Tesla prepares to unveil updated Roadster electric sports car in Texas

Tesla is set to unveil its updated Roadster electric sports car on 15 October at SpaceX’s test facility in McGregor, Texas, with a livestream scheduled for early Friday morning UK time. The event follows a postponement caused by adverse weather and marks the latest attempt to bring the vehicle, originally slated for delivery in 2020, to market.

Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla, described the upcoming Roadster as "a candidate for greatest product demo of all time" and hinted at possible integration of small thrusters that could aid acceleration, braking and cornering, and potentially lift the car briefly off the ground. The company has not confirmed how such a system would be implemented in a production model.

The new Roadster is positioned as a four-seat, all-wheel-drive supercar, differing from the original Lotus-based two-seater launched in 2008. Earlier specifications promised 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, a top speed above 250 mph and a range of up to 620 miles from a 200 kWh battery. In 2024, Musk suggested the refreshed model could achieve 0-60 mph in under one second, though final performance figures remain to be disclosed.

Pricing details have not been updated since the initial announcement of a $200,000 base price, with a limited "Founders Series" of 1,000 units priced at $250,000. U.S. reservations currently require a $50,000 deposit, but the final purchase price is still pending.

Musk also indicated that, unlike the autonomous Cybercab, the Roadster will retain a traditional driving experience, even as Tesla continues to develop self-driving technology and robotics. Production timelines were previously suggested to begin 12 to 18 months after an unveiling, but a new schedule has not been provided.

The forthcoming reveal is expected to address outstanding questions about battery specifications, charging rates and the timeline for customer deliveries, which remain uncertain after nearly a decade of delays.