On Thursday night Tesla and chief executive Elon Musk introduced what the company calls its final human‑piloted vehicle. The demonstration took place at SpaceX’s rocket development and testing site in McGregor, Texas, where the new Roadster lifted off with a brief burst of steam. At one moment the car hovered several feet above the automaker’s lineup, passing over its electric semi‑truck, and executives claimed it can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just one second.
“This is not necessarily a safety‑optimized car,” Musk said, a comment that will likely draw attention from federal regulators. Tesla plans to start building the Roadster 2 in 2028. The model, which follows the original Roadster first announced in 2017, was originally billed as the fastest production car on the market.
The “flying” capability comes from four thrusters, according to Tesla vehicle engineering head Lars Moravy. He said the production version should hopefully reach 230 mph, while Musk expressed a goal of “cracking halfway to the speed of sound,” roughly 385 mph. Modern Formula 1 cars typically top out around 220 mph. Tesla also said the Roadster 2 will have a range of more than 300 miles on a single charge, which is modest for a mainstream EV and below the 360‑mile range of the Model 3.
The thrusters are powered by compressed gas stored on board. Musk added that the same system will generate downforce, allowing the car to negotiate corners at extreme speeds. “It’s going to crush every track record that has ever existed,” he declared.
Originally promised for delivery in 2020, the Roadster 2’s timeline has been pushed back, and no price details were provided at the event. Tesla’s X account listed three versions: a two‑seat “Performance” model without thrusters, a “Thrust” race‑ready variant, and a single‑seat “Rocket” version described as “air‑ready.” The Rocket is currently “invite only,” while the Thrust is marked as “limited.” Reservations are open for the Performance and Thrust models.
When the car was first announced, early supporters placed $50,000 deposits for a vehicle advertised at $200,000—a sum that would be over $68,000 in today’s dollars. Some customers grew impatient; OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly complained last year about canceling his reservation, and Musk said Altman received a refund within 24 hours. The current reservation fee is $5,000 for the Performance version, with an additional $45,000 due within ten days. The Thrust version requires a $5,000 fee followed by $245,000 within the same period.
Musk has repeatedly said that Tesla should no longer be viewed solely as a carmaker, emphasizing its work on autonomous driving technology and robotics. The Roadster 2 debut arrives at a turbulent moment for electric vehicles. U.S. sales have stalled after Congress cut federal incentives, even as global demand surges amid the ongoing energy crisis. Luxury EV hypercars like the Roadster 2 face a particular challenge, as affluent buyers increasingly favor the sound and power of traditional gasoline sports cars. Earlier this year, Lamborghini announced it was shelving its planned electric model.