Tesla has finally revealed the new Roadster, and yes, it can actually fly, at least for a few seconds. Elon Musk showed off the electric two-seater on October 15, 2026 at SpaceX’s rocket test site in McGregor, near Waco in Texas.
The big trick is a set of SpaceX-developed thrusters that run on compressed air. In the live demo, the Roadster drove up an upside-down ramp, hopped over the cab of a Tesla Semi truck, did a barrel roll in mid-air, and landed back on its wheels.
It has been a long wait. The Roadster was first shown in 2017 and has missed several launch dates since, the latest being an October 1 event called off due to bad weather. Production is now planned for 2028, and Tesla has already opened bookings in India at Rs 5 lakh. New to the brand? Here’s our guide to Tesla cars in India.
Tesla Roadster: At a Glance
| Key detail | Tesla Roadster |
| Powertrain | All-electric, two rear motors (standard car) |
| Power | Over 1,500bhp (reported, not confirmed by Tesla) |
| 0-96kph (0-60mph) | 0.81 seconds (Thrust trim, claimed) |
| Top speed | Over 370kph (Musk is targeting around 618kph) |
| Claimed range | Around 480km |
| Flight hardware | 10 cold-air thrusters, 600-litre air tanks |
| Downforce | Up to 2G from an underbody fan |
| Seating | Two (one in the Rocket trim) |
| Production start | 2028 |
| India booking amount | Rs 5 lakh |
How Does the Tesla Roadster Fly?
Don’t picture rocket fuel; the Roadster flies on plain compressed air. Think of it like letting go of a balloon, only far more powerful: the four rear thrusters push air out faster than the speed of sound, producing over 80kN of thrust. And since it’s only air, the car refills its own tanks, so there’s no special fuel to buy.
There’s also a fan under the car that sucks it towards the road, creating up to 2G of downforce. That’s what kept it stuck to the upside-down ramp, and it should help the car corner harder than tyres alone allow. What Tesla hasn’t shared yet is how long the Roadster can actually stay in the air.
Tesla Roadster Variants: Three Trims on Offer
The thrusters aren’t standard. Tesla will sell the Roadster in three trims, and only the top two get the flight hardware. All of them promise around 480km of range and a top speed of over 370 km/h.
| Trim | What you get | India reservation |
| Performance (Road ready) | Active aero, underbody suction fan | ₹ 5,00,000 |
| Thrust (Race ready) | Rear thrusters for extra acceleration | ₹ 5,00,000 |
| Rocket (Air ready) | 10 thrusters for lift-off | Invite only |
The Rocket trim gives up the passenger seat to make room for the flight hardware, and Tesla says it isn’t approved for public roads. To put that 0.81-second sprint in perspective, a quick sports car like the BMW Z4 takes over four seconds to hit 100kph.
Tesla Roadster Design: Inspired by Fighter Jets
If you remember the smooth, rounded Roadster from 2017, forget it. Tesla says nothing has been carried over. The new car is all sharp lines and flat surfaces, inspired by the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane and the F-35 fighter jet. Many fans also spotted a link to the 1976 Lotus Esprit from the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. Musk owns the submarine prop car from that movie, and it was on display at the launch.
Look closer, and you’ll find hidden headlights, a full-width LED tail-lamp, slim-spoke wheels, ‘Ano White’ paint, gold-tinted glass and titanium details. The body is built from magnesium, titanium and carbon fibre to keep weight down.
Inside, the seats are moulded into the chassis in a fixed position and trimmed in white with grey microsuede. Instead of a steering wheel, you get a yoke, with steering, brakes and throttle all controlled electronically. The demo car ran in self-driving mode for safety, but Musk says the Roadster will be Tesla’s only car you drive yourself in the long run.
When Will the Tesla Roadster Come to India?
Here’s the good news for Indian fans: you can already book one. Tesla is taking bookings for the Performance and Thrust trims at Rs 5 lakh, while the Rocket trim is invite-only. Keep in mind that the car will come in left-hand drive only, and it isn’t yet clear whether the thruster versions will be allowed on Indian roads.
Tesla has not announced an official price. As per reports, it is expected to cost around Rs 1.25 crore. Production starts in 2028, so Indian deliveries are unlikely before then.
Can’t wait till 2028? The Tesla Model Y is the brand’s main car in India right now.
Tesla Roadster: What It Means for the Brand
Musk calls the Roadster “the best of the last of the human-driven cars”, and that sums it up well. While Tesla pushes towards self-driving cars, the Roadster is its fun, over-the-top halo car. With production two years away and road rules still unclear, it’s more of a dream machine than a daily driver for now. More details on pricing and deliveries should come closer to launch.
