Tesla unveiled its second-generation Roadster on October 15, 2026, at an outdoor event in Texas. The show answered the “flying car” question in a narrow way: Tesla says it has built thrusters that can launch and rotate the car, but only the invite-only version is designed around them, and Tesla’s own page says that version is not approved for public roads. No price was announced.

What Tesla showed

According to Electrek, Tesla listed three versions after the livestream:

  • Performance: two seats, 0 to 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds, open to reservations.
  • Thrust: two seats, rear cold-gas thrusters, under 0.9 seconds, limited release.
  • Rocket: one seat, thrusters around the car for up, down and rotation, a top speed over 230 mph, under 0.59 seconds, invite only.

Tesla quotes a range of over 300 miles. Reuters reported that engineering chief Lars Moravy described a two-seater that does 0 to 60 mph in under one second, so the figures differ by version and by source.

In the demo, Reuters said the car drove upside down on a ramp using a suction system, turned in the air and landed using its thrusters. It later jumped over a truck and other vehicles. Elon Musk said the car was the product of Tesla and SpaceX engineers working closely together. Those are company claims, shown in a staged event, and have not been tested by outsiders.

Price and reservations

Tesla gave no price for any version. Reuters noted that a base price of $200,000 was quoted nearly a decade ago, and that Tesla set no target price this time.

Reservations are open. Electrek reports that $5,000 is due now, which Tesla calls fully refundable, with another $45,000 due within 10 days or the reservation is canceled. That adds up to $50,000, the same deposit Tesla asked for in 2017. Reuters reported a $50,000 deposit for the Performance version and $250,000 for the Thrust version, with no deposit listed for the Rocket.

The sources do not mention Canadian or US prices, and Canadian availability and pricing have not been announced.

A long wait

Tesla showed a Roadster prototype in November 2017 and promised production in 2020. Electrek’s count shows the 2026 unveil date also slipped, from April to August, then to October 1, before the weather moved it to October 15. Asked about production, Musk’s only answer was “2028, actually”, per Electrek. The original promises of 620 miles of range and four seats have been cut to over 300 miles and two seats at most.

What it means for readers

If you are in Canada or the US and want one, nothing ships before 2028, and the thruster versions are limited or invite only. The reservation is described as refundable, but the balance of the $50,000 is due in 10 days. Analyst Gene Munster called the car “an engineering flex with no commercial value,” as quoted by Reuters, while Electrek expects Tesla to sell only a handful of the stunt-capable versions. Treat the flying and speed claims as Tesla’s until independent testing exists.