Tesla Unveils Next-Generation Roadster Sports EV After Years of Delay

3-line summary

• Tesla unveiled its redesigned Roadster, equipped with thrusters, on October 15 — nearly nine years after first showing the next-generation model — with production slated to start in 2028. The two-seater was developed in partnership with SpaceX; CEO Elon Musk said 0-60 mph acceleration is under one second and top speed exceeds 230 mph. The unveiling took place at SpaceX's test site in McGregor, Texas.
• A demonstration showed the car driving a loop backward using an intake system, changing direction in the air, and landing using thrusters, though it is unclear whether or how legally such features could be used on public roads. The article did not include pricing information. Tesla first showed a prototype in 2017, promising 2020 delivery and a 620-mile range on a single charge for the planned four-seat version; the original Roadster (sold 2008-2012), Tesla's first EV, used a Lotus Elise chassis. Musk downplayed the car's financial importance in 2023, calling it a 'small potato situation.'
• Morningstar's Seth Goldstein said the Roadster could become Tesla's new halo car, estimating annual sales of about 2,000 units — a tiny fraction of Tesla's roughly 1.6 million vehicles sold last year. The launch comes as Tesla has discontinued the Model S and X this year to make room for Optimus humanoid robot production and has launched the steering-wheel-and-pedal-free two-seat robotaxi Cybercab, continuing its shift from mass-market driver vehicles toward AI-autonomy and robotics.

This summary is our own processing of the source article; see the source link below for full context.