New Tesla Roadster: Price, Specs, Thrusters & 2028 Release

After nearly nine years of delays, missed deadlines and social media teasers, the new Tesla Roadster has finally been unveiled. And it did not look like any car launch before it. Instead of a quiet reveal on a stage, Tesla showed a car driving upside down on a ramp, flipping through the air and landing on rocket-style cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX. The line from Back to the Future that Tesla hid in its teaser, “where we’re going, we don’t need roads,” suddenly felt less like a joke and more like a product plan.

Here is everything we know about the Tesla Roadster launch, the SpaceX package, the three versions, the price question, the 2028 production target and what is still only a claim.

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Tesla Roadster Launch: What Happened at the Unveil Event

Tesla first announced the date as October 1, 2026, with a countdown on its website and a simple “Go for launch” post on X. Invitations went out to reservation holders for an event in Waco, Texas. That date did not hold. The unveil was eventually held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at an outdoor event near Waco, close to SpaceX’s McGregor test site, and it was streamed live on X.

According to reports from the event, the demonstration went like this:

The Roadster used a fan-based suction system and thrusters to drive up a curved ramp until it was upside down.
It then released from the ramp, rotated in the air and landed using its built-in cold-gas thrusters.
Later, the car used the thrusters to jump over a line of Tesla vehicles, including the Cybercab, Cybertruck, Tesla Semi, Model Y and Model 3.

Tesla also said the demo car was operated remotely with no one inside, and that the stunt version will not be street legal.

The SpaceX Package: Cold-Gas Thrusters Explained

The biggest talking point is the SpaceX option package. Elon Musk first mentioned the idea back in 2018, saying the car could carry around ten small rocket thrusters arranged around the body to improve acceleration, top speed, braking and cornering.

These are cold-gas thrusters, which means they push the car using compressed gas rather than burning fuel. Tesla engineering vice president Lars Moravy said the system uses 10 thrusters fed by compressed air, with all-electric actuators making small adjustments to keep the car stable in flight. Reports differ on the exact tank size, with some quoting 600 litres and others 200 litres, so treat that figure with caution until Tesla publishes a full spec sheet.

The car also uses a multi-mode suction system that Tesla says can generate up to 2G of grip, which is what allowed it to cling to the inverted ramp and could allow extreme cornering.

Three Versions: Performance, Thrust and Rocket

Tesla showed the new Roadster in three trims:

Performance: The base version, with a claimed 0-60 mph time of around 1.9 seconds, according to reports.
Thrust: Described as “race ready.” It seats two and adds rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters, with Tesla claiming 0-60 mph in under one second.
Rocket: Described as “air ready.” It seats one, is invite only, and carries cold-gas thrusters around the perimeter for forward, upward and rotational movement. Tesla’s most dramatic claim is a 0-60 mph time of under 0.59 seconds.

One report also noted a 0.81-second run shown on screen during the demo. Because the figures vary between outlets, these should all be read as company claims from a single staged event, not verified production numbers.

Other reported features include steer-by-wire with a yoke, active aerodynamics, a claimed top speed above 230 mph and, according to one report, around 300 miles of range. That is well below the 620 miles Tesla promised in 2017.

Tesla Roadster Price and Reservation Deposits

This is where the picture is still incomplete. Musk and other executives did not announce a final price at the event. Back in 2017, Tesla quoted a base price of $200,000 and $250,000 for the limited Founders Series.

After the event, Tesla’s reservation page reportedly showed a $50,000 deposit for the Performance version and a $250,000 deposit for the Thrust version. The Rocket version is invite only. A deposit is not the same as a final price, and the final cost, delivery order and the status of the original 2017 deposits are all still open questions.

Tesla Roadster Release Date: When Will It Be Delivered?

Musk said Tesla will build the Roadster in 2028. That is far from the original promise of 2020. The program has slipped repeatedly: internal targets reportedly moved from April 2026 to May, then June, then August, before landing on October.

So the launch event was an unveil, not a delivery event. Customers should not expect to drive a Roadster before 2028, and the date could still move.

Is It Really a Flying Car?

Not in the way most people imagine. What Tesla demonstrated was short, controlled jumps, flips and landings using thrusters, in a staged setup with an unmanned demo car. It was not sustained flight, and it is not a certified road vehicle. Critics have pointed out that thruster hardware adds weight and cost and does nothing on a normal drive, and some commentators called the event a showpiece. Others saw it as Musk drawing attention to the link between Tesla and SpaceX.

Musk, for his part, has described the Roadster as “the best of the last of the human-driven cars,” a nod to Tesla’s bigger push towards driverless vehicles like the Cybercab.

What It Means for India

Tesla has not announced any plan, price or availability for the Roadster in India. For Indian car enthusiasts, the new Roadster is for now a technology showcase rather than something to plan a purchase around. Anyone interested should follow Tesla’s official website for reservation and availability updates.

Tesla Roadster at a Glance

Unveil date: October 15, 2026 (originally planned for October 1)
Location: Near Waco, Texas, close to SpaceX’s McGregor test site
Versions: Performance, Thrust, Rocket
Key tech: Cold-gas thrusters, fan-based suction system, steer-by-wire yoke, active aerodynamics
Claimed 0-60 mph: About 1.9 seconds (Performance), under 1 second (Thrust), under 0.59 seconds (Rocket)
Reported deposits: $50,000 (Performance), $250,000 (Thrust)
Price: Not announced
Production: Planned for 2028

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the new Tesla Roadster unveiled? On October 15, 2026, after the original October 1 date was postponed.

Can the new Tesla Roadster fly? It can perform short, thruster-assisted jumps, flips and landings in a controlled demo. It is not capable of sustained flight, and the stunt version is not street legal.

How much does the Tesla Roadster cost? Tesla has not announced a final price. Reservation deposits of $50,000 and $250,000 were reportedly listed after the event.

When will the Tesla Roadster be delivered? Musk said production is planned for 2028.

Will the Tesla Roadster launch in India? No India launch, price or date has been announced.

The Bottom Line

The new Tesla Roadster delivered the spectacle that fans waited nearly a decade to see, but the biggest questions remain unanswered: the final price, the real-world specifications, the legality of the thruster options and whether 2028 will hold. Until a customer car reaches the road, the Roadster remains one of the most dramatic promises in the EV world.

Specifications and prices in this article are company claims or media reports from the October 15 event and may change. Check Tesla’s official website for the latest details.