Tesla has finally revealed its highly anticipated next-generation Roadster, almost a decade after initial deposits were taken. The electric hypercar, showcased at a SpaceX facility, integrates rocket technology enabling it to achieve 0-60 mph in under a second and potentially hover. While production is slated for 2028 and reservations are open, the vehicle’s journey has been marked by significant delays, drawing criticism from figures like Sam Altman, yet maintaining strong excitement among dedicated enthusiasts like Lawrence O’Connor.
After nearly a decade of anticipation and missed deadlines, Tesla has finally pulled back the curtain on its next-generation Roadster, an electric hypercar promising to redefine performance and innovation. The grand reveal, livestreamed from a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas, showcased a vehicle that marries automotive engineering with rocket technology, a vision driven by CEO Elon Musk's ambitious dream.
Musk, joined by design leader Franz von Holzhausen and VP of vehicle engineering Lars Moravy, expressed his excitement, stating, "You're going to see some crazy stuff tonight. You're going to see the results of what happens when you have a collaboration with the world's best car company and the world's best rocket company."
The original Tesla Roadster, launched in 2008 and phased out in 2012, was a groundbreaking electric sports car built on a Lotus Elise chassis under the leadership of founding CEO Martin Eberhard. Retailing around $100,000, it proved Tesla's potential.
The new Roadster, however, is a different beast entirely. Envisioned as a high-end, low-volume model, it integrates advanced SpaceX technology, famously boasting the ability to "hover." While generating immense excitement among Tesla enthusiasts, its niche market position means it's unlikely to significantly impact Tesla's broader financial performance.
The reveal featured a dramatic demonstration: a sleek white sports car accelerating up a curved ramp, defying gravity by clinging upside down, then vaulting off, flipping mid-air, and gently hovering before landing. A live audience witnessed Moravy demonstrate the car's astonishing acceleration, going from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than a second, a truly groundbreaking feat for a production vehicle.
Musk announced that production is slated for 2028, with pricing details still under wraps. Tesla has reopened reservations for the refreshed Roadster, accepting $50,000 deposits from prospective buyers in the U.S., Canada, and China.
The concept for this next-gen Roadster was initially teased by Musk in November 2017 and further detailed in June 2018 tweets, where he outlined a "SpaceX option package" featuring "~10 small rocket thrusters arranged seamlessly around car." These thrusters, he claimed, would enhance speed, braking, and potentially "even allow a Tesla to fly."
The prototype showcased Thursday embodies this vision, built with extreme lightweighting, a steer-by-wire system, a steering yoke, and a suite of SpaceX-derived technologies including thrusters, carbon overlay pressure vessels, diffusers, and powerful fans for advanced maneuverability. Notably, the forthcoming Roadster will not include Tesla's "FSD" (Full Self-Driving) system, with Musk stating it will be the last vehicle the company produces intended for human control.
The journey to this reveal has been fraught with delays, as Tesla has missed every targeted delivery date since 2017. Even a teased demo for late 2025 failed to materialize. Former friend and OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman publicly criticized Musk over these prolonged delays, sharing screenshots of his reservation and subsequent refund requests, lamenting, "But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait." Altman eventually received his refund, leading to a separate legal dispute with Musk over OpenAI's governance.
Despite the setbacks, loyalists like Lawrence O'Connor, founder and CEO of Other World Computing, have held onto their reservations. O'Connor, who placed a $250,000 deposit for a Founder's Edition in 2017, described the event as "off the charts."
