Tesla has rescheduled the unveiling of its next-generation Roadster for October 16, following a weather-related delay to an event previously planned for October 1. Tesla said the demonstration needs to be held outdoors, a detail that has intensified speculation around the vehicle’s proposed SpaceX-inspired thruster system.
The Roadster has been delayed for years: Tesla showed the prototype in 2017 and originally targeted deliveries in 2020. The October event is expected to offer the clearest indication yet of what hardware and performance claims will make it into the production-bound car.
Elon Musk has discussed using cold-gas thrusters on the Roadster, including the possibility that they could briefly lift the car from the ground. Musk also spoke in 2025 about a flying vehicle, but Tesla has not confirmed whether any lifting capability would be a customer feature, an event-only demonstration or part of the final Roadster specification.
| Specification | Previously announced Tesla figure | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| 0–60 mph acceleration | 1.9 | seconds |
| Top speed | More than 400 | km/h |
| Range | About 1,000 | km |
The Roadster already has a SpaceX connection. During Falcon Heavy’s first test flight on February 6, 2018, SpaceX launched Musk’s red first-generation Roadster into an orbit around the Sun, with a spacesuit-clad mannequin named Starman in the driver’s seat.
Tesla has indicated that the presentation will be streamed through its official X account. The remaining questions are whether the October 16 event will demonstrate the cold-gas thrusters in operation and whether Tesla will provide a new production timeline after nearly nine years of delays.
