The promised new Tesla Roadster is finally materializing. The redesigned Tesla Roadster was officially unveiled at an event on October 16, 2026, at SpaceX’s rocket test and development center in McGregor, Texas. Why at SpaceX, you ask? Well, two words: rocket science. It literally involves rocket science.
The sharply shaped super sports car, almost a piece of the Cybertruck with a hint of the Lamborghini Countach, features, wait for it… cold-gas thrusters, which are basically rocket tech. It is also a “fan car,” which uses a fan or fans to increase downforce, like the Gordon Murray T.50 and the Spéirling electric race car.
The next-generation Roadster boasts a multi-mode fan suction system that enables it to stick to the ground as you maneuver through corners. It is not clear if the cold-gas thrusters, which are technology borrowed from SpaceX, use all-electric actuators to offer precise thrust, completing micro-adjustments within a fraction of a second to help stabilize the vehicle in flight. But not everyone will get to enjoy this. More about this in a bit.
So, yes, Tesla has put a Roadster in a rocket, and now, you can literally put a rocket in a Roadster. At the event, it demonstrated both the fan and the thruster tech. In the demonstration, the car went up a half-loop before launching itself into the air upside down, turning itself right-side up, and pulling off a controlled landing. Yup. And it’s not even a scene from a sci-fi film.
In another demo, the car drove toward a parked Robotaxi, a Cybertruck, a Tesla Semi, and a couple of Tesla automobiles, lifted itself into the air moments before it reached the vehicles, and “flew” over them before landing safely on the other side. It’s an absolute spectacle.
The car utilizes high-pressure air tanks (similar to SpaceX’s composite overwrapped pressure vessels) to power 10 strategically placed nozzles that allow for controlled descent and directional control. The thrusters also enable the car to do 0–60 mph in a mind-blowing 0.81 seconds. I am already feeling out of breath writing about it. Of course, all this could be marketing stunts pulled by Elon and his team at Tesla and SpaceX.
A little bit more about this exotic ride before we sign off. The car further boasts comprehensive aerodynamics, including active aero and so-called hidden aero. The latter includes hidden headlights, a full-length taillight, and flush-mounted aerodynamics that conceal the vehicle’s true form. Moreover, it wears super-light wheels with thin spokes that reinforce their structural strength.
Other features include aerospace-tech Ano White paint, tinted glass windows featuring a copper coating much like the gold radiance of spacesuit visors, subtle titanium accents, an ultrawhite interior accented with gray microsuede detailing, and seats that are molded into the chassis (yes, really!). It is also a by-wire car, including steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, and throttle-by-wire systems. The car also uses high-strength materials like magnesium and carbon, in addition to titanium.
Before you get too excited, there are three versions, but each one reads like it’s not for general buyers. I could be wrong. In any case, there are three versions.
There is the road-ready version with seating for two. This version will have active aerodynamics and a multi-mode suction system that maximizes downforce.
Then there’s the “Thrust” model, which boasts a multi-mode suction system paired with cold-gas thrusters at the rear. It will only be available as a limited, race-ready release. So, no, it is not for you to show off on the roads.
Finally, there’s the Rocket version, which will make it truly “air-ready.” It has a multi-mode suction system paired with cold-gas thrusters positioned around the perimeter of the vehicle that support forward and upward acceleration, as well as lateral rotational movement that will literally allow it to fly. Obviously, it is also not approved for public road use.
Folks in the U.S. can actually reserve the Roadster now.
Images: Tesla.
