Tesla unveils Roadster 2 concept with rocket-style thrusters and suction

What happened

On October 15, 2026, Tesla CEO Elon Musk reintroduced the Roadster 2 at a SpaceX facility in McGregor, Texas [2]. The demonstration featured the two-seater electric supercar performing several stunts, including driving up a vertical ramp, driving upside down, and performing a midair “kickflip” using thrusters [2, 3].

Tesla showcased three different versions of the vehicle:

• Performance model: This two-seater includes a suction system to increase traction but has no thrusters. It is expected to reach a top speed of 210 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 1.6 seconds [2].
• Thrust model: Described as a “limited release” mid-tier version, this two-seater includes the suction system and rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters [3].
• Rocket model: This “invite only” flagship is a single-seater because a 400-liter cold gas pressure vessel (COPV) occupies the space where a passenger seat would be [2]. This model features a full array of thrusters for lateral and rotational movement, a top speed over 230 mph, and a 0-60 mph acceleration of under 0.59 seconds [3].

The car uses a “sucker system” consisting of four 20-kilowatt fans and four replaceable skirts to create suction, allowing it to stick to surfaces at speeds below 50 mph [2]. For movement and stabilization, the Rocket trim uses cold-gas thrusters powered by nitrogen gas stored in a 200-liter COPV [2]. The full flight system uses a total of 600 liters of compressed gas [2]. Tesla claims the car can refill these tanks on its own, though currently, refilling the 600-liter tanks takes six to seven hours [1, 2].

During the event, Tesla claimed the car reached 0 to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds [3]. Musk noted that the production version should improve on this result, though drivers would face up to 5 g’s of force during such acceleration [2, 3]. Tesla has stated that the thruster system is not approved for public road use [1].

Who is affected

Elon Musk and Tesla are targeting the ultra-rich with this luxury hypercar [1]. The Rocket trim is specifically reserved for an “invite only” group [3].

What to do next

Tesla plans to begin production of the Roadster 2 in 2028 [2, 3]. The company is also reportedly working on a system to reduce the nitrogen tank refill time from several hours to 30 minutes [2].