Tesla unveils rocket-equipped Roadster prototype, targets 2028 production after years of delays

Tesla has – quite literally – launched the highly anticipated Roadster in a spectacular demonstration event that saw a remote-controlled model, equipped with SpaceX rocket tech, fly over Tesla’s entire electric lineup before landing on the other side. 

At the demonstration event in Texas, which was live-streamed globally and hosted by CEO Elon Musk, a white two-door roadster was shown to climb up a looping ramp – using suction technology that prevented it from falling to the ground – before taking off, flipping and landing on the ground using SpaceX thrusters.

It will, however, by another two years before the Roadster 2.0, first unveiled in 2017, will get into production. According to Tesla, it will come in three variants, a base Performance variant, a mid-spec “Thrust” variant and the top-spec Rocket variant, which would be available to those with a special invitation.

The base Performance variant will be a road-ready entry variant that comes with active aerodynamics and a multi-mode suction system or ground-sealing fan setup, with the aim to to maximise downforce on roads and tracks. 

It will be able to surge from 0-100 km/h in just over 1.6 seconds, and can be reserved for $US50,000. This version is expected to be priced from $US250,000.

The mid-spec Thrust variant is a more race-ready version, which adds the SpaceX-developed rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters fed by high-pressure air tanks.  This variant will get from 0-100 km/h time in around 1 seconds, given it’s 0-60 mph sprint time comes in under 0.9 seconds.

Then there is the top-spec Rocket variant, which packs a full flight system layout and 10 cold-gas thrusters that support forward, upward, and lateral rotational movements. 

This will allow this variant to undertake short flights and do mid-air manoeuvers. Obviously, this variant is not approved for public road use and will only be available with an invite-only arrangement.

Reservations for the new Roadster are open now with expected deliveries in 2028. It was first revealed in 2017, roughly 10 years after the original Tesla Roadster began its production run in 2008. Production was initially promised to start in 2020, and then was delayed repeatedly.

Late last year, in a podcast interview, Tesla’s chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen revealed that the car will test the limits of physics by saying: “The Roadster will be amazing car that looks at the limits of physics. We have really gotten to a point where we are going to be achieving that standard that we set out.”