Tesla Sets October 10 for Long-Delayed Second-Generation Roadster Reveal
The long-delayed electric supercar is set for its most detailed presentation since 2017
AUSTIN, Texas — Tesla Inc. has scheduled an October 10 presentation for the updated design and technical package of its long-awaited second-generation Roadster, an all-electric supercar project first previewed seven years ago.
The upcoming model follows Tesla’s inaugural production vehicle, the original Roadster sold between 2008 and 2012. Built on a glider chassis supplied by British automaker Lotus Cars and assembled in California, the first-generation model delivered approximately 2,450 units globally.
Tesla initially opened reservations for the new vehicle in 2017. The base model was priced at $200,000, with a $50,000 reservation deposit consisting of a $5,000 credit card transaction followed by a $45,000 wire transfer. A limited run of 1,000 “Founders Series” models required full payment upfront and was priced at $250,000.
When Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk revealed the second-generation Roadster prototype at the company’s design studio in Hawthorne, California, during the launch of the Tesla Semi, the company targeted 0-to-60 mph acceleration in 1.9 seconds. The vehicle was also described as having a top speed in excess of 250 mph and an estimated range of 620 miles supported by a 200-kilowatt-hour battery pack.
The vehicle was originally slated to enter production in 2020. Commercial timelines were deferred multiple times as Tesla redirected engineering, battery cell supply, and manufacturing resources toward scaling mass-market vehicles, most notably the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover. The company was also constructing new assembly facilities in Austin, Texas, and Brandenburg, Germany, while carrying out the production rollout of the stainless-steel Cybertruck.
Subsequent Tesla updates described an optional performance configuration developed in collaboration with aerospace company SpaceX. The planned package replaces the vehicle’s two rear passenger seats with a composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV), which supplies high-pressure cold-gas thrusters positioned around the exterior.
According to statements made by Musk, those thrusters are designed to assist with acceleration, braking, cornering dynamics, and short-duration low-altitude maneuvers. He has claimed that the configuration could enable sub-one-second 0-to-60 mph acceleration times.
In the years following the announcement, several high-profile reservation holders reported canceling their reservations and requesting refunds. They included OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman and technology reviewer Marques Brownlee.
Tesla confirmed the October 10 date through its official social media channels and updated its website with countdown materials showcasing the vehicle. The presentation is slated to provide the most detailed look at the production-intent sports car since its initial public appearance in November 2017.
Approximately 2,450 units of the original Roadster were delivered globally, establishing the technical foundation for Tesla’s subsequent proprietary vehicle platforms.
