New Tesla Roadster debuts with 0.81s acceleration and SpaceX flight tech – with a HK$2M reservation to match!

Oct 16, 2026

Tesla has unveiled its second-generation Roadster at SpaceX's test facility in Texas, US, on 15 October US Central Time. First revealed in 2017, the all-electric sports car has faced repeated delays. Tesla now says production is targeted to begin in 2028.

The latest demonstration put the Roadster's unusual technology centre stage, with the car shown driving upside down and briefly lifting off the ground using a propulsion system developed with SpaceX.

Upside-down driving and a mid-air flip

The Roadster was driven at speed along a large curved ramp before turning upside down, with a fan system beneath the car helping it stay attached to the surface. It then briefly lifted into the air, cleared several Tesla cars and completed a flip before landing.

The demonstration combined two unusual systems: fans beneath the body to generate suction, and cold-gas thrusters designed to provide additional thrust.

Active aero, underbody fans and SpaceX thrusters

Active aerodynamics

The Roadster features an adjustable rear wing that changes angle to manage downforce. Three modes are available: High Downforce, Low Drag and Road.

Multi-mode fan & ground sealing system

Fans beneath the car draw air out to generate a claimed 2G of downforce, allowing the Roadster to cling to a wall while upside down. The system is also intended to improve grip through corners, where lateral acceleration can exceed 2G. The article cites 1.26G as the limit for ordinary road tyres.

SpaceX cold-gas thrusters

Developed with SpaceX, the system has four main thrusters at the rear and additional attitude-control thrusters at the corners, bringing the total to 10. It uses compressed air and is claimed to produce more than 80 kN of thrust, with exhaust speeds exceeding the speed of sound.

0–96 km/h in 0.81 seconds

Tesla quoted a 0–96 km/h time of just 0.81 seconds during the event, with average acceleration of around 3.4G. The claimed top speed is more than 370 km/h, while Elon Musk has reportedly expressed the ambition to push it beyond 600 km/h — more than half the speed of sound.

Tesla calls the Roadster the "fastest-accelerating production car in the world" and describes it as "The Last Best Driver's Car". The company has also presented it as the only future Tesla model intended to offer a manual driving experience.

Roadster reservations

Tesla's website lists three reservation options for the Roadster: Performance, Thrust and an invitation-only Rocket version.

Variant	Reservation payment (USD)	Approx. amount in HKD	Included equipment
Performance	US$5,000, followed by US$45,000 within 10 days; US$50,000 in total	Approx. HK$390,000 in total	Standard specification
Thrust	US$5,000, followed by US$245,000 within 10 days; US$250,000 in total	Approx. HK$2,000,000 in total	Fan system and acceleration thrusters
Rocket	By invitation only	By invitation only	Full flight system

Based on the figures listed, the base reservation totals around HK$390,000. Adding the Thrust package brings the amount to approximately HK$2 million, before any other costs.

Production for 2028

Tesla says the second-generation Roadster will enter production in 2028, adding that this time, it intends to see the project through.

The Roadster is also a sign of just how far Tesla is willing to push performance. While other carmakers chase fractions of a second off their 0–100 km/h times, Tesla is looking to take things further with technology developed alongside SpaceX.