In what may be one of the most spectacular product demonstrations in automotive history, Tesla’s revamped electric Roadster prototype flew and drove inverted Thursday night at SpaceX’s testing facility in McGregor, near Waco.
The long-delayed next-generation Roadster, first shown as a concept in 2017, used a fan-based suction system and cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX to climb a towering curved ramp, stick to it while upside down, launch into the air, rotate, and land safely. The same hardware allowed it to leap and flip over a lineup of other Tesla vehicles, including the Cybertruck, Semi, and Cybercab, according to multiple accounts of the livestreamed event.
Tesla claimed the prototype accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds during a thruster-assisted run and said the production version will top 230 mph with more than 300 miles of range. CEO Elon Musk told the audience the car would enter production in 2028, describing it as the last manually driven vehicle Tesla plans to build as the company focuses on autonomy and robotics. No final sticker price was announced.
Roadster event livestream https://t.co/G0jU4mWfid
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 15, 2026
The original Roadster, Tesla’s first production car, went on sale in 2008. The second-generation concept arrived in November 2017 with ambitious targets of under two seconds to 60 mph, a top speed above 250 mph, and 620 miles of range, along with an optional SpaceX thruster package. Deliveries were originally promised for 2020. The project has been delayed repeatedly while Tesla prioritized other vehicles and technologies.
The McGregor demonstration featured three planned configurations: a road-ready Performance model, a Thrust variant with rear thrusters for sub-one-second acceleration, and an invite-only Rocket version with perimeter thrusters that Tesla says is not approved for public road use. Reservations have reopened, with a $50,000 deposit required for the Performance model.
Musk joked after the successful inverted run and landing that “this car really sucks,” referring to the suction system that can generate up to two Gs of downforce. He also cautioned before the stunts that success was not guaranteed.
The event drew a select crowd of reservation holders, media, and enthusiasts and was livestreamed on X. Federal aviation authorities had issued temporary flight restrictions over the SpaceX site for the demonstration.
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