Tesla conducted a demonstration of the next-generation Roadster at a SpaceX test site near Waco, Texas. During the event, the vehicle used a suction system to drive upside down on a ramp before performing an aerial flip and landing using compressed-gas thrusters. According to vehicle engineering chief Lars Moravy, the fan system generates up to 2 g of downforce.
The company has set a new production target for 2028, following multiple delays since the model was first previewed in 2017. Tesla is currently accepting reservations with a structured deposit system. Standard reservations require a $50 000 deposit, while the Founders or Thrust series requires $250 000, with wire transfers due within 10 days of the initial card charge.
Tesla claims the top-tier Rocket version will achieve 60 mph in under 0.59 seconds, with Moravy noting recorded runs as low as 0.81 seconds. The vehicle reportedly utilizes ten engines and cold-gas thrusters. However, the company has not provided details on how this hardware functions in street-legal conditions, and the performance figures remain unverified outside of the staged event.
