Tesla unveils next-gen Roadster with optional SpaceX-derived thruster package
Tesla showed off its redesigned Roadster at a SpaceX test site in Texas, performing stunts including sticking upside-down to a ramp via a suction system and hovering to the ground using cold-gas thrusters adapted from SpaceX technology. Elon Musk said production will begin in 2028. Reservations require a $5,000 deposit plus $45,000 within 10 days for the base car, with the thruster-equipped 'Thrust' package costing an additional $245,000.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The stunt-heavy reveal, nine years after the Roadster was first teased, suggests Tesla is leaning on spectacle to maintain interest despite repeated delays. The steep pricing for thruster options signals Tesla may be targeting a narrow pool of wealthy early buyers rather than mainstream demand, and the 2028 production timeline leaves plenty of room for further slippage.
- Tesla's new Roadster uses a suction system and SpaceX-style cold-gas thrusters for stunt demonstrations.
- Production is targeted for 2028, continuing a pattern of delays since the original 2017 reveal.
- Reserving the top 'Thrust' package requires $250,000 within 10 days, on top of the base vehicle deposit.
Source: engadget.com — Mariella Moon, 2026-10-16
Published there as: “Tesla's redesigned Roadster has a cold-gas thruster option, but you'll need $250,000 just to reserve it”
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