Nine years after its concept debut, Tesla revealed the next-generation Roadster at a SpaceX facility in McGregor, Texas, featuring a dramatic stunt display. The event, hosted by Elon Musk and Tesla, highlighted the vehicle’s innovative capabilities through a series of programmed maneuvers.
The Roadster drove up a C-shaped ramp and stopped in the middle of the part perpendicular to the ground while it was hanging upside-down. Then the vehicle repeated the action and jumped off the ramp from the top and flipped, its thruster system kicking in so it could safely hover to the ground.
According to the company, the Roadster has a suction system at the bottom of the car that enabled it to stick upside-down to the ramp. This system, along with the multi-mode fan and ground sealing system, pulls air out from beneath the vehicle to act as a downforce generator.
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The Roadster’s attitude-control thrusters and thrusters in the rear use technology borrowed from SpaceX, and are capable of precise thrust and “micro adjustments within a fraction of a second.” These advanced cold-gas thrusters are part of the “Thrust” package, which costs an additional $245,000.
Buyers can reserve a base Roadster for $5,000, with $45,000 to follow within the next 10 days. The “Thrust” package, which includes the suction system and acceleration thrusters, costs an additional $245,000. The “Rocket” version, which comes with the full-flight system, is invite-only.
Elon Musk said the new Roadster will go into production in 2028. Tesla first started taking pre-orders for the Roadster when it was first announced, and those who didn’t get the chance can now reserve a unit.