Tesla has revealed the second-generation Roadster, demonstrating the car in flying stunts at the SpaceX test centre in McGregor, Texas, CarExpert reported.
The event, on Thursday 15 October, US time, was livestreamed on X, according to carsales. The Roadster concept was first unveiled in November 2017.
Tesla has scheduled the car to go into production in 2028, over a decade after it was revealed in concept form, CarExpert reported. The Guardian also reported a 2028 production target.
“Turns out the future does have flying cars,” Elon Musk said in a post on X, the Guardian reported.
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The Claims
Mr Musk said the car will accelerate from 0-60mph (97km/h) in less than one second, and a demonstration run recorded a claimed time of 0.81 seconds, according to CarExpert.
The 2017 promise was 0-60mph in 1.9 seconds, a top speed exceeding 400km/h and a range of about 1000km, CarExpert reported. Tesla now targets a top speed of 230mph (370km/h).
Tesla also claims the thruster system generates more than 80kN of thrust and that the car can corner at 2g, according to CarExpert. “So acceleration, cornering, it’s going to crush every track record that has ever existed,” Mr Musk said.
Thrusters and Fans
The demonstration included jumps using thrusters fed by ultra-high-pressure compressed-air tanks, CarExpert reported. The car jumped a row of parked Teslas and landed after driving up a ramp. Mr Musk said the car was controlled remotely during the demonstration, the Guardian reported.
Tesla also revealed details of the propulsion system, which reportedly uses two ultra-high-pressure air tanks with a total capacity of 600 litres and 10 nozzles around the car, according to carsales. “It could do rolls. It could do crazy gymnastics. Whatever you want, really,” Mr Musk said, carsales reported.
“And then we borrowed some technology from SpaceX to do the rest,” said Lars Moravy, Tesla vice president of vehicle engineering, according to CarExpert.
In Track mode, a fan system sucks the car to the ground, similar in principle to Jack Brabham’s BT46B Formula 1 car of 1978, CarExpert reported. Track mode also lowers the suspension, and Mr Musk said a large rear wing extends according to the downforce required.
The company said flying the car was not permitted on public roads, the Guardian reported. The paper noted that in 2014 Mr Musk expressed scepticism about flying vehicles.
Three Variants
Tesla will offer three versions, according to CarExpert: the Performance, with the fan system; the Thrust, which adds the compressed-air thrusters; and the invitation-only Rocket, the one shown “flying”.
Pricing has not been announced. In the US, a Performance reservation requires an initial US$5000 deposit and US$45,000 within 10 days, US$50,000 in total, CarExpert reported. The Thrust requires US$5000 and a further US$245,000, US$250,000 in total.
In 2017, Tesla announced a starting price of US$200,000, according to CarExpert.
Left-Hand Drive, and a Long Wait
The Roadster was repeatedly delayed as Tesla prioritised volume sellers including the Model Y and Cybertruck, carsales reported.
An Australian launch has not been confirmed. Tesla’s local website says the car will be “Available as a Left-Hand Drive vehicle only”, according to CarExpert.
More on new vehicles and devices is in prw’s Technology archive. Tesla’s production target for the Roadster is 2028.
Sources: CarExpert, “Tesla Roadster revealed with flying tech, 0.8sec 0-100km/h sprint claim”, 16 October 2026 (https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/tesla-roadster-revealed-with-flying-tech-08sec-0-100kmh-sprint-time); The Guardian, “Elon Musk reveals ‘world’s first flying car’ at Tesla event”, 16 October 2026 (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/16/elon-musk-reveals-worlds-first-flying-car-spacex); carsales, “Tesla Roadster emerges after years of delays”, 16 October 2026 (https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/tesla-roadster-emerges-after-years-of-delays-153277/); carsales, “Tesla Roadster can actually fly says Musk”, 16 October 2026 (https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/tesla-roadster-can-actually-fly-says-musk-153279/)
