New Tesla Roadster: SpaceX thrusters, under one second from 0 to 96 km/h, and still no price

Nine years of waiting, eight delays and, at last, an unveiling that made headlines around the world. The new Tesla Roadster promises 0 to 96 km/h in under a second thanks to cold gas thrusters, but most of its spec sheet is still being kept under wraps.

Nine years of waiting: how did we get here?

The second-generation Roadster was first shown in 2017. Promise after promise followed. As recently as spring 2026, during the first-quarter earnings call, Elon Musk talked about an unveiling "in about a month", having said only a few weeks earlier that it would come in late April. By Electrek's count, that was the eighth delay since 2017.

The big comeback was expected on 15 October 2026. In the end, Tesla unveiled its next-generation Roadster on a Thursday at a SpaceX test site in Texas. The venue was no accident: it highlights the technical link Tesla claims between the car and Musk's space company.

What happened at the unveiling?

The show matched the years of anticipation. Musk and his team presented a white sports car that drove up a curved ramp, clung to it upside down, then launched itself off. It did a flip, glided slowly and touched down. Here are the highlights of the demonstration:

• Suction effect: the car climbed halfway up the ramp while staying stuck to it, thanks to a vacuum fan system.
• Thrusters: these are cold gas thrusters, offered in three trim levels. Yahoo Finance describes them as compressed-air thrusters capable of limited flight.
• Jumps: the Roadster used its thrusters to clear a Cybercab, a Cybertruck, a Tesla Semi, a Model Y and a Model 3.
• Design: the car follows the brand's "cyber" styling, with a wedge-shaped silhouette and a cyberpunk look.

All this lives up to the attention-grabbing headline that went around the press: a car that "defies the laws of physics". In reality, it puts them to work. The vacuum presses the car to the ground, while the thrusters add a push that has nothing to do with tyre grip. That is exactly what makes the acceleration figures possible, and exactly what makes them hard to compare.

What performance and range have actually been confirmed?

Let's separate what has been announced from what is still missing. Every figure available comes from Tesla, and none has been measured independently.

• 0-96 km/h (0-60 mph): under 0.59 s according to Electrek, under one second according to CNBC.
• Range: more than 300 miles, or about 480 km on a single charge, with no test cycle specified and no WLTP certification.
• Cabin: two seats, road-legal car.
• Battery, power output and DC fast charging: not disclosed.
• Top speed: no official figure. All Musk offered was: "I think you need to reach half the speed of sound."

Range is the sore point. Before the unveiling, figures of 1,000 km were floating around, and CarsDirect cited a Tesla estimate of 620 miles. The figure given on the day, "more than 480 km", is much more modest. That is respectable for a sports car of this calibre, but the gap with the original promises is worth pointing out.

How much does the new Tesla Roadster cost, and when will it be delivered?

Tesla has not announced a price. Before the unveiling, CarsDirect put the starting price at $200,000 or more. Reservations, however, are open, and they work in two stages:

1. A $5,000 deposit paid upfront, which Tesla says is refundable.
2. A further $45,000 due within 10 days, or the reservation is cancelled.
3. That makes $50,000 in total, the same amount Tesla was already asking for in 2017.

On timing, the sources disagree. Reuters, as reported by Boursorama, points to production starting in 2028. Electrek, for its part, notes that there is still no confirmed price or production date. Putting down $50,000 on a car with no price and no firm date is therefore a gamble.

How does it compare with its rivals?

The acceleration benchmark is the Rimac Nevera R. With no verified data on any other hypercar, our second point of comparison is the Roadster as it was promised before the unveiling. That is, after all, its real rival: the yardstick its buyers will use to judge it. All three spec blocks below use the same headings.

New Tesla Roadster (2026 unveiling)

• Acceleration: 0-96 km/h in under 0.59 s (Electrek) or under one second (CNBC)
• Power: not disclosed
• Battery: not disclosed
• Range: more than 480 km, cycle not specified
• Top speed: not disclosed
• Price: not disclosed
• Availability: production in 2028 according to Reuters, unconfirmed according to Electrek

Rimac Nevera R

• Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 1.7 s according to FastestLaps (0-62 mph in 1.9 s according to EncyCARpedia)
• Power: four motors, 1,888 to 2,078 hp
• Battery: 108 kWh gross, 104 kWh usable
• Range: 550 km WLTP
• Top speed: 256 mph, or about 412 km/h
• Price: £2,300,000 new
• Availability: only 40 units

Tesla Roadster as promised (before the unveiling)

• Acceleration: no figure found in our sources
• Power: not disclosed
• Battery: not disclosed
• Range: 1,000 km mentioned, 620 miles estimated by Tesla according to CarsDirect
• Top speed: not disclosed
• Price: from $200,000 according to the CarsDirect estimate
• Availability: $50,000 reservations since 2017

On paper, the Roadster claims a 0-96 km/h time more than three times quicker than the Nevera R. But the comparison is skewed. The Rimac gets its times through tyre grip, and it has measured figures, WLTP-certified range and a full spec sheet. The Roadster relies on thrusters and has not yet been through any independent testing. Measured against its own promises, it gives up in range what it gains in showmanship.

Should you believe in the new Tesla Roadster? Our verdict

As a show, Tesla pulled it off: a flip, a glide, the suction effect and jumps over five vehicles from its own range. As a product, the essentials are missing. We know neither the price, nor the battery capacity, nor the charging power, nor how the thrusters will be regulated on public roads. The sources cannot even agree on when production will start.

Our verdict is therefore clear: a fascinating technology demonstration, but too early to buy. After eight delays, caution is the sensible approach until the first deliveries, which are slated for 2028. If you want to drive a premium electric car today without tying up $50,000 in a promise, a Turismo subscription gives you access to models that are available now, with insurance and maintenance included.

FAQ: your questions about the new Tesla Roadster

What is the price of the new Tesla Roadster?

Tesla has not published a price. Before the unveiling, CarsDirect estimated it would start at $200,000. A reservation costs $50,000 in total ($5,000 upfront, then $45,000 within 10 days).

What is the range of the Tesla Roadster?

Tesla claims more than 300 miles, or about 480 km on a single charge, without specifying the test cycle. No WLTP certification is available.

When will the new Tesla Roadster be released?

Reuters reports that production will start in 2028. Electrek points out that no production date has been officially confirmed.

Can the Tesla Roadster really fly?

It is fitted with cold gas thrusters, which Yahoo Finance describes as compressed-air thrusters capable of limited flight. In the demonstration, they let it jump over several vehicles. No rules yet cover their use on public roads.

Is the Roadster faster than the Rimac Nevera R?

According to Tesla, it covers 0-96 km/h in under a second, while FastestLaps gives the Nevera R 1.7 s for 0-100 km/h. However, the Roadster's figure relies on thrusters and has not been measured independently.

In summary

The new Tesla Roadster is finally real: a road-legal two-seater with cold gas thrusters, a claimed 0-96 km/h time under one second and more than 480 km of range. It still has no price, no battery specs, no firm production date and no independent test figures. Rather than wait for 2028, start driving electric now: explore Turismo subscription offers in Luxembourg, Belgium, France and Switzerland, and choose your next premium car, all-inclusive.