Tesla has unveiled a pre-production Roadster EV that can perform airborne manoeuvres using cold-air thrusters developed by SpaceX, an American aerospace company founded by Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk. The Tesla Roadster will come in a standard two-seater Performance trim featuring a new underbody suction fan that can generate 2G of grip. Two augments (packages), Thrust and Rocket (single-seater only), will be available based on the Performance trim, with the said air thrusters
Tesla says the new Roadster will enter production in 2028, marking the second run for the nameplate after it was discontinued in 2012. Bookings for the Performance trim and Thrust package are underway in India at Rs 5 lakh, while the Rocket augment is an invite-only programme.
New Tesla Roadster EV: All you need to know
How the pre-production Roadster’s ‘flying tech’ works
The thrusters use pressurised cold air expelled through nozzles to generate thrust, allowing the Roadster to briefly lift off the ground and control its movement in the air. The system is distinct from a conventional rocket engine, as it relies on stored pressurised air rather than burning propellant.
As mentioned earlier, the Performance trim serves as the base for the other two configurations, with the Thrust augment adding rear-mounted thrusters. The Rocket augment gets a more extensive thruster setup, with 10 units in total, and is designed for airborne manoeuvres. It is also a single-seater, with the additional hardware occupying the space otherwise used by the passenger seat.
Tesla claims a 0-100kph time of under a second for the new Roadster, although final production powertrain specifications, including battery capacity, motor output and range, are yet to be revealed.
Gets angular ‘Cyber’ styling and aerospace-inspired details
The new design marks a significant departure from the original concept from 2017, which featured a rounded nose, flowing bodywork and a removable glass roof. The redesigned pre-production model adopts a more angular, wedge-shaped silhouette like the Tesla Cybertruck, with aircraft-inspired styling from the SR-71 Blackbird and the F-35 fighter jet.
The front gets concealed headlights, while the rear features a full-width LED taillight and a prominent active rear wing. Flush-mounted surfaces and slim-spoke wheels contribute to the cleaner design, with the wing adjusting to balance downforce and aerodynamic drag. Tesla has also introduced an 'Ano White' paint finish, alongside gold-tinted glass and titanium accents.
Has a minimalist cockpit with yoke steering and a central infotainment screen
The 2017 Roadster concept featured a curved central touchscreen, a conventional two-plus-two seating layout and a removable glass roof. The redesigned model adopts a more focused, two-seat cabin, with a yoke-style steering control and a central touchscreen.
The yoke is designed to work with a steer-by-wire system, while braking and throttle inputs are also electronically controlled. Tesla has opted for a fixed seating position and manual controls, with the cabin using lightweight materials such as carbon fibre, magnesium and titanium to help keep weight in check. The interior is finished in white, with grey microsuede detailing and more heavily bolstered seats.
As mentioned earlier, the Rocket version drops the passenger seat to make room for the additional hardware required for its flight system, setting it apart from the two-seat Performance and Thrust versions. Tesla says the Rocket is “not approved for public road use”, but the road legality of the standard Performance with the suction fan and the Thrust augment, which features additional air thrusters in the rear, is uncertain in India.