Tesla sets date for Roadster release after nine years
Tesla has finally set a date on the calendar for the new Roadster. The company released a mysterious teaser with the message “Go for launch” and the date “10.01,” referring to October 1, while the official model page also shows a countdown to that day. Nearly nine years after introducing the prototype, the electric sports car seems ready to make a comeback.
The image posted by Tesla shows a red Roadster under vertical lighting that clearly resembles a space launch platform. The message leaves little room for interpretation and aligns with one of the most eye-catching concepts Elon Musk has been promoting for this model for years: an auxiliary propulsion system developed in collaboration with SpaceX that can lift the car briefly off the ground.
The Roadster was originally unveiled in November 2017 as a demonstration of how far Tesla could go in terms of performance. At that time, it was announced to have a 0-to-97 km/h acceleration in less than 2 seconds, a top speed over 402 km/h, and a range of around 998 kilometers. Tesla also mentioned a battery capacity of about 200 kWh and an initial price of $200,000, while the Founders Series edition was set at $250,000 at that time.
The production was initially scheduled for 2020, but that timeline quickly fell behind. Since then, the Roadster’s launch has seen successive delays and new dates, passing through 2022, 2023, 2024, and later 2025–2026. At the end of 2025, Musk reset the production start date to 2027 or 2028, so the announcement on October 1 should be understood, at least for now, as a presentation or demonstration, not necessarily the start of deliveries.
In the meantime, Tesla has kept the Roadster on its official catalog. The current model page states it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.1 seconds, reach a top speed of over 400 km/h, and have a range of 1,000 kilometers. It also specifies four seats, all-wheel drive, and a removable glass roof that can be stored in the trunk.
The Roadster That Can Fly, But Not Necessarily Make It to Showrooms
The most eye-catching aspect of the October 1 presentation will likely be related to the so-called SpaceX package. Musk has been talking since 2018 about adding cold gas thrusters to the Roadster to improve acceleration, braking, and cornering performance. Over time, this idea has evolved into something even more spectacular: demonstrating that the car can lift off from the ground for a few moments.
The demonstration that has been preparing would have eventually narrowed down from the most extreme ideas initially proposed. Instead of a Roadster capable of performing complex acrobatic maneuvers, the goal would be to show a vehicle that lifts off in a controlled manner without a driver, operated remotely. The use of thrusters would also require keeping a considerable distance from the spectators due to the high level of noise they generate.
Tesla’s own preview seems designed precisely to fuel that expectation. The lighting surrounding the car mimics the appearance of a space launch, and the visible trails behind the vehicle reinforce the association with SpaceX. Additionally, a Tesla patent filed in 2025 describes an active aerodynamics system based on fans and movable flaps capable of creating a low-pressure zone under the car to increase aerodynamic drag. The patent even covers configurations with four fans, though it does not show that this system will be part of the Roadster unveiled in October.
And that is precisely one of the major uncertainties. The Roadster that Tesla will unveil on October 1 could be very different from the car that will eventually hit the roads. Recent reports suggest the vehicle used for the demonstration may not be approved for road use, and that Tesla is considering a highly limited version similar to a circuit car program for select customers.
This would also explain why the wait for the first buyers has been particularly long. Initial reservations required $50,000 for the standard Roadster and $250,000 for the Founders Series. Some of the customers who reserved cars in 2017, including well-known figures like Marques Brownlee and Sam Altman, ended up canceling their reservations after years of delays.
Nine years after that presentation, Tesla now has a chance to prove that the Roadster is more than just a perpetually delayed prototype. On October 1, we will find out what remains of that sports car capable of accelerating in less than 2 seconds and covering almost 1,000 kilometers, though the most important question still remains: when will customers be able to actually buy it?
A spectacular demonstration may generate headlines for a few days, but the real debut of the Roadster will be the day Tesla confirms an approved version, a final price, and most importantly, a production date that is actually met this time.