Tesla revealed the next-gen Roadster in three versions, Performance, Thrust and Rocket, with 0–60 as quick as 0.59 seconds. Specs, deposits and timing.
Image: Tesla livestream
Nearly nine years after it was first promised, the second-generation Tesla Roadster is finally real, and it flew. Tonight at SpaceX's rocket test site in McGregor, Texas, Tesla unveiled the production-intent Roadster in front of a live crowd. On stage, it ran 0–60 mph in a claimed 0.81 seconds, drove up a ramp until it was completely upside down, and jumped over a line of Teslas, including a Semi, flipping in midair before it landed.
This wasn't a hover in a parking lot. The Roadster drove up a giant ramp until it was perpendicular to the ground, then kept going until it was fully inverted. A fan-powered suction system held it in place. Compressed-air thrusters then slowed it and flipped it back over. On a second run, it stayed upside down for a few seconds, twisted in the air, and landed. Then it launched over a row of Teslas and flipped before touching down.
Attendees were handed earplugs before the show. An Optimus humanoid robot sat in the driver's seat during the stunts. Tesla didn't say whether Optimus was actually driving or the car was running a programmed routine.
"We anticipate being able to do better than that."
— Elon Musk, after the 0.81-second 0–60 runTesla released official photos of the production-intent Roadster after the reveal. Use the arrows or swipe through the gallery.
Swipe or use the arrows · Photos: @Tesla on X
After the demo, Tesla opened its Roadster configurator with three versions. Each one is quicker than the last, and the top model is invite-only.
| Version | 0–60 mph | Seats | What Tesla calls it | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Under 1.6 s | 2 | "Road ready": active aero and multi-mode suction | $50,000 |
| Thrust | Under 0.9 s | 2 | "Race ready": rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters, limited release | $250,000 |
| Rocket | Under 0.59 s | 1 | "Air ready": thrusters around the whole car; not in all regions | Invite only |
Final prices haven't been announced. The deposits are just the down payment to hold a spot, so the full price of each version will be higher. Tesla lists the Roadster at more than 300 miles of range and a top speed above 230 mph, and says it uses magnesium, titanium and carbon fiber construction, has a Track Mode that lowers the car, and comes with an Ultrawhite interior. On the top version, Tesla's own spec page simply says: "So…yes, it can fly."
Tesla's new Roadster page sums up the idea in one line: "We already put Roadster in a rocket. Now we put a rocket in Roadster." It also adds details that weren't covered on stage:
| Feature | What Tesla says |
|---|---|
| Ano White paint | Inspired by aerospace coatings, with UV and cryogenic protection, electrostatic dissipation and corrosion resistance, the same kind of protection used on rockets |
| Gold Glazed glass | Tinted windows that mimic the gold coating on astronaut helmet visors, with titanium accents |
| Hidden Aero | Hidden headlights, a full-length taillight, flush aerodynamics, and super-light thin-spoke wheels |
| Supersonic interior | Ultrawhite seats with gray microsuede bolsters for grip, a yoke designed for steer-by-wire, a center touchscreen and two smaller forward displays |
| Mass Control | Manual controls and a fixed seat position to save weight, plus magnesium, titanium and carbon fiber throughout |
| Suction system | Fans pull air from under the car to create downforce even at zero speed, enough to hold the car upside down while stationary |
| Track Mode | Lowers the car, changes the suspension, and switches between high-downforce and low-drag modes |
| Cold-gas thrusters | Use all-electric actuators to make tiny thrust adjustments in a fraction of a second, stabilizing the car "in flight" |
Two lines in Tesla's fine print stand out. First, the flight-related features are marked as available on the Rocket version only, which isn't sold in all regions. Second, the page says plainly: "Not approved for public road use." A fixed seat that doesn't slide is also a clue that Tesla is building this as a driver's car first, not a comfortable cruiser.
The 0.81-second 0–60 time beats the 1.9 seconds Tesla promised in 2017 and the sub-1.1 seconds Musk claimed in 2018. When someone in the crowd asked about top speed, a presenter said "at least" 235 mph, and Musk said it could go "much faster than that."
| Spec | Promised in 2017 | Shown tonight |
|---|---|---|
| 0–60 mph | 1.9 s (sub-1 s with SpaceX package) | Under 1.6 s / 0.9 s / 0.59 s by version (0.81 s live run) |
| Top speed | 250+ mph | 230+ mph |
| Seats | 2+2 | 2 (Rocket: 1) |
| Steering | Conventional | Steer-by-wire |
| Range | 620 miles | 300+ miles |
| Price | $200,000 base / $250,000 Founders | TBD; deposits $50,000 / $250,000 / invite only |
| Production | 2020 | 2028 |
Musk opened by looking back at the original 2008 Roadster, the car that nearly bankrupted Tesla (read that story here). He said the live audience was there "to prove that it's not AI or SI." He was also unusually blunt about what kind of car this is, saying the Roadster "is not necessarily a safety-optimized car" and that it would eventually be Tesla's only manually driven car. He said the inverted stunt isn't something most owners will need, but the same fan and thruster technology is meant to help with cornering. He ended with a tease: "That's not the last thing you'll see, by the way."
The Roadster was first shown in November 2017 with a 2020 production target. That date slipped to 2023, then 2024, then 2025. This year alone, the demo moved from April 1 to late April, to August, to October 1, and finally to tonight after a weather delay. Tesla now says production starts in 2028. Reservation holders who put down $50,000, or $250,000 for the Founders Series, will finally get to see the car they paid for, but they still have more than two years to wait for it.
How fast is the new Tesla Roadster 0–60?
Under 1.6 seconds for the Performance version, under 0.9 seconds for Thrust, and under 0.59 seconds for Rocket, per Tesla. A 0.81-second run was shown live at the reveal.
Can the Tesla Roadster fly?
Not exactly. It uses compressed-air thrusters and a fan suction system, which let it drive upside down on a ramp and flip in midair during jumps. It can't fly freely.
How many seats does the new Roadster have?
Two on the Performance and Thrust versions. The top Rocket version is a single-seater.
When will the Tesla Roadster be available?
Tesla says production will begin in 2028.
How much is the new Tesla Roadster?
Final prices are TBD. Deposits are $50,000 for Performance and $250,000 for Thrust, and Rocket is invite only.
The bottom line: After nine years of delays, Tesla delivered a spectacle. The car showed a claimed 0.81-second 0–60 run, drove upside down, and flipped over a row of Teslas. Price, range and real-world specs are still unknown, and production is two years away. But tonight the Roadster stopped being a promise and became a real car.
This story is developing and will be updated as Tesla releases official specifications.
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