Tesla Roadster: Will Elon Musk finally keep his promises? What we know ahead of the upcoming live presentation
The second Tesla Roadster will be unveiled next night. After nine years of waiting and an endless string of delays, Elon Musk still promises an electric sports car with exceptional performance. A range of 1,000 kilometers, impressive acceleration, and perhaps even the ability to “fly” — this is what we know about this model that keeps getting postponed.
The event is set. Tesla is scheduled to unveil its second-generation Roadster on Thursday, October 15th, at 7:55 p.m. Texas time (which is 2:55 a.m. in France, on the night of Thursday to Friday). It is an event highly anticipated, as this electric sports car was first announced nearly nine years ago... Meanwhile, Elon Musk has made numerous promises but has never managed to bring the project to fruition. Will this time be the right one?
Tesla Roadster: A Look Back at Nine Years of Promises
To understand the anticipation surrounding the new Tesla Roadster, we must go back to November 2017. At that time, Elon Musk used the unveiling of his electric truck, the Semi, to surprise everyone. The company revealed a new generation of its original model—a electric sports car with specifications that seemed almost unreal. Tesla promised to launch it three years later, in 2020.
The Roadster holds a special place in the brand’s history. Its first generation, introduced in 2008, allowed Tesla to prove that an electric car could also be high-performing and desirable. With this second generation, the goal is different: it aims to push the boundaries of electric vehicles and compete with the world’s best supercars.
But as the years pass, the project doesn’t progress as planned. The 2020 deadline is abandoned, after which Tesla proposes new dates one after another. In 2021, Musk explained that supply chain challenges and the company’s industrial priorities are complicating the development of the model. The Roadster falls behind other projects, notably the Cybertruck, which is now known to have achieved only “moderate success.”
2024: a restart. 2026: more clarity.
In 2024, the billionaire reignited expectations by promising a presentation before the end of the year. He even spoke of performances even more spectacular than those announced in 2017. But once again, nothing happened. Production was then planned for 2025, with no further results. It wasn’t until 2026 that another deadline emerged. Tesla first scheduled an event for October 1st, before rescheduling it to October 15th due to unfavorable weather conditions. Another twist in a story that resembles a serial drama.
This long wait has also eventually discouraged some customers. Several notable figures, including influencer Marques Brownlee and OpenAI founder Sam Altman, have canceled their reservations. It should be noted that buyers have been holding $50,000 since 2017 without knowing when they will be able to receive their cars.
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What do we really know about this new Roadster?
Despite these numerous delays, Tesla has never officially given up on its project. On paper, the features announced are particularly impressive. During its initial presentation, the manufacturer promised 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in just 1.9 seconds, 0 to 160 km/h in 4.2 seconds, and a top speed exceeding 400 km/h. But Elon Musk didn’t stop there. Over the years, the Tesla CEO has raised his ambitions even further. He has specifically mentioned 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in less than a second—a figure that would make the Roadster the fastest car in the world.
To achieve such performance, Tesla initially announced a three-electric-motor configuration, with one motor at the front and two at the back. However, the exact power output was never officially specified. Regarding range, Elon Musk promised in 2017 a 200 kWh battery capable of providing around 1,000 km of range. This is a very substantial capacity even for a modern electric car. It does raise questions about the overall weight, an essential factor for a sports car. As of now, there is no information to confirm this range.
A collaboration with SpaceX?
The Roadster might stand out thanks to much more impressive technology. Musk has mentioned several times a partnership with SpaceX, one of his other companies, to incorporate compressed gas thrusters. These would theoretically allow for improved acceleration, braking, and road holding. The CEO even went so far as to suggest that the car could “take off briefly from the ground.”
A promise that aligns with the recent delay in the Roadster’s unveiling. Originally scheduled for October 1, the event was pushed back to October 15 due to “unfavorable weather conditions.” This has fueled speculation about a possible outdoor demonstration, which would involve those famous thrusters. However, care should be taken not to draw hasty conclusions. Tesla has not confirmed that such a demonstration is planned. We will have to wait until tonight’s event to find out if this technology is truly ready.
A 2+2 coupe with a removable roof
In terms of design, the model introduced in 2017 featured a sporty coupe silhouette with a removable roof and a 2+2 seating arrangement. The two rear seats will naturally be quite cramped. Inside, the cabin is characterized by a minimalist design, consistent with Tesla’s style. We will see to what extent these choices have been retained.
Price, timeline, strategy?
Finally, there is the issue of price. In 2017, Tesla announced a starting price of $200,000, while the special Founders Series was set to cost $250,000. But it is primarily the timeline that Tesla will be under scrutiny regarding. After all, introducing the Roadster once again is one thing, but actually producing and delivering it is another. Nine years after the initial promises, Elon Musk will need to provide concrete answers. This is especially true since the market has changed significantly since 2017. We now have electric sports cars capable of accelerations that were once thought to be reserved for the future.
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Finally, one might wonder if there is still room for such a model in Tesla’s current strategy. Between 2017 and today, the automotive industry has changed significantly, and Tesla is no exception. The Texas-based manufacturer is placing increasing emphasis on autonomous driving, robotaxis, and robotics. This future Roadster seems almost counter to that trend. But the Austin-based company is capable of anything.
Watch this presentation live with Tesla’s stream tonight.
> Tesla Live
Roadster event streaming live this Thursday at 7:55pm CST https://t.co/AbsmpVucui
— Tesla (@Tesla) 2026-10-14T00:25:40.000Z