Tesla demonstrated its next-generation sports car in Texas, showing off thrusters and underbody suction fans ahead of a planned 2028 release.
Tesla revealed the production design of its long-delayed second-generation Roadster during a live presentation at SpaceX’s Rocket Test and Development Center in McGregor, Texas, targeting a 2028 release date. TechRadar reported that Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, chief designer Franz von Holzhausen and Vice President of Engineering Lars Moravy introduced the electric car, showing off prototypes performing midair stunts powered by cold-gas thruster equipment developed alongside SpaceX.
Thruster technology and aerial maneuvers
According to Engadget, the car executed automated stunts during the presentation at the SpaceX test facility. The Roadster drove up a C-shaped ramp, stopped perpendicular to the ground while hanging upside down, leaped from the top of the ramp and flipped midair before hovering safely back to the ground. Inside the vehicle during the demonstration, an Optimus humanoid robot sat in the driver’s seat for show while preprogrammed software guided the maneuvers.
TechRadar noted that during another demonstration, the Roadster jumped over Tesla’s entire vehicle fleet and performed a barrel roll midair before touching down in a cloud of gas. Moravy called the maneuver a kick flip and said that “Tony Hawk would be proud.” Thrusters mounted at the rear produce up to 80 kilonewtons of thrust for forward acceleration, while other thruster units installed around and under the chassis generate upward lift and midair directional control. Musk stated that the system relies on an ultra-high-pressure air tank that recharges itself, so it doesn’t need specialized rocket propellant. Engadget reported that the cold-gas thrusters use all-electric actuators to make split-second micro adjustments. Top-tier configurations can reach a top speed exceeding 230 mph and accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 0.59 seconds.
Underbody suction for downforce
In addition to the thruster package, the car incorporates a multi-mode fan suction system beneath the body. The design draws inspiration from fan-assisted race cars like the McMurtry Spéirling, which use underbody suction to produce intense downward grip. Tesla demonstrated the suction mechanism by parking the vehicle upside down along an overhang. Both outlets noted that the system pulls air from underneath the car to generate massive downforce, allowing the Roadster to adhere to steep surfaces even when stationary.
Tesla explained that the setup uses patented side skirts and actuators adapted from the Optimus robot to adjust automatically to uneven road surfaces rather than smooth racing tracks alone. Musk described the joint engineering effort by stating, “The results are the collaboration of the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company.”
Design changes and trim packages
The updated vehicle replaces the curved contours of earlier concepts with an angular aesthetic inspired by rocket ships and the SR-71 aircraft, giving it an appearance similar to the Cybertruck. The design includes hidden headlights, lightweight wheels, an adjustable rear wing, aerospace-themed paint and copper-tinted windows modeled after spacesuit visors. Tesla also indicated that driving range expectations have dropped from an initial estimate of 600 miles to roughly 300 miles on a full charge.
Tesla plans to sell three distinct models, all manufactured strictly in left-hand-drive configuration. The entry-level Performance variant features the multi-mode suction system and achieves zero to 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds without gas thrusters, making it the version most likely approved for street use. A limited-production Thrust variant adds rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters to lower the zero to 60 mph sprint below 0.9 seconds. The range-topping Rocket model includes the complete thruster array capable of aerial stunts and will be available by invitation only.
Reservation costs and launch delays
Tesla has reopened reservations for the Roadster ahead of its planned 2028 production run. Securing a base reservation requires an immediate $5,000 deposit, with an additional $45,000 due within 10 days to prevent cancellation. Customers selecting the Thrust package must pay an extra $245,000 within that 10-day window.
The presentation arrives after extensive delays. Engadget reported that the reveal occurred nine years after Tesla first showcased the concept prototype, while TechRadar noted nearly a decade of postponement. Musk warned attendees that success in bringing the complex system to market is not guaranteed as Tesla prepares the vehicle for production in 2028.
