer commits $50,000 within 10 days for a car with no price and a 2028 start. Tesla has slipped the Roadster's date at least five times.
• Compare specs against the 2017 sheet. The new car promises about half the range and two fewer seats. Anyone holding an old deposit should check what they are now buying.
• Watch for the price. It is the one number missing, and it decides whether the Roadster is a $50,000 bet or a much bigger one.
• Treat the thruster numbers as claims. The 0-60 times and the force figures come from Tesla, not from independent tests. The fastest version cannot be driven on public roads.
• Ask about the steer-by-wire design. The yoke steers the wheels through electronics and software rather than a mechanical link. That is worth understanding before you hand over a deposit.