Tesla’s New Roadster: 5 Things to Know About Its Flying Car
Tesla has unveiled its long-awaited next-generation Roadster, an electric sports car that stunned audiences with a demonstration involving midair flips and a claimed acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than a second.
The vehicle made its debut on October 15, 2026, at an event held at a SpaceX test site in Texas. The demonstration featured the Roadster driving up a steep ramp, turning upside down, launching into the air and landing with the help of compressed-air thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk described the vehicle as a new milestone for the company. However, questions remain about its final specifications, price and ability to deliver on its ambitious promises.
Here are five things to know about Tesla’s new Roadster.
1. Tesla’s new Roadster can perform aerial stunts
The biggest talking point from the unveiling was the Roadster’s ability to leave the ground and perform aerial manoeuvres.
During the demonstration, the vehicle used integrated cold-gas thrusters to launch into the air, perform a flip and land. Another demonstration showed it jumping over a line of parked Tesla vehicles.
The technology was developed through a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX, the aerospace company also led by Musk.
However, the demonstration does not establish that the Roadster can sustain flight over long distances like an aircraft. Its displayed capabilities are better described as powered jumps and aerial stunts.
2. The Roadster can hit 60 mph in under a second
Tesla has made an extraordinary acceleration claim for the new Roadster.
The company demonstrated the vehicle reaching 60 miles per hour from a standstill in approximately 0.81 seconds.
That is significantly faster than conventional high-performance sports cars. The thruster technology helps explain how Tesla aims to achieve the feat.
Tesla has also indicated that the Roadster could exceed 230 mph, although its final performance specifications will need further confirmation.
3. SpaceX technology sets it apart
Unlike conventional electric sports cars, the new Roadster incorporates compressed-air propulsion technology developed with SpaceX.
The system uses cold-gas thrusters to generate thrust during the vehicle’s demonstrations. Tesla presented this technology as a key part of the car’s unusual capabilities.
The Roadster is also designed to showcase Tesla’s engineering ambitions beyond its existing electric vehicles.
However, the aerial demonstrations do not mean owners will be able to use the car as a conventional flying vehicle on public roads.
4. Tesla has yet to confirm its final price
The Roadster’s final retail price remains uncertain following the unveiling.
When Tesla first announced the next-generation model in 2017, it listed a starting price of $200,000. Reservations required a $50,000 deposit, while the limited Founders Series involved a total commitment of $250,000.
Tesla has since reopened reservations, but the company has not confirmed the final price of the redesigned vehicle.
Potential buyers will therefore have to wait for updated pricing and details about the available configurations before making a purchasing decision.
5. Production is expected to begin in 2028
Despite the unveiling, customers will have to wait before the Roadster reaches production.
Tesla first introduced the next-generation model in 2017 and originally planned to begin deliveries in 2020. The company subsequently delayed its timeline several times.
Musk now says production is expected to begin in 2028.
The latest unveiling gives the long-delayed vehicle a clearer direction, but the production target is not a guarantee that deliveries will begin as planned.
For now, the Roadster remains a showcase of Tesla’s ambitions in electric vehicle performance and aerospace-inspired technology. Its eventual commercial success will depend on whether the company can turn the demonstrations into a production vehicle that meets its promises.