Full Breakdown
Tesla Unveils Next-Generation Roadster with SpaceX-Powered Thrusters
By Drooid · · How we work
Event Overview
On Oct 15, Tesla held a live demonstration in San Francisco, showing a two-seat Roadster driving upside-down on a ramp using a suction system, then turning and landing with built-in thrusters. The prototype, developed with SpaceX, highlighted the car’s ability to maneuver in the air, a feature whose legality on public roads remains unclear.
Technical Specs & Pricing
Tesla says the new Roadster can accelerate from 0 km/h to 96.5 km/h in under one second and reach a top speed exceeding 370 km/h. Reuters notes a comparable claim of 0-to-60 mph (100 km/h) in less than a second. The vehicle is offered in three reservation tiers: a “Performance” version requiring a US$50,000 deposit, a “Thrust” version with acceleration thrusters requiring a US$250,000 deposit, and an invite-only “Rocket” single-seat model featuring a full flight system. While the original 2017 pricing target was US$200,000, no updated price was disclosed at the event.
Production Timeline & Market Outlook
Tesla indicated that production of the Roadster is slated to begin in 2028. Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein projects annual sales of roughly 2,000 units, a small fraction of the 1.6 million vehicles Tesla delivered in 2025.
Strategic Shift for Tesla
The Roadster reveal coincides with a broader pivot toward artificial-intelligence-driven self-driving technology and robotics. In 2026, Tesla stopped selling Model S and Model X vehicles to free capacity for its Optimus humanoid robot line and launched the Cybercab, a two-seat robotaxi without manual controls.
Official Commentary
Goldstein echoed this view, calling the Roadster Tesla’s new halo car and noting its symbolic importance despite modest sales expectations.