Tesla Unveils Cyberfied Roadster With Cold-Gas Thrusters
The new Roadster features three trims with 0-60 mph times as low as 0.59 seconds, but pricing and production dates remain unclear.
Tesla has officially unveiled the next-generation Roadster, featuring a design overhaul aligned with its recent Cybertruck aesthetic and the inclusion of cold-gas thrusters capable of propelling the car through jumps and flips.
What Happened
During a livestream event, Tesla revealed the updated Roadster, which now incorporates design elements inspired by the SR-71 and F-35, moving away from the original S3XY design language. The vehicle features hidden headlights, a full-length taillight, and flush-mounted aerodynamics. Inside, the cabin includes a steer-by-wire yoke, a center touchscreen, and two smaller driver displays. To save weight, Tesla utilized magnesium, titanium, and carbon fiber, along with a fixed seat position and manual controls. The exterior "Ano White" paint is described as borrowing from rocket coatings, while the tinted windows mimic a spacesuit visor.
The unveiling confirmed three distinct configurations: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket. The Performance trim is road-ready, seats two, and claims a 0-60 mph time of under 1.6 seconds. The Thrust trim adds rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters for a sub-0.9-second 0-60 mph time. The Rocket trim, which seats only one person, features thrusters around the perimeter for upward and rotational movement, claiming a 0-60 mph time of under 0.59 seconds and a top speed over 230 mph. Tesla states the Rocket is not approved for public road use. The thrusters are designed to work in atmosphere, requiring new hardware and controls, and the car is packed with carbon-fiber overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) to store compressed gas. A suction system using fans is also included, capable of holding the car upside down even when stationary.
Why It Matters
This unveiling marks the conclusion of a nine-year development cycle that began with a prototype reveal in November 2017. While the new specifications show improved acceleration compared to the original 1.9-second promise, other metrics have regressed. The range claim has dropped from the originally promised 620 miles to "over 300 miles," and the seating capacity has been reduced from four (2+2 layout) to two. Tesla has reopened reservations, requiring a $5,000 deposit immediately and an additional $45,000 within 10 days, totaling the same $50,000 deposit structure from 2017. However, no final price for the vehicle has been announced, and the production timeline remains vague, with Elon Musk citing "2028, actually" as the target. The high-performance thruster features are limited to invite-only or restricted-release trims, suggesting the most dramatic capabilities may serve primarily as marketing tools rather than mass-market features.
The Bottom Line
Tesla’s new Roadster delivers on the promise of extreme performance with sub-1-second 0-60 mph times on select trims, but the lack of final pricing and a confirmed production date leaves buyers in a familiar state of uncertainty. The significant reduction in range and seating capacity compared to the 2017 prototype may disappoint early reservation holders who paid deposits based on those earlier specifications.
