The second-generation Tesla Roadster is scheduled to be revealed on Oct. 1 at what is expected to be a wild event.
The electric sports car is said to be equipped with a SpaceX cold gas thruster pack that will assist its acceleration and allow it to fly or hover to some extent. The only teaser image of the vehicle released so far appears to highlight the technology.
The vehicle depicted in the rendering looks much different from the original prototype that debuted in 2017, before a decade-long delay to bring it to fruition ensued. Elon Musk said production will finally begin sometime next year and Tesla is once again taking reservations to buy one.
There’s a link on the Roadster website to place one through. It requires an immediate $5,000 deposit which must be followed by an additional $45,000 within 10 days to secure it. All of the money is refundable until a purchase order is placed.
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That’s the same amount Tesla was charging for a reservation in 2017, when the price of the car was listed at $200,000. It also offered 1,000 Founders Series cars at $250,000, which required the full amount as a deposit, but stopped taking reservations in December 2021.
Tesla hasn’t indicated what the Roadster’s MSRP will be this time around, but the SpaceX package will be an option, not standard equipment. Musk first proposed the thrusters in 2019 and has since said the car will be able to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in less than one second while using them.
Invitations for the launch event say it will take place in Waco, Texas. Full details haven’t been shared, but SpaceX has a rocket testing facility in nearby McGregor, which is the most likely location for the demonstration. The FAA has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction over the facility from Sept. 18 to Oct. 2 that is probably related to the event, although it may be meant to prevent spying, rather than an indication of how high the Roadster will be able to fly.
