Tesla Finally Revealed the New Roadster, Nine Years Late, With SpaceX Thrusters and a 0.59-Second 0-60 Claim
Tesla unveiled its long-delayed second-generation Roadster in a livestream on October 15, 2026, nearly nine years after first showing it in November 2017. It comes in three trims, Performance, Thrust, and Rocket, with Tesla claiming 0-60 mph times of under 1.6, 0.9, and 0.59 seconds respectively, a range above 300 miles, and, on the top trims, cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX.
There's still no price for any version. Reservations cost $50,000, the same as in 2017, and Elon Musk said production is now expected in 2028.
Nearly nine years after first teasing it, Tesla has finally shown its new Roadster. In a livestream on October 15, 2026, the company revealed a car it claims can reach 60 mph in well under two seconds, and in its most extreme form, in under 0.6 seconds, using thrusters derived from SpaceX rocket technology.
The Roadster comes in three versions, which Tesla describes as "augments" built on the same car. The Performance trim is the road car: two seats, active aerodynamics, and a fan-driven suction system, with 0-60 mph in under 1.6 seconds. The Thrust trim adds rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters and a claimed 0-60 time under 0.9 seconds, in a limited release. The single-seat Rocket trim has thrusters all around the car for upward and rotating movement, a claimed 0-60 under 0.59 seconds, and a top speed above 230 mph. It is invite-only, and Tesla's own page says it isn't approved for public roads. Tesla claims a range of more than 300 miles.
What Tesla didn't reveal is a price. Reservations require $5,000 on the day, which Tesla says is fully refundable, plus another $45,000 within 10 days or the reservation is cancelled. That is the same $50,000 Tesla asked of 2017's reservation holders, many of whom are still waiting. Asked about timing, Elon Musk said production would come in "2028, actually."
That history hangs over the launch. The Roadster was originally promised for 2020, and some of its original headline specs, including 620 miles of range, a top speed above 250 mph, and seats for four, have been scaled back. Even this year's reveal slipped several times, from April to August to October 1, before it finally happened. The car pictured above is the 2017 prototype; the new model has a sharper, more angular design inspired by the SR-71 spy plane and F-35 jet.
For now, the numbers are Tesla's own claims. The real tests, a price, independent drives, and actual deliveries, are still to come.
Key Details
- Revealed: October 15, 2026, via livestream
- Performance trim: Two seats, road-ready, 0-60 mph in under 1.6 seconds; by reservation
- Thrust trim: Two seats, adds rear cold-gas thrusters, 0-60 in under 0.9 seconds; limited release
- Rocket trim: One seat, thrusters all around, 0-60 in under 0.59 seconds, top speed above 230 mph; invite only, not approved for public roads
- Range: Above 300 miles (Tesla claim)
- Reservation: $5,000 refundable on the day, plus $45,000 within 10 days ($50,000 total)
- Price: Not announced for any trim
- Production: "2028, actually," per Elon Musk
Technical Analysis
The headline technology is the thruster system on the Thrust and Rocket trims, presented as SpaceX's contribution. The car stores compressed gas in carbon-fibre overwrapped pressure vessels packed into every usable space; more gas means more "flight time." Tesla says making thrusters work in the atmosphere rather than in the vacuum of space required new hardware and controls, and claims they produce four to five times the force the tyres can handle, a way around the traction limit that caps how fast any car can accelerate on rubber alone.
The car also uses fans to create suction, which Tesla says can hold it upside down even when stationary. In Track Mode it lowers itself and deploys wings moved by actuators borrowed from Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot, with downforce Tesla describes as "approaching F1 levels." The design, inspired by the SR-71 spy plane and F-35 fighter jet, has a steer-by-wire yoke and a fixed seat. During the reveal the car performed stunts including jumps and a flip.
Expert Analysis
Electrek's Fred Lambert, who has followed the car since 2017, noted that the livestream "offered few details," with most specifications posted on X afterwards. He pointed out that several promises from 2017 have quietly shrunk: the original Roadster was billed with 620 miles of range, a top speed above 250 mph, and four seats. He also expects Tesla to sell only "a handful" of the stunt trims, which he says are not road legal and would likely void the warranty, and suggested the reveal's heavy SpaceX framing reflected an effort to tie the two companies together. Lambert disclosed that he holds two Founders Series Roadster referral awards.
Competitive Comparison
| Product | Better At | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Roadster (as revealed) | Claimed acceleration far beyond any production car, thanks to thrusters and suction | No price, no production date beyond "2028," and stunt trims not road legal |
| 2017 Roadster (as promised) | Promised 620-mile range, over 250 mph, and 2+2 seating | Never delivered; production originally promised for 2020 |
Historical Context
Tesla first unveiled the second-generation Roadster in November 2017, as a surprise at the end of its Semi truck event, with production promised for 2020. The date slipped repeatedly. In 2026 alone, the unveiling moved from April to late April, then to about a month after first-quarter earnings, then to August, then to October 1, before finally happening on October 15. The original Tesla Roadster, the company's first car, was built from 2008 to 2012.
Future Outlook
The following is analysis and prediction, not confirmed fact.
Until Tesla publishes prices and independent testers drive the car, the specifications remain claims. Given the Roadster's history of delays, the 2028 target should be treated cautiously. If Tesla does deliver anything close to the claimed performance, the thruster and suction technology could matter more than the car itself, as a showcase for engineering shared across Tesla and SpaceX.
Key Takeaways
- Tesla revealed the second-generation Roadster on October 15, 2026, nearly nine years after its 2017 debut.
- Three trims: Performance (0-60 under 1.6s), Thrust (under 0.9s), and Rocket (under 0.59s, invite only, not road legal).
- The top trims use SpaceX-developed cold-gas thrusters; Tesla claims range above 300 miles.
- There is no price yet; reservations cost $50,000 and Musk says production is expected in 2028.
- Several 2017 promises, including 620-mile range and four seats, have been scaled back.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the new Tesla Roadster revealed?
Tesla revealed the second-generation Roadster in a livestream on October 15, 2026, nearly nine years after first showing it in 2017.
What is the Tesla Roadster price?
Tesla has not announced a price for any Roadster trim. Reservations cost $50,000: $5,000 on the day and $45,000 within 10 days.
How fast is the new Tesla Roadster?
Tesla claims 0-60 mph in under 1.6 seconds for the Performance trim, under 0.9 seconds for Thrust, and under 0.59 seconds for the invite-only Rocket, which has a claimed top speed above 230 mph.
When will the Tesla Roadster be released?
Elon Musk said production is expected in 2028. The car was originally promised for 2020.
Does the Tesla Roadster really have rocket thrusters?
The Thrust and Rocket trims use cold-gas thrusters that Tesla says were developed with SpaceX, powered by compressed gas tanks. The Rocket trim is not approved for public roads.
Source: Electrek
