Tesla has unveiled a redesigned version of its electric Roadster equipped with rocket-style thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX, as the electric vehicle maker targets production in 2028.
The prototype demonstrated several unconventional features during an event in Texas on October 15, including driving upside down on a specially designed ramp, performing an aerial flip and briefly lifting over other vehicles with its thruster system.
Tesla Chief Executive Officer, Elon Musk, said the company expects to begin production in 2028, nearly nine years after it first announced the next-generation Roadster in 2017.
The latest unveiling offers a glimpse into Tesla’s ambitions to push the boundaries of electric vehicle engineering by combining high-performance automotive technology with rocket-inspired propulsion systems.
However, the company has yet to confirm whether all the capabilities demonstrated by the prototype, particularly its brief aerial lift, will appear in the production version.
The planned 2028 production timeline also underscores the lengthy development process behind the next-generation Roadster, which Tesla first introduced as part of its plans to expand its electric vehicle lineup with a high-performance sports car.
