Overview
- Tesla unveiled the redesigned Roadster at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas, on Thursday with a live demonstration of a production‑intent prototype.
- The vehicle combines an underbody fan and ground‑sealing suction system with SpaceX cold‑gas thrusters to drive upside down, perform barrel rolls and briefly lift off, and Tesla reported measured 0–60 times as low as 0.81 seconds.
- Tesla published a three‑tier lineup on its retail page — Performance, Thrust and invite‑only Rocket — reopened refundable $50,000 reservations and requires larger payments for limited Thrust allocations.
- The company says it plans to build the Roadster at Giga Texas with a production target around 2028 and describes the car as a symbolic last human‑driven halo model rather than a major revenue driver.
- Key questions remain about safety and legality because regulators such as the FAA and NHTSA may restrict use of thrusters or flight‑capable features, creating uncertainty for buyers, insurers and where the car could legally operate.