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Tesla's Second-Generation Roadster Debuts with Flying Demonstrations in Texas

other · 2026-10-16

On Thursday evening, the second-generation Tesla Roadster was unveiled at SpaceX's Rocket Development and Testing Facility in McGregor, Texas. The 30-minute livestream featured the electric sports car ascending a multi-story ramp, utilizing a multi-mode suction system to briefly invert itself before launching off the edge to execute a flip, assisted by SpaceX thrusters. The vehicle performed a barrel roll, which CEO Elon Musk referred to as a "kickflip," over five Teslas, including the towering 13.5-foot Semi. The thruster system allowed the Roadster to go from zero to 60 mph in just 0.81 seconds. Musk confirmed that production will commence, though the final model will differ from the prototype. However, concerns about the legality of a "flying" car on public streets persist, and the price may surpass the initial $200,000 estimate from 2017.

Key facts

  • The second-generation Tesla Roadster debuted on Thursday night at SpaceX's Rocket Development and Testing Facility in McGregor, Texas.
  • The 30-minute showcase included the Roadster driving up a multi-story ramp, hanging upside down via a multi-mode suction system, and performing a flip and barrel roll using SpaceX thrusters.
  • The car accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds.
  • The Roadster features butterfly doors, an extendable rear wing, and sharp lines similar to the Cybertruck.
  • Elon Musk said the Roadster will "actually" go into production.
  • Lars Moravy, Tesla's VP of vehicle engineering, told Top Gear that the nitrogen tank for the thruster system takes six seconds to use up and hours to refill.
  • The legality of operating a "flying" car on public roads is uncertain.
  • The price may exceed the $200,000 originally quoted in 2017.

Entities

Artists

  • Elon Musk
  • Lars Moravy
  • Bryan Hood
  • Franz von Holzhausen

Institutions

  • Tesla
  • SpaceX
  • Top Gear
  • Robb Report
  • New York Post
  • Artinfo
  • New York magazine
  • South China Morning Post
  • Dezeen
  • Alef Aeronautics
  • Hagerty
  • Federal Aviation Administration
  • Dassault
  • McMurtry

Locations

  • McGregor
  • Texas
  • United States
  • California

Sources