Tesla reintroduced the long-delayed Roadster on October 15, and the headline feature is a set of SpaceX-developed cold-gas thrusters that let the electric supercar jump, flip and launch off the line. Tesla claims 0-60 mph in 0.81 seconds, but production is targeted for 2028 and there is no official price.
What did Tesla show?
The demo took place at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas. The Roadster did midair rotations, jumped over other cars and drove upside down on a ramp. According to Yanko Design, a suction system under the chassis helps the car grip the surface during those stunts, and Elon Musk claims more than 2 G of cornering grip. That figure is unproven on ordinary roads.
The design is a low-slung coupe with angular bodywork, upward-opening doors and a deployable rear spoiler. Engadget compares the look to the Cybertruck.
How do the thrusters work?
The car carries two high-pressure air tanks and ten nozzles around the body. They fire short bursts of compressed air to help lift the car, control its orientation and add to forward acceleration. Tesla says the system can produce 80 kilonewtons of thrust (a measure of pushing force) and that the tanks can refill themselves.
This is cold-gas propulsion, which means no fuel is burned. The air is simply released under pressure. So the Roadster does not fly in the literal sense. It does controlled falls, jumps and flips.
Which trims are there?
Tesla has outlined three configurations: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. The full thruster setup is on the Rocket. The middle trim has thrusters only at the rear, and the Performance trim has none. Tesla also says the thrusters “aren’t approved for public road use,” which keeps that feature to tracks and events.
Final trim details have not been confirmed, and production specs have not been published.
How much will the Tesla Roadster cost, and when does it arrive?
Tesla has not announced a price. CleanTechnica puts it at $200,000 or more, but that is the author’s guess, not a company number. On timing, Tesla pointed to production in 2028, and that is a target rather than a guaranteed delivery date. The Roadster was first shown in 2017, and that history of delays calls for caution.
Is the 0.81-second number real?
The 0.81-second time is Tesla’s claim for the setup where the thrusters help on launch. Yanko Design notes that nobody has independently verified it as a production-car result.
It helps to know why thrusters matter here. Electric motors deliver instant torque, but the real limit on a launch is tire grip. The thrusters attack that limit differently, pushing the car with air instead of relying only on friction. That is also why the number comes with a big asterisk: it depends on a system that cannot legally be used on public roads.
Where does the idea come from?
Engadget traces the concept to Lockheed Martin’s Multiple Kill Vehicle, or MKV, an experimental missile defense project. In 2004, Lockheed won a $760 million Missile Defense Agency contract for a system that could destroy several ballistic missiles and decoys with one launch. The MKV used thrusters to change direction quickly, and the original program was retired in 2009 during military budget cuts.
There is one difference. Engadget points out that a 2008 Lockheed press release describes hot-fire tests, which suggests the MKV burned fuel, while Tesla says its system is cold-gas. Using jets to maneuver is an old idea. Putting it on a car is the new part.
Is it worth waiting for?
Right now the Roadster is more of a technology showcase than a product. If you want a quick EV for daily driving, there are plenty already on sale, as we covered in our look at US EV sales in the third quarter. And if you are curious about what else Tesla is doing with its cars, see how the Model 3 and Model Y can now power your home in a blackout, a far more practical use.
If you are a supercar fan, keep an eye out for pricing and road-legality news. Until then, treat every number from the event as a goal from the manufacturer.
