Tesla Unveils New Roadster With SpaceX Thrusters and Claimed 0–60 mph Time Under One Second

Saudi Arabia: Tesla has unveiled the new Roadster, a three-trim electric sports car with SpaceX cold-gas thrusters, and it claims a 0-60 mph time under one second. At the reveal near Waco, Texas, on Thursday 15 October 2026, Tesla also demonstrated the car performing unusual manoeuvres with the help of its thruster system. Production is planned for 2028, and Tesla has not announced a price. Here is what is confirmed, what is only claimed, and what is still unknown.

What Tesla Unveiled in Waco

Tesla held the event at SpaceX's Rocket Development and Testing facility in Waco, Texas. The demonstration was built around an inverted ramp. The Roadster drove halfway up the ramp, held in place by a vacuum fan system, then launched upside down and flipped in the air. It used thrusters to right itself and land on the tarmac. The car also used thrusters to lift itself over a Cybercab, Cybertruck, Tesla Semi, Model Y, and Model 3 while moving. The reveal came nearly nine years after Tesla first showed the second-generation Roadster in 2017.

Tesla Roadster Trims: Performance, Thrust and Rocket

Trim	Positioning	Seats	Thrusters	Official 0-60 mph claim	Reservation deposit
Performance	Road-ready	2	None listed	Under 1.6 seconds	USD 50,000 (about SAR 187,500)
Thrust	Race-ready	2	Rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters	Under 0.9 seconds	USD 250,000 (about SAR 937,500)
Rocket	Air-ready	1	Perimeter-mounted cold-gas thrusters	Under 0.59 seconds	Invite only, no price listed

The Claimed 0-60 mph Time Under One Second

The Roadster's claimed acceleration is among the most striking figures announced for the car. Tesla says it can reach 60 mph, or approximately 97 km/h, from a standstill in under one second. The new Roadster raises the performance target considerably. However, acceleration results can depend on factors such as testing conditions, tyres, surface grip and the specific vehicle configuration. 

How the SpaceX Thrusters Work

The system uses cold gas, which means compressed air rather than burning fuel. Engineering Vice President Lars Moravy said the car has 10 thrusters connected to about 600 litres of compressed air. Tesla also says every usable void in the car is packed with carbon fibre overwrapped pressure vessels. A separate fan suction system on the underside can generate up to 2 G of downforce.

Roadster Specs: Speed, Range and Build

Item	Claim	Metric equivalent
Top speed	Up to 230 mph (Rocket trim, per Yahoo Finance)	About 370 km/h
Musk's stated target	Half the speed of sound, 383 mph	About 616 km/h
Range	Over 300 miles on all three trims	About 483 km
Fastest official 0-60 mph	Under 0.59 seconds (Rocket)	0-97 km/h
Production start	2028, per Musk	Not applicable

What the Roadster Means for Saudi and GCC Buyers

This car suits buyers looking for the most extreme Electric sports car on offer and who can wait until 2028 and commit a USD 50,000 deposit to find out. As of now, there is no Saudi or GCC pricing, availability, or delivery timeline. Anyone in the Kingdom who wants a reservation should confirm regional terms directly with Tesla. Deposits are listed in US dollars, and local VAT, import duties, and registration would come on top. 

Also Read: 2026 Toyota GR86 in Saudi Arabia: Price, 228 HP Engine and Features