(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – Those who think of electric cars as quietly humming family cars will have a culture shock with Tesla’s latest project. The long-awaited new edition of the Tesla Roadster is apparently about to be unveiled and is said to feature a special, unmanned “SpaceX” version with a feature previously only seen in science fiction movies: The car is supposed to take off. In addition to an already extremely sporty version for the road, Elon Musk’s team apparently plans to demonstrate a flying vehicle that is set to turn the automotive industry on its head.
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According to a report by the US technology-focused business magazine The Information (paywall), the premiere is to take place in McGregor, a small town between Dallas and Austin in Texas. SpaceX operates a rocket test site there.
At the event, a Roadster is supposed to take off from the ground thanks to engines from Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX. Since the engines are very loud, no one will be able to sit in the flying Roadster – the vehicle is to be remotely controlled. Visitors will therefore only be able to watch the spectacle from several hundred meters away.
Originally, the Roadster was supposed to race up a ramp and drive upside down thanks to a magnetic track. However, this possibility proved difficult to realize and was abandoned.
The report, which we reproduce here due to the paywall based on a report from Electrek, also sheds new light on the Roadster’s development history. Initially, two developer teams worked on completely different vehicles. One group was to design a Roadster based on the Model S Plaid, the other a completely new vehicle based on a carbon monocoque construction. Elon Musk decided on the completely new variant.
Since Tesla lacked the necessary know-how, they hired a body specialist from Italy. At times, the design was said to resemble the Lamborghini Countach. Later, according to chief designer Franz von Holzhausen’s wishes, the car was to resemble the stealth aircraft Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Meanwhile, the shape has apparently become more conventional. At the end of 2025, there was a drivable two-seater prototype with gull-wing doors. And recently, Von Holzhausen announced on the TV show Jay Leno’s Garage that the Roadster will “start very soon.”
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The special edition of the Roadster with SpaceX engine is reportedly not street-legal and will cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. However, a version for the road is also said to be shown.
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After the first Tesla Roadster from 2008, which was based on the Lotus Elise, Tesla presented a second generation in 2017. This was originally supposed to come to market in 2020. Three electric motors were to accelerate the car to 60 mph (about 96 km/h) in 2.1 seconds. A 200-kWh battery weighing only 900 kilograms was to provide a range of 1,000 kilometers at US highway speeds. In 2019, a SpaceX package was announced as an optional extra. The rear seats were to be replaced by a compressed air tank to operate cold gas thrusters – what is commonly called “thrusters.”
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In summary
The report from The Information is said to be based on information from three insiders. It is quite detailed, but that is no proof of its accuracy. However, the described event would fit well with Elon Musk. If it actually takes place, it does not necessarily mean that the Roadster will be coming to market soon. After all, this car is a prime example of the reliability of Elon Musk’s promises: The car was announced for 2020, then postponed to 2022, 2023, and finally 2024. But now it is 2026 and the new Roadster still does not exist.
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Source: The Information (Paywall) via Electrek, InsideEVs.com
