Tesla’s Roadster returned to the spotlight on October 15 with a reveal built around a striking image: a sports car leaving the ground. At SpaceX’s test facility in McGregor, Texas, the company showed a redesigned prototype using fans and cold-gas thrusters to perform maneuvers that pushed the presentation well beyond a conventional supercar launch.

The event gave the long-delayed Roadster a new identity and a new production target. Elon Musk said Tesla aims to begin building it in 2028. Final pricing remains unannounced, according to Reuters’ event report.

The demonstration was the headline

MotorTrend, which attended the reveal, describes the Roadster climbing a curved wall, going upside down and then launching away before landing. The spectacle made the project’s hardware the center of attention: air moving under the car to generate suction, and compressed gas providing thrust.

The distinction matters. As The Associated Press reports, the vehicle’s ability to briefly lift off does not establish that drivers will be able to use those maneuvers on public roads. Demonstrating a capability at a controlled event and delivering an approved customer feature are separate milestones.

Performance, Thrust and Rocket

Tesla outlined three configurations after the presentation. Electrek’s recap of Tesla’s announcements lists Performance as a two-seater with active aerodynamics and a suction system; Thrust adds rear cold-gas thrusters; and the single-seat Rocket adds thrusters for upward and rotational movement.

Tesla claims 0–60 mph times below 1.6 seconds for Performance, below 0.9 seconds for Thrust and below 0.59 seconds for Rocket. Those are company claims, rather than independently verified production-car results. Electrek also notes that Tesla identifies Rocket as unsuitable for public-road use.

A sharper shape for the Roadster

The new design moves away from the curvier 2017 concept toward a low, angular wedge. MotorTrend reports butterfly-style doors, removable glass roof panels and a driver-oriented screen. It also describes the vehicle as a prototype intended for production, with important decisions still to be finalized.

From the rear, the full-width red light and large raised wing give the car an assertive silhouette. The exposed hardware below makes the engineering part of the visual appeal. It is a look designed to hold attention even before anything moves.

The next test is production

The Roadster was first previewed in 2017 with deliveries originally expected in 2020, Reuters notes. The new 2028 target gives the project another date to measure against.

For now, Tesla has delivered a memorable demonstration. The next meaningful details will be the finished specifications, pricing and customer delivery plan. Watch Tesla’s official event replay for the full presentation.

Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.