Revealed! New Tesla Roadster Takes Flight with SpaceX Thrusters

Company said it would start production in 2028, more than a decade after it first showed a next-generation version of its electric sports car

Published October 15, 2026 11:29 PM EDT article The Tesla Roadster can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under one second and can reach a top speed of over 230 mph, CEO Elon Musk said. (Photo: Tesla) Automaker Tesla demonstrated a redesigned roadster Thursday that can drive upside down on an inverted ramp, turn in midair and land using built-in thrusters. It also used its rockets to fly over a line of parked vehicles.  The backstory: It was a major upgrade to the next-generation version of its electric sports car that Tesla first showed nine years ago with a plan to start production in 2028, Reuters reported.  Tesla demonstrated a redesigned roadster Thursday that can drive upside down on an inverted ramp, turn in mid-air and land using built-in thrusters. (Photo: Tesla) The redesigned vehicle, developed with CEO Elon Musk’s SpaceX, would accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than a second, which he says is "the least interesting part," given the collaboration with SpaceX.  "Advanced cold-gas thrusters use all-electric actuators to offer precise thrust, completing micro adjustments within a fraction of a second. This helps stabilize the vehicle in flight," Tesla’s website states.

Classic gems, tasteful customs, legendary supercars - for Silvian, they're all fair game. He's been in love with cars and motorcycles for as long as he can remember, so it made perfect sense to eventually turn that passion into a full-time writing career. Around six years and more than 3,000 articles later, he is still going strong and doesn't plan on hitting the brakes anytime soon. About a year ago, General Motors said it will be axing the current Cadillac CT5 after 2026, and production is scheduled to end in December. That said, the CT5 will be returning in about two years as a 2029 model, but the timeline leaves us with some important questions regarding one of GM’s production facilities. We’re referring to the Lansing Grand River plant up in Michigan, whose future seems very uncertain until CT5 production resumes. The factory might be on its way toward an extended pause while the next Cadillac luxury sedan is being developed, as GM hasn’t clarified its plans in that regard.

Matt Nelson is an automotive journalist with nearly a decade of experience in all things cars.  He's spent years working at dealerships in sales, finance, and service. He's since traded in his pens and wrenches for a keyboard, and leveraged the expertise gained from his work experience into a writing career. When it comes to cars, facts, and the truth, Matt’s equal love for all three meant automotive journalism was the only path forward. Ever since the age of six, when he’d spend his time helping his father fix his family’s old Buick, Matt has had a keen interest in anything and everything with four wheels. Naturally, once Matt started working, he ensconced himself in the automotive industry and held positions spanning from car detailer, mechanic, to automotive sales and finance. Because he’s seen it all, driven most, and heard a lot, auto journalism came naturally to him. With a passion for cars like Matt’s, it’s safe to say every article will showcase his penchant for truth, accuracy, and overarching desire to make sense of the modern, complex automotive world. This means every one of his readers can be at the forefront of the most important automotive news.

Classic gems, tasteful customs, legendary supercars - for Silvian, they're all fair game. He's been in love with cars and motorcycles for as long as he can remember, so it made perfect sense to eventually turn that passion into a full-time writing career. Around six years and more than 3,000 articles later, he is still going strong and doesn't plan on hitting the brakes anytime soon. Remember the subprime mortgage crisis that ultimately resulted in the global financial meltdown of 2008? Bad loans, sketchy financial instruments, and defaults from high-risk borrowers plunged the world into the worst economic downturn since The Great Depression. Lessons were learned and measures have been taken to make sure something like that never happens again – right? So you’d think, but there’s a reason why we’re bringing up the GFC and it most certainly isn’t good. A Reuters report recently brought some chilling details to light about the current state and trajectory of auto loans in America. Many parallels can be drawn between where said market stands right now and the factors leading to the housing crash nearly two decades ago, which is rather concerning to say the least.

Gilbert Smith is an automotive journalist with over five years of specialized research and writing experience. Before joining CarBuzz in 2024, he produced in-depth buyer’s guides and feature articles for Vehicle History, focusing on practical insights and detailed automotive analysis. The Mazda CX-30 was already one of the most affordable crossovers on the market, and a number of lease and purchase incentives for October are helping to make the deal even sweeter. From thousands of dollars in cash back to rock-bottom APR, here are our favorite Mazda offers.