The New Tesla Roadster isn’t just an electric supercar. With SpaceX-inspired thruster technology and extreme acceleration claims, it aims to challenge the conventional definition of performance.
Tesla brought the Roadster back into the spotlight on October 15, with production now targeted for 2028.
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The second-generation Tesla Roadster was first unveiled in 2017. At the time, the company promised a nearly 1,000km range and supercar-level performance. But the production timeline has been repeatedly delayed. Now, with new revelations, the Roadster is back in the news, especially because of its proposed thruster system, designed to lift the car into the air.
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New Tesla Roadster: Three Versions, Different Performance Claims
The new Tesla Roadster is planned to be offered in three versions: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket. According to Tesla’s claims, the Performance version can achieve 0-100kph acceleration in approximately 1.6 seconds. This time for the Rocket version is reported to be less than a second.
The Rocket version will be the most extreme configuration. It is an invite-only model and is not approved for use on public roads. This version also removes the passenger seat for additional hardware, while regular versions offer a two-seat layout. These performance figures should only be viewed as company claims; final production specifications and real-world performance are pending confirmation.
In terms of design, the Roadster has a futuristic look. It features hidden headlights, a full-width rear light bar, and flush aerodynamic elements. Its styling is reportedly inspired by high-performance aircraft, including the SR-71 and F-35.
The cabin features a minimalist dashboard layout, yoke-style steering controls, digital displays, and lightweight materials. The overall approach departs from traditional sports-car design, focusing on driver control, low weight, and extreme performance.
How can the New Tesla Roadster fly?
The collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX is behind the Roadster’s most unusual feature. The proposed extreme configuration uses cold-gas thrusters. This system generates thrust by releasing highly pressurized gas, which can help lift the car and control its orientation in the air.
Additional nozzles are designed to lift the car off and control its movement in the air. Tesla demonstrations have shown the car taking off and rotating in the air. However, an important distinction must be understood: it is not sustained flight like an aircraft. Observing lift-off in a demonstration and achieving it reliably, safely, and repeatably in a production car are two different things.
How this technology will work in a production version, how much lift it will generate, and under what conditions it will be allowed to operate are not yet clear. Safety requirements and operating limits will also remain important questions.
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What is the role of underbody fans and aerodynamics?
Tesla has also demonstrated underbody suction fans that can hold a car against an inverted ramp. Such fans can force the vehicle downward by creating suction with the surface. This concept is an unusual approach to improving grip and stability in high-performance cars.
It also features active aerodynamic elements, intended to improve downforce at high speeds. Downforce helps keep the tires in contact with the road, which can improve cornering and high-speed stability.
However, final details are awaited on what the actual production setup of suction fans, active aerodynamics, and thrusters will be. Therefore, the demonstration should not be considered proof of the final road-going specification.
New Tesla Roadster India Launch: What known now?
Tesla has set a target for New Tesla Roadster production to begin in 2028 and has reopened reservations. However, production specifications, final pricing, and delivery timelines are not yet confirmed. No confirmed details are available regarding the India launch or Indian pricing.
The most important thing for potential buyers in India is to wait for final specifications before considering the Roadster’s extraordinary performance and thruster technology as production-ready features. The 2028 target is also a planned timeline, not a confirmed customer-delivery date.
Auto India Daily Verdict
The New Tesla Roadster biggest attraction isn’t just its claimed acceleration, but its ambition to take electric performance to a new level. SpaceX-inspired thrusters and suction-fan demonstrations set it apart from conventional electric supercars. However, many key details are still unconfirmed, and the capabilities of the production version may differ from those in the demonstrations.
The New Tesla Roadster true success will depend on how safely, reliably, and practically Tesla can convert these ambitious ideas into a production car. For now, it’s a highly ambitious electric supercar—but it’s too early to consider its most dramatic features a final production reality.
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Raj Prajapati is a Senior Automotive Content Writer at AutoIndiaDaily. A B.Tech graduate in Computer Science and Engineering, he leverages over four years of experience covering Indian car and bike launches, EV tech, and market dynamics to break down complex automotive regulations into simple consumer guides. Specialising in Indian motor vehicle laws, IRDAI updates, and ownership costs, Raj translates technical auto policies into actionable advice for everyday drivers.