Event set for October 1 in Waco, Texas — nearly nine years after the 2017 prototype — promises jet-style thrusters, a radically new look, and could end up stealing the spotlight from a major rival
🚀 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Blistering acceleration: With the optional SpaceX thruster package, the new Tesla Roadster is expected to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.1 seconds — far quicker than a Formula 1 car. For comparison, an F1 car takes about 2.6 seconds to reach 62 mph.
- The original plans were even more ambitious: Tesla wanted the car to race up a magnetized ramp, travel upside down, and then return to an upright position to hover in the air. One person familiar with the program summed up the change: “We started off thinking we were almost making an aircraft and ended up with something closer to hovering.”
- Sam Altman’s viral cancellation: In October 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly canceled his $50,000 reservation, which he had made in 2018, saying: “Seven and a half years seems like a long time to wait.” The post went viral and sparked a public exchange with Elon Musk, who responded that Altman had already received his refund.
Tesla announced it will reveal the final version of its long-awaited Roadster supercar on October 1 — nearly nine years after the 2017 prototype and six years past the originally planned launch date.
The phrase used was “Get ready for launch,” a direct nod to the car’s rocket thrusters. Elon Musk confirmed the date: “New Tesla Roadster reveal on 10/01.”
Go for launch pic.twitter.com/Khu03eiZ04
— Tesla (@Tesla) September 12, 2026
A Car Built to Take On Formula 1
The second-generation Roadster was promised to hit 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, top out above 250 mph, and deliver roughly 620 miles of range.
With the optional SpaceX thruster package, that 0-60 mph time would drop to just 1.1 seconds — less than half the roughly 2.6 seconds it takes a Formula 1 car to reach the same speed.
Recent reports indicate Tesla scrapped the Model S Plaid-based platform entirely and moved to a brand-new carbon fiber architecture.
The limited-edition model expected to debut in Texas won’t be street-legal and could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Where and When the Reveal Will Happen
The event will take place in Waco, Texas, at 7:30 p.m. local time. Non-transferable invitations went out to reservation holders, with RSVPs due by September 16 and the event restricted to guests 21 and older.
Waco sits just a short drive from SpaceX’s rocket testing facility in McGregor — the site reportedly chosen for the thruster demonstration.
The car will be operated remotely, with no one inside. Spectators will be kept hundreds of feet away, since the thrusters’ noise could cause hearing damage.
Musk reportedly warned staff that the demo would be difficult and “could go wrong.”
The Demo Got Scaled Back
The original plans were far more ambitious: the car would speed up a giant magnetized ramp, flip upside down, then right itself and hover in midair.
One source close to the project summed up the shift: “We started out thinking we were basically building an aircraft, and we ended up with something closer to hovering.”
A Radically Different Look
The images suggest a far more aggressive design than the understated concept shown back in 2017.
The teaser shows a full-width taillight bar, a massive rear wing, and four plumes of smoke. Faint text reading “WHERE WE’RE GOING…” appears to be a clear nod to Back to the Future.
Sam Altman’s Viral Cancellation
The announcement comes almost a year after one of the most memorable moments in the Roadster’s long wait.
In October 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took to X to publicly cancel his $50,000 reservation, originally placed back in 2018.
Altman posted a screenshot of the email he sent to Tesla: “Hi, I’d like to cancel my reservation. Could you please refund the $50k?”
In the caption, he added: “I was genuinely excited about the car! And I get the delays. But 7.5 years feels like a long wait.”
The post went viral and sparked a public back-and-forth with Musk, who later claimed Altman had already been refunded.
Years of Delays, With Production Still a Ways Off
Since 2017, the Roadster has been pushed back repeatedly. Musk has previously apologized to the “long-suffering depositors,” calling the model “the cherry on the cake.”
Even after October’s reveal, full production isn’t expected to start until 2027 or 2028 — at least 12 to 18 months from now.
Pricing and the Jaguar Rivalry
When it was first unveiled in 2017, the base model was priced at around $200,000, while the Founders Series was announced at $250,000.
The reveal lands the same week as the Jaguar Type 01, set to debut on October 6 in New York.
Musk previously took a jab at the British automaker back in 2024, responding to its new ad campaign on X with: “Do you guys sell cars?”
What Comes Next
It remains to be seen whether Tesla will actually hit the mark this time — or whether the Roadster will keep serving, for the many who’ve waited nearly a decade, as more of a symbol of broken promises than automotive innovation.
Sources and References
- Reuters – Tesla signals Oct. 1 launch for long-delayed Roadster
- Reuters – New Tesla Roadster Archive
- Electrek – Ex-Tesla president on Roadster delay and SpaceX thrusters
- Electrek – Tesla Roadster October 1 reveal teaser
- Business Insider – Sam Altman and Tesla Roadster feud
- Electric Vehicles – Tesla announces Roadster unveil with hidden text
- CarScoops – Musk on Tesla Roadster priorities and deposit holders
- TechCrunch – Tesla delays reveal of production Roadster
- Jaguar – Inside Type 01 Explore
- Associated Press (AP News) – Jaguar ad branding luxury EVs