Tesla’s second-generation Roadster pairs ambitious performance hardware with a cockpit interface designed around driving data. Videos from the company’s October event offer a closer look at the touchscreen, revealing how drivers will control the electric sports car’s adjustable aerodynamics and track-focused systems.
The display uses a dark interface with red and white graphics, drawing inspiration from fighter jet cockpit screens. Its layout places key vehicle information within easy reach. Smaller displays near the bottom of the windshield also show speed and lap data, helping drivers monitor performance without looking away from the road for long.
Production remains scheduled for 2028, leaving time for Tesla to refine the software. However, the footage already offers a detailed look at how the automaker plans to integrate the Roadster’s specialized hardware with its digital controls.
A cockpit built for drivers
The touchscreen organizes its main functions under five tabs: Home, Vehicle, Listen, Climate, and Navigate. The familiar arrangement should help existing Tesla owners find everyday controls without learning an entirely new interface.
Home features a three-dimensional wireframe model of the Roadster. Drivers can zoom into its mechanical components, which appear in metallic gold. The visualization also exposes hardware such as the suspension and thrusters.
Inspired by fighter jet cockpits, Roadster’s interface was designed around the pilot pic.twitter.com/xHsyuNVrWo
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 23, 2026
Touchscreen controls let drivers adjust the rear wing, hood vent, and exterior lighting. The display also provides access to battery information and charging limits. A compact music strip sits above the main navigation bar.
The design extends beyond appearance. Tesla has described the interface as distinct from its previous systems, with an emphasis on the Roadster’s specific requirements. A light mode offers an alternative to the predominantly dark presentation, although both retain the same basic layout.
Track mode gets technical
The Vehicle tab gives drivers four profiles: Comfort, Balance, Sport, and Custom. Each offers a different approach to the car’s driving characteristics, while Custom provides more detailed adjustments.
Drivers can modify acceleration response, suspension stiffness, and ride height. Additional controls cover aerodynamic components, including the front and rear wings. That flexibility could help owners tailor the car for road driving or track sessions.
Track mode takes the interface into more specialized territory. The display presents lap times, session statistics, and a circuit map. It also incorporates vehicle telemetry, giving drivers access to information relevant to monitoring performance on a closed course.
The steering yoke adds another layer of control. Its buttons include functions for turn signals, boost, and the drag reduction system, reducing the need to navigate touchscreen menus during demanding driving.
Tesla has also shown a thruster pressure gauge reading 5,500 PSI, alongside a boost-readiness indicator. The display connects the Roadster’s unusual propulsion hardware with the same digital environment used for conventional vehicle settings.
Everyday controls get personality
The remaining tabs focus on routine functions. Listen displays album artwork and playback information, while Climate illustrates cabin airflow and seat temperature. Navigate provides the car’s mapping interface.
Tesla has also included a playful detail in the reversing view. An animated hedgehog appears to walk up a driveway before waving at the driver. The small Easter egg adds personality to an interface otherwise dominated by performance data.
The production version could still differ from the car shown at the event. Tesla has until its planned 2028 production start to adjust the layout and functionality.