Tesla Roadster 2026: Elon Musk's "Flying" Car With SpaceX Thrusters Explained

Elon Musk has finally shown the new Tesla Roadster, and it is unlike any car before it. At a live event on 15 October 2026 at a SpaceX test site in Texas, the electric sports car jumped into the air, turned in mid-air and landed using rocket-style thrusters. Musk called it a car that does things "you haven't seen in any movie".

Here is a clear guide to what the Tesla Roadster can do, the three versions, the specs Tesla has shared and the questions that remain.

What makes the new Tesla Roadster different?

Most supercars are fast because of powerful motors and grippy tyres. The Roadster adds two ideas borrowed from aerospace and racing:

• Cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX. High-pressure air tanks push gas through nozzles, giving extra push for acceleration, braking, cornering and even short jumps.
• A multi-mode suction system that sucks the car to the ground for extra grip. At the event, the white two-seater even drove upside down on a ramp using suction, according to reports.

Tesla says downforce in its track mode approaches Formula 1 levels. The demo was run autonomously "to make sure we don't kill anyone", Musk joked, though he said the Roadster will be the only Tesla designed to be driven manually long term.

Three Tesla Roadster versions

Tesla shared the trims after the livestream, as reported by EV Wire and other outlets:

• Performance — a two-seater for the road, with active aerodynamics and suction. 0–60 mph in under 1.6 seconds.
• Thrust — a two-seater set up for racing, adding a bank of rear cold-gas thrusters. 0–60 mph in under 0.9 seconds.
• Rocket — a single-seater designed to "fly", with thrusters around the car for forward, upward and rotational movement. 0–60 mph in under 0.59 seconds.

In a demo video, the car reportedly went from 0 to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds. Tesla quotes a range of more than 300 miles (about 483 km) and a top speed above 230 mph (about 370 km/h).

Release date and price

Musk said production will start in 2028. That is more than a decade after Tesla first showed a prototype in 2017, when it promised deliveries in 2020. Final pricing has not been announced. Reports say reservations are open, with deposits similar to the earlier Roadster programme.

Specs have also changed. In 2017, Tesla promised a range of about 620 miles. The new figure of 300-plus miles is much lower, likely because the thrusters, air tanks and suction system add weight and complexity.

Is it really a flying car?

Not in the sense of an aircraft. The thrusters allow short hops and controlled jumps, not sustained flight. Musk himself admitted that the Roadster is not "a safety-optimized car". Road laws will be a big question: authorities will need to decide how thrusters and jumps fit vehicle safety rules. Expect many features to be limited to closed tracks.

Why Tesla built it

Analysts describe the Roadster as a "halo car": a dream product that shows off a company's best engineering and builds excitement for the whole brand, even if few people buy it. Tesla shares rose about 5 percent in pre-market trading the day after the event, according to Daily Sabah. It also highlights the close link between Tesla and SpaceX, two of Musk's companies.

See the official photos and video

The best images and footage of the new Roadster are on Tesla's official Roadster page and Tesla's official X account, where the full reveal livestream was posted.

What this means for the future of cars

Most of us will never drive a thruster-powered Roadster. But technologies first shown in halo cars often reach normal cars later: better batteries, smarter aerodynamics, new materials and advanced software. The Roadster also shows how much modern cars depend on software, sensors and apps, the same skills that power today's mobile and AI products.

Frequently asked questions

When was the new Tesla Roadster revealed?

On 15 October 2026 at a SpaceX facility in Texas.

Can the Roadster really fly?

It can make short thruster-powered jumps and turns. It is not an aircraft.

How fast is it?

Tesla claims 0–60 mph in under 0.59 seconds for the Rocket version and a top speed above 230 mph.

When can people buy it?

Musk says production starts in 2028. Price has not been officially announced.

Will it come to Pakistan?

Tesla has not announced plans for Pakistan. Imported supercars also face very high duties.

Key takeaways

• The new Tesla Roadster uses SpaceX cold-gas thrusters and suction for extreme performance.
• Three versions: Performance, Thrust and the single-seat Rocket.
• Production is planned for 2028, and many questions about safety and price remain.