Elon Musk has finally revealed the highly anticipated, second-generation Tesla Roadster. Unveiled during a livestreamed spectacle outside Waco, Texas, this new vehicle isn’t just an EV… it is the Tesla “Flying” Roadster!
At the Thursday night event, Musk delivered his classic showmanship. Complete with dramatic music, mechanical hissing, and a launch countdown, the demonstration was nothing short of jaw-dropping. The stark white, sharply angled Roadster drove up a massive inverted ramp, using a multi-mode suction system to navigate upside down. Built-in SpaceX thrusters then launched the car off the ramp. It twisted in the air and safely landed on the pavement. During the same event, the car used those thrusters to literally jump over a Cybercab, a Cybertruck, a Tesla Semi, a Model Y, and a Model 3.
Musk even teased that Tesla might attempt a jump over the Snake River Canyon, echoing Evel Knievel’s infamous steam-powered rocket stunt.
https://t.co/L8fiCl4uNM
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026
The Tesla Flying Roadster Will Offer Three Distinct Trims
If you want this level of performance, you will have to wait until 2028. Furthermore, while no base price was officially named, the reservation tiers make it clear that this “halo car” won’t come cheap.
Tesla will offer the Roadster in three distinct trims:
- Performance: Described as “road ready”, this two-seater requires a $50,000 deposit. It features active aerodynamics and a suction system for extreme track performance.
- Thrust: Billed as “race ready”, this version requires a massive $250,000 deposit. It utilizes rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters to achieve a staggering 0-to-60 mph acceleration in under one second.
- Rocket: This “invite-only” trim is “air ready”. It is a single-seat model equipped with a full flight system powered by 10 cold-gas thrusters positioned around the car.
0-60 mph in 0.81 seconds https://t.co/7Pp4oqJVzq
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026
According to engineering chief Lars Moravy, the vehicle utilizes 600 liters of compressed air to power those thrusters. To achieve this, Tesla packed every usable void in the car with Carbon Fiber Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs), the very same tech that caused previous SpaceX rocket explosions.
SpaceX has used thrusters to position spacecraft for decades.
Making them work in a vehicle instead of a vacuum took all-new hardware & controls.
Every usable void in the car is packed with Carbon Fiber Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs)
More compressed gas on board = more flight time
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026
The specs are mind-bending. The Roadster boasts a top speed exceeding 230 mph, with Musk claiming it could “crack halfway to the speed of sound” (roughly 380+ mph). It also promises over 300 miles of range on a single charge… though that is less than half of the 620 miles Musk originally promised back in 2017.
A Controversial Halo Car
Musk frankly stated that “safety is not the main goal” with the new Roadster. He warned that buyers prioritizing safety should look elsewhere, noting only that Tesla would “aspire not to kill anyone in this car”.
This flying car arrives as Tesla shifts its focus heavily toward AI and robotics. The company recently discontinued sales of its legacy Model S and X vehicles to allocate resources for Optimus humanoid robot production. Tesla also recently launched the Cybercab, a vehicle lacking a steering wheel or pedals.
This extreme pivot, combined with the heavy integration of SpaceX technology, has fueled speculation. Analyst Gene Munster suggested the event was “an engineering flex with no commercial value” designed to drum up interest in a potential merger between Tesla and SpaceX. Meanwhile, tech reviewer Marques Brownlee remained skeptical of the 2028 delivery date and the vehicle’s physics, asking, “This is a prank, right?”
Despite the skepticism and years of delays, the car was first announced nine years ago, investors responded positively. Tesla shares jumped 5% in premarket trading on Friday following the event.