Tesla reopens reservations for next-generation Roadster, requires $50,000 deposit

Tesla has reopened reservations for its long-delayed next-generation Roadster, requiring an initial $5,000 refundable credit-card payment followed by a $45,000 wire transfer within 10 days to secure a spot. The move comes ahead of the company's scheduled unveiling of the redesigned sports car on Oct. 1 at an event in Texas, nearly nine years after the prototype was first shown in 2017.

Elon Musk posted a brief note on X confirming the Oct. 1 unveiling and described the presentation as a "banger," adding that a live audience would be needed to verify that the display is not generated by artificial intelligence.

Reports suggest the event may feature a limited-edition Roadster equipped with cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX, and teaser images show the car against a launch-themed backdrop. The Roadster program has reportedly shifted from an earlier design based on Model S Plaid components to an all-new carbon-fiber hypercar.

When first unveiled in 2017, Tesla advertised a base price of $200,000, 0-60 mph acceleration in 1.9 seconds and a 620-mile range, and it accepted $250,000 deposits for a limited "Founders Series" version. The vehicle has not entered production and has faced multiple delays. Tesla did not comment on how it will prioritize earlier reservation holders or on the pricing of the updated model.