Tesla's next-generation Roadster has turned up at SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne, California. SpaceX engineer Deanna Rice posted photos on X on Wednesday, Oct. 28. They show the car parked outdoors beside the Falcon 9 booster on display at the corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and Jack Northrop Avenue, Teslarati reported.
A symbolic spot
That booster, B1019, was the first orbital-class rocket to land after a launch, on Dec. 21, 2015. It went on display in Hawthorne in 2016. The Roadster's Thrust and Rocket versions use cold-gas thrusters fed by composite overwrapped pressure vessels, the same type of tank SpaceX flies on Falcon 9. Teslarati notes that special committees at Tesla and SpaceX are weighing a possible merger.
The cockpit
Tesla also posted a 34-second video of the Roadster's touchscreen, with the caption "Inspired by fighter jet cockpits, Roadster's interface was designed around the pilot." Highlights:
- Tabs: Home, Vehicle, Listen, Climate and Navigate, all drawn in red on black around a wireframe of the car.
- Drive modes: Comfort, Balance, Sport and Custom, according to Not a Tesla App.
- Track Mode: a live circuit map, lap times, brake and motor temperatures, tire pressures, a G-meter, and settings for aero balance, brake balance and the suction fan.
- Aero modes: Auto, Low Drag, High Downforce or Custom.
- Thrusters: a status bar reads "Thruster · 5,500 PSI" next to a "Boost Ready" indicator.
Musk has said Roadster production will begin in 2028. Tesla says the Rocket version is not approved for public roads. Reservations need a $50,000 payment, Teslarati reports.
