Tesla Unveils Thruster Powered Roadster, but Production Is Not Due Until 2028

Tesla showed off a redesigned Roadster on Thursday at a SpaceX test site in Texas, built together with Elon Musk’s rocket company. The white two seater drove upside down on a ramp using suction, then turned in the air and landed on built in thrusters. Later it leapt over a truck and other vehicles while twisting overhead. Production is planned for 2028, more than ten years after a next generation version was first shown. Tesla shares rose about 5% in premarket trading on Friday.

Roadster Specs, Pricing and Deposits

Engineering chief Lars Moravy said the car can go from zero to 60 mph in under a second and top 230 mph, while Musk hinted it could go faster. Range is above 300 miles, less than half of what Musk promised in 2017. No price was announced. The reservation page lists a Performance version with a $50,000 deposit, a Thrust version at $250,000, and an invite only single seat Rocket variant with a full flight system.

Analyst Views on the Roadster and Tesla Earnings

Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management called it an engineering flex with little commercial value and said it shows why Musk wants Tesla and SpaceX combined. Morningstar’s Seth Goldstein sees the car as a new halo model. Musk once called it a small potato situation for Tesla’s finances. With Tesla shifting toward self driving tech and robotics, eToro’s Josh Gilbert said margins and cash flow in the October 21 third quarter results will matter far more to investors.