Tesla New Roadster May Launch This Month; SpaceX Limited Edition Can 'Fly'

Tesla is expected to unveil its next-generation Roadster as early as this month, alongside a SpaceX collaboration limited edition that will demonstrate flight capability at a Texas test facility.

SpaceX-Joint Limited Edition

The highlight of the event will be a specially choreographed stunt demonstrating the flying ability of the Roadster limited edition, jointly developed by Tesla and SpaceX. The demo is expected to take place at the SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas.

Months ago, the planned demonstration was described by insiders as resembling a science-fiction sequence: the Roadster would race up a magnetic ramp resembling a roller-coaster track, drive upside down for a short distance, recover its normal orientation and then hover mid-air. Elon Musk previously said the Roadster would use cold-gas thrusters co-developed with SpaceX to achieve flight.

However, how much of the concept will actually be executed live remains unclear. According to one insider, Tesla rehearsed the Roadster demonstration for Musk in advance but subsequently postponed the event and cancelled or scaled back portions of the show. Musk has recently told some employees that completing the entire demo would be extremely difficult and could potentially go wrong on-site, but insisted the outcome would still look impressive regardless.

Whether the event will be broadcast live or only release recorded footage afterward is also undecided.

Safety and Usage Restrictions

Three insiders said that to protect spectators' hearing from the extreme noise, attendees must remain hundreds of meters away from the Roadster during the demonstration. Kim Jae-ok, a professor of aerodynamics and aeroacoustics at the University of Southampton, explained that cold-gas thrusters release high-pressure gas capable of generating intense noise and vibration.

For the same reason, no one will ride inside the Roadster during the demo; it will be operated remotely.

The limited-edition version showcased in Texas cannot be legally driven on public roads. Its price is expected to reach several hundred thousand to millions of US dollars, making it accessible only to a tiny fraction of buyers. Tesla reportedly even discussed allowing some dedicated fans to purchase the SpaceX-collaboration demo unit, potentially under a usage model similar to the Ferrari XX programme, which permits owners of track-only cars to drive them on circuits under professional supervision.

Standard Version and Delivery Timeline

The standard Roadster is also not expected to be inexpensive. The first-generation Roadster carried a starting price of nearly $100,000 when it was originally sold.

As for when existing order holders will receive their vehicles, Tesla has yet to provide an official delivery date.

If the Roadster finally reaches series production, it would give Musk an opportunity to demonstrate that Tesla's traditional automotive business has not been entirely abandoned despite the company increasingly directing resources toward AI and other future projects. The current Roadster was first shown as a prototype in 2017, originally targeting a 2020 launch, and has since experienced at least eight delays before delivery was officially cancelled.