Tesla unveils thruster-equipped Roadster, targets 2028 production

Tesla unveiled a new Roadster at a demonstration event near Waco, Texas, on the evening of October 15, with a car that lifted itself off an inclined ramp, rotated in mid-air and landed on pavement using onboard thrusters and intake hardware. Elon Musk said on stage that the vehicle is a real road car that can lift itself and perform such maneuvers on demand.

During the demonstration, the car jumped over a Cybercab, a Cybertruck, a Tesla Semi, a Model Y and a Model 3 in sequence. Tesla engineering vice president Lars Moravy said the car connects 600 liters of compressed air to ten thrusters to lift and rotate the body. Tesla stated on its official X account that carbon-fiber overwrapped pressure vessels fill usable empty spaces in the car.

Tesla showed three trims: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. The Rocket trim is a one-seat version available by invitation only. All three are claimed to offer more than 300 miles of range and a top speed above 230 mph. Reservation deposits are 50,000 dollars for the Performance trim and 250,000 dollars for the Thrust trim.

Musk gave 2028 as the production timeline, and no price was announced. The event, originally planned for October 1, was postponed two weeks to the 15th because of bad weather, according to tech42.co.kr.

The new Roadster adopts an angular design instead of the earlier rounded silhouette, and Tesla said the styling was inspired by the SR-71 and F-35 aircraft. Tesla first took 50,000 dollar reservations for a new Roadster in November 2017, when it promised production for 2020; the target later slipped repeatedly, reaching 2027 or 2028 in November 2025. The second-generation Roadster first appeared at the end of a Tesla Semi event on November 16, 2017.