2028 Tesla Roadster: what we know after the reveal

Tesla revealed its redesigned Roadster at SpaceX's McGregor facility in Texas on 15 October 2026, with Elon Musk saying production would begin in 2028. The demonstration left much of the production specification undisclosed. Car and Driver: Roadster reveal and demonstration

Four versions, different purposes

Top Gear's detailed briefing identifies four versions, including a standard Roadster below Performance. Tesla's public reservation page currently lists Performance, Thrust and Rocket. MotorTrend reports that the standard version discussed at the preview has not yet been confirmed for production. Top Gear: four Roadster versions, powertrain and charging Tesla Roadster US reservations MotorTrend: firsthand Tesla Roadster engineering briefing

• Roadster: the standard version, with an estimated 800 kW and conventional underbody Venturi aerodynamics, according to Top Gear. Top Gear: four Roadster versions, powertrain and charging
• Roadster Performance: two seats, active aerodynamics and fan-generated downforce; available by reservation.
• Roadster Thrust: two seats and rear cold-gas thrusters; a limited release.
• Roadster Rocket: one seat and perimeter thrusters for airborne movement; invitation only.

Tesla describes Performance as intended for road use and explicitly states that Rocket is not approved for public-road use. Thrust availability is subject to regional legal requirements; its advertised capabilities should not be read as permission to use them on public roads. Tesla Roadster product page Tesla Roadster US reservations

Electrek reports Tesla's configuration-specific 0–60 mph claims as under 1.6 seconds for Performance, under 0.9 seconds for Thrust and under 0.59 seconds for Rocket. It also reports a Rocket top-speed claim above 230 mph, approximately 370 km/h. These are manufacturer claims. The acceleration endpoint is approximately 97 km/h, not 100 km/h. Electrek: Roadster configurations and launch claims

The base car's output remains provisional: Top Gear's written report estimates 800 kW, while its video narration quotes 1,000 kW. The latter figure should not be treated as a settled standard-version specification. Top Gear: four Roadster versions, powertrain and charging Top Gear: detailed Tesla Roadster engineering interview

Power, battery and charging

Top Gear reports 1,000 kW for Performance and a shared layout of two rear-mounted motors driving the rear wheels. It also reports 500 kW charging across all four versions, with a claimed 15–80% charge in less than 15 minutes. Top Gear: four Roadster versions, powertrain and charging

These are reported specifications from the launch briefing, not independent test results. The quoted charging window starts at 15%, so it should not be relabeled as a 10–80% time; 500 kW is a maximum-power claim, not the average throughout the session. MotorTrend reports a different target of 10–80% in 10–12 minutes, so the launch reports do not establish one consistent charging-time specification. MotorTrend: firsthand Tesla Roadster engineering briefing

MotorTrend's firsthand engineering briefing identifies 4680 cylindrical lithium-ion cells with revised chemistry and cooling. In Top Gear's interview, Tesla engineering chief Lars Moravy describes a nickel-based lithium-ion chemistry developed specifically for the Roadster's high power requirements, with cooling tubes on both sides of the cells. The 4680 designation describes the cell format; the exact cathode formulation is not disclosed in these sources. MotorTrend: firsthand Tesla Roadster engineering briefing Top Gear: detailed Tesla Roadster engineering interview

Moravy describes an electrical system operating in the 800–1,000 V range. Top Gear: detailed Tesla Roadster engineering interview MotorTrend reports a battery exceeding 100 kWh, but does not establish the exact capacity or whether that figure is gross or usable energy. MotorTrend: Tesla Roadster thrust system explained

Top Gear reports a weight target below 1,700 kg, most likely for the standard car. This is a development target, not a certified curb weight for every version. Top Gear: four Roadster versions, powertrain and charging

What the fans and thrusters do

Tesla says fans and a ground-sealing system generate downforce at a standstill. Active wings and a lowering Track Mode complement this. The cold-gas thrusters provide thrust separately from the wheels. Tesla Roadster product page

Car and Driver reports an inverted ramp run, airborne rotation and a claimed acceleration run of about 0.8 seconds to 60 mph. These demonstrations do not establish repeatable customer-car performance. Car and Driver: Roadster reveal and demonstration

Gas storage and refilling

MotorTrend describes a 200-liter compressed-gas vessel feeding Thrust's four rear nozzles, with pressure up to 10,000 psi, approximately 690 bar. Rocket adds another vessel for 600 liters in total and six additional nozzles for lift and rotation. The system expels compressed gas rather than burning rocket fuel. MotorTrend: Tesla Roadster thrust system explained

In Top Gear's interview, Moravy describes roughly five seconds of thrust and an external nitrogen refill. He says the existing refill process takes two to six hours; a faster system targeting less than 30 minutes is under development. Those limits make gas replenishment a separate consideration from battery charging. Top Gear: detailed Tesla Roadster engineering interview

Doors, roof and everyday use

The Roadster has butterfly doors, shown in Top Gear's detailed walkaround, and a removable roof comprising two glass panels, according to MotorTrend. Top Gear: detailed Tesla Roadster engineering interview MotorTrend: firsthand Tesla Roadster engineering briefing

Tesla describes a steer-by-wire yoke, a central touchscreen, two smaller forward displays and fixed seating. It names magnesium, titanium and carbon fiber as weight-saving materials. Tesla Roadster product page

The seat bases are fixed, but the backrests recline manually and the pedals adjust to the driver. Its briefing places the charging connection beneath the rear wing on the left. The pressure vessels also consume space otherwise available for luggage or, in Rocket, the passenger seat. MotorTrend: firsthand Tesla Roadster engineering briefing

Range remains a target

Top Gear reports an anticipated 310–320 miles, approximately 499–515 km. This is not an established EPA or WLTP rating, and the sources do not establish certified figures for each configuration. Top Gear: four Roadster versions, powertrain and charging

The 2017 proposal advertised 620 miles and four seats. Those figures should not be carried over to the redesigned car. Electrek: Roadster configurations and launch claims

Deposits and the 2028 target

Tesla's US reservation page requests $5,000 immediately and $45,000 within ten days for Performance: $50,000 in total. Selecting Thrust changes the second payment to $245,000, bringing its reservation total to $250,000. These are reservation payments, not announced vehicle prices. Rocket is listed as invitation-only. Tesla Roadster US reservations

The prototype appeared in November 2017 with production promised for 2020. The new 2028 target is not a confirmed customer delivery date. Electrek: Roadster configurations and launch claims

Specifications still missing

The reviewed sources still do not establish exact battery capacity, usable energy or final homologated range. A complete charging curve, AC charging specification and independently verified production-car performance are also unavailable in this material.

Sources

Information checked on 16 October 2026.

• Tesla Roadster product page — current product description and configuration restrictions.
• Tesla Roadster US reservations — US reservation payments, checked for Performance and Thrust.
• Car and Driver: Roadster reveal and demonstration — Car and Driver's event report, updated 16 October 2026.
• Electrek: Roadster configurations and launch claims — Electrek's report, dated 15 October 2026, including Tesla's post-event configuration claims.
• Top Gear: four Roadster versions, powertrain and charging — Top Gear's detailed briefing, published 16 October 2026, covering the standard Roadster, powertrain and charging.
• Top Gear: detailed Tesla Roadster engineering interview — Tesla engineering interview: butterfly doors around 10:46, voltage around 11:44, chemistry and cooling from 12:11, gas refilling from 22:28; base-power narration around 26:47.
• MotorTrend: firsthand Tesla Roadster engineering briefing — firsthand briefing published 16 October 2026; cell format, production status, charging target and cabin details.
• MotorTrend: Tesla Roadster thrust system explained — technical briefing published 16 October 2026; pressure vessels, nozzles and reported battery-capacity threshold.