New Tesla Roadster Revealed With Angular Design and Thruster-Powered Stunts
Tesla has unveiled a redesigned Roadster, pairing a sharper exterior with a demonstration that took the electric sports car briefly into the air.
Presented near Waco, Texas, on October 15, the vehicle performed airborne maneuvers using a combination of fans and compressed-gas thrusters, according to coverage of the event. The spectacle brought fresh attention to a sports-car project that has spent years awaiting production.
Behind the dramatic presentation, several practical questions remain: what customers will receive, how much it will cost and when deliveries will begin.
A sharper design for the new Tesla Roadster
The latest Roadster looks substantially different from the rounded prototype Tesla presented in 2017.
Its angular body features concealed headlights, a full-width rear light and integrated aerodynamic components. The cabin includes a steering yoke, a central touchscreen and additional displays facing the driver, according to Electrek’s coverage.
The appearance draws the Roadster closer to Tesla’s newer design direction. Despite comparisons with the Cybertruck, however, the Roadster is a separate sports-car project.
What happened during the aerial demonstration?
The presentation showed more than rapid acceleration. Reporting describes the vehicle lifting off the ground and performing controlled aerial movements.
MotorTrend explains that the most extreme configuration uses pressurized gas released through multiple nozzles. Their positioning allows the system to provide lift and influence the vehicle’s movement while airborne.
That requires some context around the “flying car” description. Brief manoeuvres during a controlled demonstration do not establish sustained flight capability or permission to use those features on public roads.
The event demonstrated an unusual engineering approach. Its everyday usefulness remains a separate question.
Performance, Thrust and Rocket versions
Reporting on the unveiling identifies three configurations, each with a different emphasis.
| Version | Reported features |
|---|---|
| Performance | Two seats, active aerodynamics and a suction system. |
| Thrust | Two seats with additional rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters. |
| Rocket | A single seat and perimeter thrusters for more extreme manoeuvres. |
Electrek reports that Tesla claims a zero-to-60-mph time below 1.6 seconds for Performance, with lower figures advertised for the thruster-equipped configurations. These remain manufacturer claims rather than independently verified results from customer production vehicles.
Specifications also require careful reading. Tesla’s website notes that some advertised features apply to the optional Thrust upgrade, while a separate qualification limits a feature to Rocket and selected regions. Buyers should therefore check the specification of the particular version they are considering.
How much will the new Tesla Roadster cost?
Reservation deposits have been reported, but they should not be mistaken for final vehicle prices.
MotorTrend lists a US$50,000 reservation deposit for Performance and US$250,000 for Thrust. Rocket is described as invitation-only. Its coverage does not establish the final retail price of each configuration.
A deposit secures a reservation under the applicable terms; it does not, by itself, explain the full purchase cost. Prospective customers should review payment conditions, cancellation provisions and the final vehicle specification before committing.
When is production expected?
Reporting from the unveiling places Tesla’s production target in 2028. That is a planned milestone, rather than confirmation that manufacturing or customer deliveries have started.
The distinction matters because the second-generation Roadster has already experienced repeated delays since its original presentation.
For customers, a confirmed manufacturing schedule and delivery commitments would provide a firmer basis for planning than an unveiling alone.
Availability and road approval remain important questions.
A global presentation does not mean every configuration will be available in every market.
Buyers will need to establish local availability, applicable road approvals, servicing arrangements and warranty support. The equipment demonstrated on a specialist version should not be assumed to be approved for unrestricted use elsewhere.
Independent testing will also matter. Acceleration, range and the repeatability of the thruster-assisted features need assessment beyond a staged presentation.
The redesigned Roadster has delivered a striking demonstration. Its next test is turning that presentation into a clearly specified vehicle that customers can buy, receive and use under the rules of their market.
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