Updated October 17, 2026. Tesla finally showed its new Roadster on October 15, almost nine years after it first promised one. The show was at a SpaceX test site in Texas. A white Roadster raced up a ramp, flipped in the air and hovered. People in Canada can already put money down to reserve one. But a lot of facts are still missing, and many numbers are only Tesla's claims. This page keeps the two apart.

What happened on October 15?

Tesla held the event in McGregor, Texas, near Waco. It began at 7:55 p.m. local time, which was 8:55 p.m. Eastern. It was first planned for October 1. Tesla moved it because of bad weather in the forecast, and the event had to be held outdoors.

CNBC reports that Elon Musk, design chief Franz von Holzhausen and engineering vice president Lars Moravy were there. In the show, a white car went up a curved ramp, stuck to it upside down, jumped off, flipped in the air, hovered and then landed. CNBC says the car used thrusters made with SpaceX.

Tesla showed the first Roadster idea in November 2017. At that time, it said the car would be on sale in 2020. That did not happen. Tesla has missed every date it set since, CNBC reports.

Photo: Smnt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The 2017 prototype at the launch event. The new car looks different.

What Tesla says about the new Roadster

Everything in this section is a claim from Tesla or from reports of the event. Nobody has tested the car.

  • Tesla's Canadian website shows three versions. The first seats two and is "road ready." The second is called Thrust, and it adds thrusters at the back. The third is called Rocket. It seats one and can fly.
  • Drive Tesla and iPhone in Canada report that Tesla says the Performance version does 0 to 60 miles an hour (about 97 km/h) in under 1.6 seconds. They report under 0.9 seconds for Thrust and under 0.59 seconds for Rocket.
  • Tesla's website says the Thrust version goes 0 to 100 km/h in under 1 second.
  • The same reports say Tesla claims a top speed above 230 mph (370 km/h) for Rocket and more than 300 miles (about 480 km) of range for all versions.
  • Tesla says a fan system pulls air from under the car. It claims this holds the car on the ground and can even hold it upside down while standing still.
  • The car has a steering yoke and steer-by-wire. That means no direct steering shaft between the wheel and the tires.
  • Tesla says the car uses light parts, including magnesium, titanium and carbon fibre.
  • Tesla's page says the Rocket version is not approved for public roads.

CNBC reports that the new Roadster has no Full Self-Driving. Musk said it will be the last Tesla made to be driven by a person.

What was not shared

  • The price. CNBC says no price was announced.
  • Details on other versions beyond the claims above.
  • Whether the car is legal for the road. CNBC says that was unclear. Musk said on stage that the Roadster is "not necessarily a safety-optimized car."
  • Battery size and charging speed. We did not find them on Tesla's pages.
  • Where the car will be built. We found nothing on this.

Musk said production would start in 2028, according to CNBC and Drive Tesla.

How much does it cost to reserve one in Canada?

Tesla Canada's reservation page shows $7,000 due today, and Tesla says that part is fully refundable. It then shows $63,000 due within 10 days. That adds up to $70,000.

Drive Tesla reports that $70,000 is for the Performance version. It also reports $350,000 for Thrust. Rocket is by invitation only with no amount listed.

This is not the price of the car. Drive Tesla says the final price is still not announced. Tesla's page also says a reservation is not final until payment is received, and that it can be cancelled if the second payment does not arrive in 10 days. It adds that refunds will not be given for changes.

In the United States, the amounts are US$50,000 and US$250,000, Drive Tesla reports.

Photo: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The first-generation Roadster, which Tesla sold from 2008. It was based on a Lotus Elise chassis, CNBC reports.

Will the EV rebate apply?

We can't say. Tesla has not given a price. The federal rebate, called EVAP, only covers cars with a final price of $50,000 or less, unless the car is made in Canada. Do not plan around a rebate for a Roadster. You can read how the program works in our electric vehicle guide for Canada.

Tesla cars you can look at today

The new Roadster is a long way off. Vehonix has pages for the Tesla cars on sale in Canada now.

You can also browse every Tesla model on Vehonix.

Another supercar story this week

Porsche showed its Mission S concept on the same day. It is a mid-engine car that Porsche says will sit above the 911. Porsche has not named an engine. Read our Porsche Mission S explainer.

What we don't know yet

  • The price of each version.
  • Whether any version will be legal on Canadian roads.
  • How much of the show car's tech will be in the car you can buy.
  • When Canadian buyers would get one. Musk said production starts in 2028.

Vehonix has not driven or tested a Roadster. This page uses Tesla's website and the reports linked below. We will update it when Tesla shares more.

FAQ

What is the new Tesla Roadster? It is a two-seat electric sports car that Tesla showed on October 15, 2026. Tesla says one version can fly using thrusters made with SpaceX.

When can I get one in Canada? Musk said production would start in 2028. Tesla has not given a Canadian delivery date.

How much does it cost? Tesla has not announced a price. To reserve one in Canada, Tesla's page shows $7,000 due today and $63,000 within 10 days. Drive Tesla reports $70,000 is for the Performance version.

Is the $7,000 refundable? Tesla's page says the $7,000 due today is fully refundable. It also says refunds will not be given for changes.

Can the Roadster really fly? Tesla showed a Roadster hovering at the event. Only the Rocket version is meant to fly. Tesla says it is not approved for public roads.

Are the speed numbers real? They are Tesla's claims. Tesla's own timer was used at the event, CNBC reports. Nobody outside Tesla has tested the car.

Sources

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