Tesla has revealed a new version of its long-delayed next-generation Roadster, showcasing an electric supercar designed to push performance beyond conventional limits. During a livestreamed event in Texas, the company demonstrated a vehicle that drove upside down on a curved ramp, performed a midair flip and landed back on its wheels using what appeared to be rocket-style thrusters.
Nearly nine years after the original prototype debuted in 2017, Tesla is promising extraordinary performance figures, including a 0–60 mph time of less than one second, active aerodynamic suction capable of generating up to 2G of downforce, and a SpaceX-inspired propulsion system.
Production is now targeted for 2028, although several important specifications and regulatory details remain unconfirmed.
Tesla Roadster Uses Suction Fans and Rocket Thrusters
The highlight of the demonstration was the Roadster’s ability to travel up a massive curved ramp, drive upside down and launch into the air before completing a barrel roll and landing upright.
Real life, baby https://t.co/3QEqn18wig
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026
Tesla CEO Elon Musk introduced the demonstration with a warning that success was not guaranteed, acknowledging the experimental nature of the technology.
The company also showed the electric supercar jumping over a lineup of Tesla vehicles, with another midair rotation. The demonstrations were intended to highlight the capabilities of a propulsion system that goes well beyond the technology found in conventional production cars.
According to Tesla, the system uses 10 nozzles and approximately 250 kilograms of compressed gas. Musk said the system can replenish its compressed-air supply, allowing the thrusters to be used again after recharging.
Despite the dramatic demonstrations, the company has not established that every feature shown will be approved for use on public roads. The thruster-equipped configuration may face significant regulatory challenges, depending on the jurisdiction.
Shot on iPhone 18 pro 😂 Tesla Roadster can fly https://t.co/QhTuFkxH9D
— DragTimes (@DragTimes) October 16, 2026
Underbody Fan Promises Up to 2G of Grip
Another major innovation is an underbody suction system designed to pull the Roadster toward the road surface.
Tesla Vice President of Engineering Lars Moravy said the system can generate up to 2G of suction. By increasing the force pressing the vehicle against the pavement, the technology is intended to improve cornering performance and enable higher speeds through turns.
Musk claims the Roadster will be capable of breaking existing track records, positioning it as a performance-focused flagship for Tesla.
The system is particularly unusual because conventional sports cars primarily rely on tire grip, suspension tuning and aerodynamic downforce to maintain traction. Tesla’s approach adds active suction to that equation, potentially allowing the car to generate additional grip at speed.
However, the company’s performance claims will need to be evaluated against independently verified track results once a production-ready vehicle becomes available.
Tesla Claims 0–60 MPH in Just 0.81 Seconds
Acceleration is another headline feature of the next-generation Roadster.
Tesla says it has recorded a 0–60 mph time of just 0.81 seconds under its testing conditions, while Musk claims the production version will be even quicker. The company has also set a target of less than one second for the sprint.
If independently verified under clearly defined testing conditions, such a result would place the Roadster in an extraordinary performance category. However, the precise configuration, testing methodology and conditions behind the reported time remain important considerations.
Tesla also says the Roadster has reached speeds exceeding 230 mph. Musk has discussed a longer-term target of reaching half the speed of sound, approximately 383 mph under typical atmospheric conditions.
That figure remains an ambitious target rather than a confirmed production specification.
New Roadster Will Be Tesla’s Only Manually Driven Car
As Tesla continues to develop automated driving technology across its lineup, Musk said the Roadster will remain an exception.
He described it as the company’s only manually driven car in the long term, suggesting that the model will focus on an engaging, driver-controlled experience rather than following the broader shift toward autonomy.
The Roadster is therefore being positioned as more than a high-performance electric vehicle. It is intended to serve as Tesla’s halo car, showcasing technologies and capabilities that could distinguish it from the company’s mass-market models.
Its unusual combination of electric propulsion, active suction and rocket-inspired thrusters could make it one of the most unconventional vehicles Tesla has proposed.
Roadster transforms in Track Mode These aero features aren’t just for looks: they provide the best passive downforce package of any road car (approaching F1 levels!) with wing actuation driven by the @Tesla_Optimus actuator system https://t.co/AqrC4qUga9
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026
Tesla Roadster Trims, Reservations and Expected Price
Tesla has outlined three versions of the new Roadster, with different levels of performance equipment.
– Performance: Includes the underbody suction-fan system.
– Thrust: A limited version associated with Tesla’s claimed 0.81-second 0–60 mph acceleration.
– Rocket: An invite-only configuration featuring the full 10-nozzle thruster setup.
Tesla’s reservation information calls for a refundable $50,000 deposit within 10 days of making a reservation. Prospective buyers should review the applicable reservation terms before committing funds.
The company has not provided a complete set of confirmed production specifications, and the final pricing remains unclear. Important unanswered questions include the Roadster’s driving range, battery capacity, charging performance, final configuration details and the availability of its most experimental features.
It is also unclear which versions, if any, will be permitted to use the suction and thruster systems on public roads.
Can Tesla Finally Deliver the Roadster in 2028?
The biggest question surrounding the new Roadster is whether Tesla can turn its ambitious demonstrations into a production vehicle.
The second-generation model was originally unveiled in 2017 as a vehicle expected to arrive around 2020. Subsequent delays pushed its timeline back repeatedly, leaving prospective buyers waiting years for a definitive launch.
Musk now points to 2028 as the target for production and delivery, but the company has yet to resolve all the questions surrounding the car’s final specifications, price and regulatory status.
The latest demonstration offers a fresh look at Tesla’s ambitions, but spectacular prototypes and performance claims are not the same as a production-ready vehicle. The Roadster will ultimately need to meet safety requirements, deliver repeatable performance and reach customers at a commercially viable price.
For now, the next-generation Tesla Roadster remains one of the most ambitious electric supercars on the horizon. Its combination of sub-one-second acceleration claims, active suction technology and rocket-inspired propulsion could make it unlike anything else on the market.
Whether those features translate into a practical, road-legal production car by 2028 remains the crucial test.
[photos by Tesla]
