The next-generation Tesla Roadster unveiled Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in McGregor, Texas, borrows hardware from two of Elon Musk's other projects: SpaceX's pressure tanks and the actuators from Tesla's Optimus robot, Tesla said in a run of X posts during and after the livestream. Tesla's tagline on X: "Roadster / The last best driver's car."

Three configurations

Tesla posted three trims on X (tesla.com/roadster mirrors them; the site says "Air ready" where X says "Rocket"):

  • Performance — road ready, seats 2; active aerodynamics and multi-mode suction
  • Thrust — race ready, seats 2; suction plus rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters
  • Rocket — air ready, seats 1; suction plus perimeter-mounted cold-gas thrusters for forward, upward and lateral movement — Tesla says yes, it can fly

0-60 targets and the >300-mile range bound are in our specs story.

Exterior: Ano White and Gold Glazed glass

Tesla calls it "a true pilot's car": active aerodynamics, multi-mode suction, cold-gas thrusters, concealed headlights, a full-length taillight, flush surfaces and "super light thin-spoke wheels." Paint option highlighted: Ano White (aerospace UV / cryogenic / ESD / corrosion). Glass: Gold Glazed tinted glass that Tesla says mimics a spacesuit visor's copper coating, with titanium accents.

Interior: Ultrawhite, fixed seats, exotic metals

Inside, Tesla shows Ultrawhite with gray microsuede detailing and seat bolsters. Manual controls and a fixed seat position cut mass. Materials listed: magnesium, titanium and carbon fiber. Tesla says the car "responds to driver inputs almost instantly." BGR earlier reported seats molded into the chassis and a steer-by-wire system.

SpaceX tanks in every gap

"SpaceX has used thrusters to position spacecraft for decades. Making them work in a vehicle instead of a vacuum took all-new hardware & controls," Tesla wrote. "Every usable void in the car is packed with Carbon Fiber Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs). More compressed gas on board = more flight time." A follow-up physics post said multi-mode fans and ground sealing can hold the car upside down while stationary, powered fans and active wings make massive downforce at zero speed, and cold-gas thrusters with all-electric actuators handle flight micro-adjustments.

A wing moved by Optimus parts

In Track Mode the car changes shape. Tesla said the aero features "aren't just for looks: they provide the best passive downforce package of any road car (approaching F1 levels!) with wing actuation driven by the @Tesla_Optimus actuator system." BGR reported two aero settings, high downforce and low drag, plus a diffuser area with fans.

SR-71 and F-35 styling

"Our design language has evolved since the last reveal: from S3XY to Cybertruck, Cybercab & Optimus," Tesla posted. "Roadster is inspired by the SR-71 & F-35." BGR's Jacob Siegal said the Cybertruck influence is visible but softer and less angular, like the refreshed Model Y. Chief designer Franz von Holzhausen, vehicle engineering VP Lars Moravy and Musk presented on stage, per BGR.

Live demos are in the reveal recap.