Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled a new Roadster supercar on Thursday, October 15, 2026, featuring a cold-gas thruster system and a 0-60 mph acceleration time of under one second. The vehicle will be available in three variants: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket. During the presentation, Musk described the car as a viable product for ownership but noted that it is "not necessarily a safety-optimized car."
The announcement follows a history of delays for the Roadster. A previous version of the vehicle was unveiled in 2017 with a 1.9-second 0-60 mph time, but it never entered production. Some reservation holders from that period, including Sam Altman and Marques Brownlee, eventually canceled their orders. The new model's reservation agreement states that the vehicle is still under development and that Tesla cannot guarantee a delivery date or if the car will be delivered.
Legal and pricing details for the new Roadster remain unconfirmed. Musk stated he was "not sure it's necessarily legal in all jurisdictions" regarding the thruster-powered version. Tesla’s website lists the invite-only "Rocket" variant as "not approved for public road use," while the "Thrust" variant is described as "race ready." The "Performance" variant, which requires a $50,000 reservation fee, is described by the company as "road ready." Tesla also noted in its terms that the final purchase price has not been determined, as the hardware and features are still being finalized.
The legal status of the vehicle also creates specific limitations for owners. Those who purchase the Thrust or Rocket variants may find they are legally restricted to using their vehicles on private race tracks rather than public streets, similar to track-only models from Ferrari or Bugatti. Furthermore, the mention by Musk that the vehicle is "not necessarily a safety-optimized" indicates that the vehicle may not meet standard regulations typically required for consumer cars.
The project sets a precedent for how Tesla handles long-term product development and customer deposits. Because the company is still determining the hardware and features, the final cost to the consumer could change before production begins. The next steps for the program include finalizing the vehicle options and hardware specifications, though Tesla has not provided a specific deadline for when production will start or when reservation holders will receive their vehicles. Progress will likely be tracked through future updates on the company's website and official production announcements.