Tesla unveiled a redesigned Roadster in McGregor, Texas, featuring SpaceX-developed thrusters, steer-by-wire controls, and aerial maneuvering capabilities. Elon Musk announced that commercial production of the electric sports car will begin in 2028, reviving a project first previewed in late 2017.
Test Flight Demonstrations at the McGregor Facility
Tesla unveiled the redesigned electric sports car at a SpaceX testing facility in McGregor, Texas. During the exhibition, the vehicle climbed a curved ramp, navigated upside-down via a suction system, and landed using integrated thrusters.
The demonstration also featured the vehicle jumping over other company models, including the electric Semi truck. Throughout the course runs, the driver seat was occupied by Optimus, the humanoid robot developed by the company.
Performance Specs and SpaceX Rocket Technology
Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk stated that the Roadster can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in less than one second and exceed 370 km/h in top speed. The vehicle achieves these maneuvers using compressed-air thrusters built alongside SpaceX.
“Ready to fly with a single-person seat. It features a multimode suction system combined with cold-gas thrusters located around the perimeter of the vehicle that allow for forward and upward acceleration, as well as lateral rotation movement,” Tesla stated according to Infobae.
The vehicle also utilizes electronic steering controls known as steer-by-wire, replacing mechanical linkages between the steering wheel and the wheels.
Reservation Tiers and Production Timelines
Following the event, reservation pages went live with multiple variants, though final pricing remains unconfirmed. Nearly a decade ago, Tesla mentioned a base price of USD 200,000.
| Variant Name | Deposit Requirement | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | USD 50,000 | Standard sports configuration |
| Thrust | USD 250,000 | Equipped with acceleration thrusters |
| Rocket | Only by invitation | Single-seat configuration with full flight system |
Production is scheduled to begin in 2028. This timeline follows a lengthy delay from the vehicle’s initial 2017 unveiling, which originally targeted customer deliveries in 2020.
Regulatory Questions and Market Positioning
Executives acknowledged during the presentation that the vehicle is not necessarily optimized for safety, and the official booking site notes that the rocket-equipped variants are not approved for public road use. Regulatory hurdles regarding the thruster systems remain unresolved.
While Musk previously described the vehicle in 2023 as a minor project with limited financial impact, Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein noted that the sports car will serve as the brand’s new flagship, projecting sales of roughly 2,000 units annually.