Tesla is getting ready to reveal its new Roadster, nearly nine years after we first saw it – and this time the question isn’t just how quickly it’ll get down the road, but whether it’ll leave the ground.
The unveiling is rumoured to take place at SpaceX’s test site in McGregor, Texas, on Thursday 15 October with a livestream scheduled for 1.55am UK time on Friday 16 October. An event planned for 1 October was postponed because of bad weather, adding another delay to a car that was originally supposed to reach customers in 2020.
Tesla boss Elon Musk has described the new Roadster as “a candidate for greatest product demo of all time”. Quite what that involves remains under wraps – maybe another Roadster being sent into space to catch up with the car launched as part of the maiden test flight of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in 2018. However, there’s an important distinction between what Tesla has already promised for a new Roadster, what Musk has hinted at and what buyers will actually get.
The Roadster name goes back to Tesla’s first production car, the Lotus Elise-based two-seater launched in 2008. Its replacement appeared as a surprise at the Tesla Semi truck unveiling in November 2017, bringing a very different proposition: four seats, four-wheel drive and performance aimed squarely at the supercar establishment.
Back then, Tesla promised 0-60mph in 1.9 seconds, 0-100mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of more than 250mph. Three electric motors – one at the front and two at the rear – were paired with a huge 200kWh battery, with a maximum claimed range of 620 miles.
In 2024, Musk raised the stakes again, claiming the redesigned Roadster would reach 60mph in less than a second, while confirming collaboration with his rocket company, SpaceX.
Musk has talked about an optional package of small thrusters, using compressed gas to help acceleration, braking and cornering. He’s also suggested they could briefly lift the car off the ground, although how that might work on a customer car remains unconfirmed – we’ll find out later.
There’s a more familiar side to the Roadster, too. The earlier prototype had a removable glass roof that could be stored in the boot, two small rear seats and a large central touchscreen in an otherwise simple cabin. However, Musk has said the new version will be very different, so the 2017 car isn’t a definitive guide to what we’ll see.
Pricing is another area awaiting an update. Tesla originally announced a $200,000 starting price, with the first 1,000 Founders Series cars costing $250,000. US reservations currently require a $50,000 deposit, but that doesn’t establish the final purchase price.
The Roadster also arrives as Tesla puts more emphasis on self-driving technology and robots. Unlike the steering-wheel-free Cybercab, the Roadster is being presented as a car for people who still want to drive, rather than hand the job to software.
Nor should the unveiling be confused with the start of production. Musk previously suggested manufacturing would begin 12 to 18 months after the reveal, although that timetable was given when an April 2026 unveiling was being discussed. A fresh production schedule is among the details prospective owners will be looking for.
Beyond the headline acceleration claims, there are still questions about charging speeds, the final battery specification and which features will make it into cars customers can buy. After such a long wait, the reveal should tell us much more about the Roadster itself – but when it’ll reach the road remains one of the biggest unanswered questions.
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