Tesla unveils its new Roadster: a car equipped with rockets that promises to "fly"

Nearly nine years after the presentation of the first prototype, Elon Musk unveiled the production version of the Tesla Roadster on Friday, October 16, 2026. Equipped with thrusters developed with SpaceX, this electric car promises spectacular performance, up to aerial movements. In France, reservations are open with deposits of up to 250,000 euros, while its final price remains unknown. Tesla once again pushes the boundaries of electric automobiles. Elon Musk presented the production version of the Roadster on Friday, October 16, a sports model that combines Tesla's automotive technologies with SpaceX's aerospace innovations. During this presentation, the manufacturer staged several spectacular demonstrations, with a car capable of performing jumps, rotations, and aerial figures using cold gas thrusters. "It's better than a James Bond car," Elon Musk launched, promising an unprecedented experience from the collaboration between his two companies. A car capable of performing aerial figures The presentation began with an astonishing demonstration: the Roadster traveled along a curved track and ended up upside down, several meters above the ground, without falling. According to the explanations provided by Tesla, a ventilation and suction system under the vehicle allows it to generate sufficient downforce to keep it pressed against the track, even when stopped. But the main attraction lies in the thrusters developed with SpaceX. These cold gas devices are presented as capable of rapidly changing the vehicle's orientation, stabilizing its movements, and controlling certain phases of its jumps. Real life, baby pic.twitter.com/3QEqn18wig — Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026 During the demonstration, the Roadster performed several figures, including a rotation in the air before returning to a position suitable for landing. Tesla also presented a jump over several vehicles from its range. The manufacturer claims that these thrusters use fully electric actuators to precisely adjust the thrust. An onboard air compressor must allow for the automatic recharging of the high-pressure tanks while driving or in a few minutes when stopped. 0 to 100 km/h in less than a second announced Beyond its spectacular capabilities, the Roadster relies on extraordinary acceleration performance. During the presentation, Tesla announced a passage from 0 to 60 miles per hour, or about 96 km/h, in just 0.81 seconds for the most radical configuration. The technical specifications provided by the manufacturer also state a range of over 480 kilometers and a top speed exceeding 370 km/h. Tesla remains silent on several essential features, including the exact power of the powertrain and the maximum charging power. The complete mechanical configuration was also not detailed during the presentation. Three versions, up to 250,000 euros deposit On the French configurator, the manufacturer offers three versions of the Roadster: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket. Performance: this two-seater version promises 0 to 60 mph in less than 1.6 seconds. Thrust: also a two-seater, it adds rear thrusters and promises a time of less than 0.9 seconds. Rocket: this single-seater configuration prioritizes the onboard gas volume and promises 0 to 60 mph in less than 0.59 seconds, with the possibility of performing aerial rotations. These announced performances remain to be distinguished from results that can be verified under independent conditions. Tesla further specifies that the vehicle is not approved for public road use in the presented configuration. Reservations are nevertheless open in France. For the Performance version, the total deposit requested reaches 50,000 euros, with a first payment of 5,000 euros by bank card, followed by a transfer of 45,000 euros. For the Thrust version, the total amount rises to 250,000 euros, including a second transfer of 245,000 euros. The final selling price has, however, not yet been announced. With this new generation, Elon Musk intends to make the Roadster a technological showcase at the border between automotive and aerospace. It remains to be seen whether the announced performances can be confirmed and whether this car with futuristic ambitions can one day surpass the stage of demonstrations to become a vehicle marketed under clearly defined operating conditions.