Nine years after it was first announced, Tesla's next-generation Roadster has finally been shown in public. At a livestreamed event at SpaceX's test site in McGregor, Texas, on October 15, a prototype drove upside down on a curved ramp, flew off it with the help of SpaceX-supplied thrusters, and posted a claimed 0-60 mph time of under one second. Elon Musk said production will start in 2028.
Key points
- The reveal took place on October 15, 2026, at SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas, near Waco.
- Tesla's timer showed 0-60 mph in about 0.8 seconds on the second run, according to Car and Driver.
- Musk claimed a top speed of "over 230 mph" and said production will begin in 2028.
- No price or full specifications were announced, and it is unclear whether the car will be street-legal everywhere.
- Tesla has been taking $50,000 deposits for the car since 2017 and has missed every earlier delivery target.
What Tesla showed
According to Car and Driver, the event opened with a prototype driving up a towering, Hot Wheels-style loop. Tesla says a fan system under the car creates enough suction to hold it to the road even when it is upside down and standing still. The car then used SpaceX thrusters to launch off the structure. CNBC reports that it flipped in mid-air and hovered slowly before landing.
"You're going to see the results of what happens when you have a collaboration with the world's best car company and the world's best rocket company," Musk said, according to CNBC. He told the crowd: "It can basically fly like a rocket. It can do, like, crazy gymnastics."
The performance claims
The prototype ran several acceleration tests using four rear-mounted thrusters. Car and Driver reports that the first run to 60 mph took a claimed one second. When Musk was reminded that he had promised under one second, the second run came in at a claimed 0.8 seconds. Vice president of vehicle engineering Lars Moravy demonstrated the run for the live audience, CNBC says.
Musk claims the Roadster will reach "over 230 mph" and said the team wants to reach half the speed of sound. "It's going to crush every track record that has ever existed," he said. These figures come from Tesla and have not been independently tested.
Design and versions
Tesla says the wedge-shaped design was inspired by aircraft such as the SR-71 Blackbird and F-35. The prototype has butterfly doors, a two-seat cabin, a yoke-style steering wheel, steer-by-wire and a large horizontal screen. A large active rear wing can switch between high-drag and high-downforce modes.
Car and Driver reports that Tesla has since listed three configurations:
- Performance: two seats, active rear wing and fan system.
- Thrust: the same layout and hardware, plus rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters.
- Rocket: active aero, fan system and thrusters, with a driver's seat only.
Musk also said the Roadster will be the last Tesla designed to be driven by a human, and it will not include Tesla's "FSD" driver-assistance system, CNBC reports.
The caveats
Musk was open about the car's limits. "This is not necessarily a safety-optimized car, but it takes the fun meter to 11 out of 10," he said. "I'm not sure it's necessarily legal in all jurisdictions, but there will be such a car that someone can own."
Tesla did not announce a price. The car also has a long history of delays. Musk first showed the concept in November 2017, and Tesla began taking $50,000 deposits. Since then the company has missed every target, including a demo Musk said he hoped to hold before the end of 2025, CNBC notes. Tesla recently reopened reservations in the US, Canada and China with $50,000 deposits.
Tesla and SpaceX
The event highlighted how closely Musk's companies now work together. CNBC reports that the reveal added to speculation about a possible merger of Tesla and SpaceX, which went public in June. Barclays analyst Dan Levy predicted such a deal could happen before the end of 2026. That remains speculation, and neither company has announced plans.
Why it matters
The Roadster is expected to be a high-end, low-volume car, and CNBC says it is unlikely to have a material financial impact on Tesla. Its importance is mostly as a showcase for Tesla's engineering and for Musk's companies working together. Whether the production car matches the prototype's claims, and whether it arrives in 2028 as promised, will decide if this is a breakthrough or another delayed promise.
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