TechnologyOctober 16, 2026

Spectacular Prototype: Tesla Roadster Set for 2028 Release

Tesla has put on a big show for the presentation of its new Roadster. However, little remains of the first prototype that Tesla unveiled back in 2017 - neither in terms of design nor technology. Although detailed technical information is still scarce. The presentation focused more on the features realised through a collaboration with SpaceX. However, this has little to do with a road-legal car in Germany.

Image: Tesla

Nine years ago, Tesla unveiled a new Roadster as the successor to its legendary first model. Since then, repeated announcements and delays have followed. Even the major presentation event in mid-October 2026, where the latest version of the Roadster finally made its debut, took place 14 days late.

However, those seriously interested in a new Tesla model and eager for technical details will unfortunately have to wait a while longer. Concrete information about the production vehicle – likely to be seen on roads soon – remains scarce.

The reason is that the presentation of the next Tesla Roadster focused more on what Elon Musk had envisioned and, in collaboration with SpaceX, actually brought to life. From a technological perspective – and for all the inner-child science fiction fans – it is an impressive achievement (more on that later), but less so from a driver’s perspective.

Spectacular presentation of the new Tesla Roadster

So what happened under the open sky at the SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas, on 15 October 2026? After presentations that included the announcement of production starting in “actually 2028”, the Roadster – now as angular as the Cybertruck – drove in, activated its 10 cold-gas compressed air thrusters, and lifted off the ground.

It is capable of rotating around its longitudinal axis in mid-air before landing back on the ground as precisely as a SpaceX rocket. The cold-gas thrusters operate with fully electric actuators for micro-adjustments that stabilise the vehicle in the air. The flying prototype is controlled via a steer-by-wire system with a yoke steering wheel.

Image: Tesla

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Another feature Elon Musk presented to the audience is the suction system in the underbody. A multi-stage fan, combined with a sealed floor, pulls air from beneath the vehicle, allowing the Roadster to cling upside-down to the ceiling even when stationary.

However, the Roadster is not the first car to achieve this. The pioneer of this “downforce trick” is the McMurtry Spéirling, which showcased the technology in April 2025. Yet, even from the upside-down position, the Tesla activated its thrusters, rotated, and landed on all four wheels. The vehicle’s “flight” over a line of Tesla vehicles (Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, Cybercab, and Semi) also succeeded without a scratch.

When the Roadster stays on the ground, it can achieve another feat: acceleration from 0 to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) in – according to Elon Musk, who commented on the action live -0.81 seconds. During this acceleration, up to 3.3 G force pushes on the vehicle’s occupants. Additional features include active spoilers and a special track mode that lowers the vehicle significantly.

Technical specifications differ from 2017 announcements

Regarding the actual technical specifications for a road-legal vehicle, there is not only a lack of information, but the available details also differ drastically from what Tesla announced for its new Roadster in 2017. Back then, there was talk of a massive 200-kWh battery pack for a range of up to 1,000 km. In the interest of weight savings, the current configuration is now said to achieve a maximum of 480 km.

The originally rounded GT design with 2+2 seating has also given way to a Cyber-style body with just two seats (or even one seat in the Rocket package). Additionally, the targeted top speed has been slightly adjusted from over 400 km/h to around 370 km/h.

Musk and design chief Franz von Holzhausen also emphasised that the new design is inspired not only by the Cybertruck but also by stealth fighter jets such as the SR-71 Blackbird and the F-35. This is evident in the hidden headlights, a continuous light strip at the rear, the special ‘Ano White’ paint finish, and gold-tinted glass reminiscent of astronaut helmet visors.

To keep the weight low despite the complex technology, Tesla uses magnesium, titanium, and carbon fibre, as well as fixed-mounted seats. Inside, occupants are greeted by a minimalist white-grey microfibre cockpit with a central touchscreen and two smaller displays in the driver’s line of sight.

Image: Tesla

Three versions of the Tesla Roadster planned

The new Tesla Roadster is now available in the configurator in three variants. The road-legal entry-level Performance model, with two seats and a suction system, achieves the sprint in around 1.6 seconds and requires a reservation payment of €50,000 (€5,000 immediately, €45,000 within 10 days).

The track-optimised Thrust variant features rear cold-gas thrusters for times under 0.9 seconds, with a total reservation fee of €250,000. Additionally, this variant is limited to one unit per customer.

The most extreme model, with the Rocket package (one seat with 10 cold-gas thrusters), is not publicly orderable but will be allocated exclusively by personal invitation from Tesla to selected customers. It includes the features of the Performance and Thrust models plus the “flight capability system”, as it is called in the Tesla configurator. The targeted sprint time: 0.59 seconds.