Tesla’s long-delayed next-generation Roadster could finally make its long-awaited debut this month, nearly nine years after the electric sports car was first revealed.
Nine Years in the Making
The next-generation Tesla Roadster has been the subject of repeated reports and speculation since its unveiling in 2017. The electric sports car has faced several delays, but a new report suggests Tesla may finally be preparing to show the production-ready model.
Reuters, citing The Information, reports that Tesla could unveil the Roadster this month. The report carries more weight than earlier speculation based largely on social media posts or comments from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The unveiling could reportedly include a demonstration of a Roadster equipped with cold-gas thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX.
The Roadster Gets Its Wings
The demonstration is reportedly expected to take place at SpaceX’s test facility in McGregor, Texas.
If Tesla moves forward with the technology, only a limited number of Roadsters are expected to receive the cold-gas thrusters. The standard version is still expected to rely on a conventional all-electric powertrain.
The timing could give Tesla an opportunity to position the Roadster in a growing high-performance EV market. Several electric performance vehicles are already available, including the Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric, which produces 1,139 horsepower and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.4 seconds.
The Roadster would target a more specialized niche, however, with its open-top 2+2 electric sports-car configuration. In the United States, the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore is essentially the only current model occupying a comparable space, while most high-performance EVs are sedans or crossovers.
Porsche is also expected to expand the segment with the two-seat electric 718 Boxster.
Polestar had previously planned to enter the market with the 2+2 Polestar 6. However, a recent federal ban targeting Chinese-linked connected-vehicle technology is expected to prevent the Geely-owned EV brand from selling new vehicles in the United States beginning with the 2027 model year.
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The reported Tesla-SpaceX collaboration also raises questions because both companies are led by Musk.
A potential merger between Tesla and SpaceX could face major regulatory and geopolitical challenges. Tesla has significant operations in China, including Gigafactory Shanghai, while SpaceX, which went public in June 2026, is a major U.S. defense contractor.
That makes a Roadster equipped with SpaceX-developed thrusters potentially one of the most visible collaborations between the two companies.
For now, Tesla has yet to confirm the reported unveiling. If it happens this month, the next-generation Roadster will finally move closer to reality nearly nine years after it was first announced.
