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Tesla's new Roadster reveal: what was shown, what's claimed, what's still unknown

Tesla showed its next-generation Roadster on 15 October with cold-gas thrusters and a kickflip. Here is what Tesla claims, what it has not said about price and delivery, and how to read a launch like this before paying a deposit.

A white car flipping upside down in mid-air, with trails of white gas streaming behind it, above a row of parked Tesla vehicles including a Semi truck, on a dark stage with blue and red lighting. — The Roadster’s kickflip demo, shown above a lineup of Tesla vehicles at the 15 October reveal.

Tesla Roadster (next generation) Performance, Thrust and Rocket trims

2026-10-15

Tesla's long-delayed Roadster, shown in a live demo with cold-gas thrusters and suction fans. No price announced; production target is 2028.

Three trims: Performance, Thrust and Rocket
Tesla claims 0–60 mph in under 1.6, 0.9 and 0.59 seconds, depending on trim
Quoted range of more than 300 miles
Reservations open with a US deposit; final prices not announced

Source

Tesla showed its next-generation Roadster in a live demo on 15 October 2026, almost nine years after it first promised the car. The headline stunt was a kickflip: Tesla's new rear and perimeter thrusters let the car jump and flip through the air. Tesla also posted the demo on YouTube as "The Ramp | Roadster".

Tesla’s full Roadster Event stream, about 23 minutes. Tesla’s own chapter markers: ramp demo at 6:03, kickflip demo at 10:56, design walk-through at 12:47.

What Tesla showed and claims

According to Electrek's report on the unveiling, Tesla described three versions of the car:

The three Roadster trims as Tesla described them at the reveal. The 0–60 mph times are Tesla’s own claims, not independent tests.
Trim	Seats	Tesla's 0–60 mph claim	Availability
Performance	2	Under 1.6 seconds	Reservation
Thrust	2	Under 0.9 seconds	Limited release
Rocket	1	Under 0.59 seconds	Invite only

Other claims from Tesla:

Thrusters: these are cold-gas thrusters, which release stored compressed gas without burning fuel. Tesla says they add four to five times the force the tyres can handle.
Suction fans: Tesla says a "multi-mode suction system" gives extra grip, and that the fans can hold the stationary car upside down.
Range and speed: more than 300 miles of range, and a top speed above 230 mph on the Rocket trim.
Road use: Tesla says the Rocket is not approved for public roads.

Some coverage also describes the car flying and driving upside down. Reports differ on the details, so treat the demo as Tesla's own presentation, not an independent test. One report on the event notes that it found no independent timing certificate for the 0–60 mph result shown on stage.

What Tesla did not say

No price. Tesla gave no price for any trim. Electrek reports that reservations reopened with a $5,000 deposit due immediately, which Tesla calls fully refundable. A further $45,000 is due within 10 days or the reservation is cancelled. Those figures are reservation payments, not the price of the car.
No delivery date. The only timeline was a production target of 2028, which is a plan, not a delivery promise.
Few technical details. Tesla has not published how long the thrusters can fire, how often they can be refilled, or how long the parts last.
Nothing for Kenya. The deposit figures reported are for the US. I found nothing on pricing or availability in Kenya or other markets.

How it compares with the 2017 promise

When Tesla first showed the Roadster in 2017, it promised 620 miles of range, a top speed above 250 mph, four seats and a 0–60 mph time of 1.9 seconds, according to Electrek. The new car is quoted at over 300 miles, over 230 mph (Rocket only) and at most two seats. Its acceleration claims are faster than before.

Electrek's author doubts that Tesla will sell more than a handful of the Thrust and Rocket versions, and points out that the headline stunts are on invite-only or limited trims that are not road legal.

A useful lesson for any big purchase

Launch events are built to impress. Before paying a deposit for a car, a machine or imported equipment, check these four things:

Is it a price or a deposit? A reservation holds your place; it does not fix what you will pay.
Is the delivery date a promise or a target? "2028" here is a target.
Who verified the numbers? Claims from the maker are not the same as independent tests.
What do the refund terms say? Read the full agreement, not just the headline. One report notes that refund wording differs between pages, and that the reservation agreement says delivery is not guaranteed.