Tesla Roadster: Price, Release Date, Range & Specs
The Tesla Roadster is a long-delayed electric sports car intended to sit above every other Tesla in price, speed, and exclusivity. Tesla originally showed the second-generation concept in 2017 with extraordinary targets, including a 1.9-second 0–60 mph time, a top speed above 250 mph, and 620 miles of driving range.
However, the Roadster is still not in production. Tesla has scheduled a new unveiling for October 1, 2026, suggesting that the production-intent car may differ substantially from the vehicle shown nine years earlier. Final pricing, dimensions, power, battery capacity, charging performance, safety features, and customer delivery timing remain unconfirmed.
This page covers the upcoming second-generation Roadster. The original Tesla Roadster sold from 2008 to 2012 is a separate vehicle.
Key Highlights
- New Tesla Roadster unveiling scheduled for October 1, 2026.
- Production and customer-delivery dates remain unconfirmed.
- Tesla’s 2017 concept targeted a 1.9-second 0–60 mph time.
- Announced top-speed target was more than 250 mph.
- Announced range target was 620 miles, but it was not an EPA-certified figure.
- Tesla previously described a 200-kWh battery and all-wheel drive.
- Designed as a two-door 2+2 with seating for four.
- Removable glass roof was designed to store in the rear cargo area.
- A possible SpaceX package involving cold-gas thrusters has been discussed but not confirmed for production.
- The former $200,000 starting price is historical and should not be treated as the current price.
- Buyers should wait for the October reveal before relying on any specification or placing a large deposit.
Quick Specifications
| Specification | Tesla Roadster |
| Vehicle type | Electric sports car |
| Current status | Pre-production |
| Next scheduled unveiling | October 1, 2026 |
| Production start | Not confirmed |
| Customer deliveries | Not confirmed |
| Current starting price | Not announced |
| Historical starting price | $200,000 announced in 2017 |
| Seating | 4 announced |
| Body style | Two-door 2+2 with removable roof |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel drive announced |
| Motor configuration | Three motors announced for 2017 concept |
| Battery | 200 kWh announced for 2017 concept |
| Announced range target | 620 miles |
| EPA-certified range | Not available |
| Announced 0–60 mph target | 1.9 seconds |
| Announced top-speed target | More than 250 mph |
| Charging rate | Not announced |
| Dimensions | Not announced |
| Curb weight | Not announced |
| Cargo capacity | Not announced |
Expert Tip
Do not consider the 2017 performance, range, or price figures as final buying specifications. Wait for the October 1 unveiling and check whether Tesla gives a production date, binding order terms, final price, and charging data.
About the Tesla Roadster
The Roadster name has an important place in Tesla’s history. The original model entered production in 2008 and helped demonstrate that a battery-electric vehicle could provide sports-car performance. Production of that first-generation car ended in 2012.
Tesla showed a completely different second-generation Roadster in November 2017. The new concept was presented as a four-seat electric sports car with all-wheel drive, a removable glass roof, and acceleration intended to exceed established gasoline and electric supercars.
Customer deliveries were initially expected in 2020, but that date passed without production. Several later timelines also came and went.
Tesla has now placed a countdown on its official Roadster page for October 1, 2026. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has described this as another unveiling rather than the start of customer deliveries. Reuters confirms that the new Roadster reveal is scheduled for October 1.
Reports indicate that the program may have changed significantly from the original concept. The new vehicle could use a different body, platform, battery, and performance system. Until Tesla presents it, images and specifications from 2017 should be treated as historical reference material.
Roadster Development Timeline
| Date | Development |
| 2008 | First-generation Tesla Roadster customer deliveries began |
| 2012 | Production of the original Roadster ended |
| November 2017 | Tesla showed the second-generation Roadster concept |
| 2020 | Original planned production year passed without deliveries |
| 2021–2025 | Tesla issued several revised timelines, but production did not begin |
| September 2026 | Tesla published an October 1 countdown |
| October 1, 2026 | New Roadster unveiling scheduled |
| Production date | Not confirmed |
| Customer deliveries | Not confirmed |
The October event is an important product update, but an unveiling should not be interpreted as confirmation that production will begin immediately.
Price and Reservations
Tesla has not announced a final current price for the redesigned Roadster.
When the 2017 concept was shown, Tesla announced a planned starting price of $200,000. The first 1,000 Founders Series vehicles were expected to cost $250,000 each.
| Proposed Version | Historical Price | Current Status |
| Roadster | $200,000 | Price no longer confirmed |
| Founders Series | $250,000 | Current availability unconfirmed |
| SpaceX-equipped version | Not announced | Production status unconfirmed |
These historical prices should not be used to estimate the final purchase cost. Material costs, battery technology, inflation, vehicle design, production volume, and market positioning have changed considerably since 2017.
Tesla previously required a $50,000 Roadster reservation payment, consisting of an initial card payment followed by a larger wire transfer. Founders Series customers were previously asked to pay the full $250,000 amount.
Buyers should not send money based on old instructions or unofficial reservation links. Review the current reservation agreement, refund terms, payment schedule, and estimated delivery language directly within Tesla’s ordering system if reservations reopen.
Electric Motors, Battery, and Performance
Tesla’s 2017 concept was presented with a three-motor all-wheel-drive system. The proposed layout used one motor at the front and two at the rear, allowing independent rear-axle power control.
Tesla did not publish a conventional horsepower figure. The company instead announced 10,000 Nm of wheel torque, but wheel torque includes gearing and cannot be compared directly with the motor-torque figures commonly listed for production cars.
The concept was also described as having a 200-kWh battery. That would be twice the nominal capacity commonly associated with Tesla’s largest earlier passenger-car battery packs.
None of these details has been confirmed for the redesigned vehicle being shown in October 2026.
| Performance Specification | 2017 Target | Production Specification |
| Motors | 3 | Not confirmed |
| Drivetrain | AWD | Not confirmed |
| Horsepower | Not announced | Not confirmed |
| 0–60 mph | 1.9 seconds | Not confirmed |
| 0–100 mph | 4.2 seconds | Not confirmed |
| Quarter-mile | 8.8 seconds | Not confirmed |
| Top speed | More than 250 mph | Not confirmed |
| Battery | 200 kWh | Not confirmed |
| Range | 620 miles | Not EPA certified |
The original numbers were remarkable in 2017. Since then, several production electric performance cars have reached or approached the concept’s acceleration figures. Tesla will need to show more than a quick launch to establish the redesigned Roadster’s position against newer rivals.
0–60 MPH Performance
Tesla’s original target was 1.9 seconds from 0–60 mph for the regular Roadster. Later statements suggested that a SpaceX-related version could complete the run in less than one second.
Neither claim represents an independently verified production-car result.
Sub-one-second acceleration raises practical questions involving tire grip, surface preparation, measurement method, rollout, occupant forces, braking performance, and repeatability. A specially prepared demonstration should not be compared directly with an unprepared standing start on a public-road surface.
When the production car appears, useful performance data should include:
- Standing-start time without rollout
- Time with rollout subtracted
- Surface and tire specifications
- Battery temperature and charge level
- Repeated acceleration results
- Quarter-mile trap speed
- Braking distance
- High-speed stability
- Track-session thermal performance
- Performance with and without an optional thruster system
Until those details are available, the 1.9-second figure remains an announced target.
EV Range and Charging
Tesla’s 2017 concept targeted 620 miles of driving range from a 200-kWh battery.
| Range and Charging Detail | Current Information |
| Announced range target | 620 miles |
| EPA-certified range | Not available |
| Announced battery capacity | 200 kWh for 2017 concept |
| Production battery capacity | Not confirmed |
| Charging connector | Not confirmed |
| Maximum DC charging rate | Not announced |
| AC charging rate | Not announced |
| 10–80% charging time | Not announced |
| Range added in 15 minutes | Not announced |
A 620-mile rating would place the Roadster among the longest-range electric passenger cars. However, high-speed driving, repeated hard acceleration, track use, cold weather, and performance tires would reduce the distance available from a charge.
Charging speed will be just as important as total range. A very large battery could take considerable time to replenish unless the vehicle supports sustained high-power charging.
Read how long it takes to charge an electric car for an explanation of home charging, public fast charging, battery temperature, and charging curves.
Interior, Comfort, and Technology
The 2017 concept used a minimalist 2+2 cabin with two main front seats and two small rear seats. It also featured a compact steering control and a tall central display.
Tesla described the Roadster as a four-seat sports car, but buyers should expect the rear positions to be far smaller than those in a Model 3 or Model S. They may be more suitable for children, short journeys, or additional luggage than regular adult travel.
Announced and possible interior features include:
- Four-seat layout
- Large central touchscreen
- Digital vehicle controls
- Removable glass roof
- Low sports-car seating position
- Tesla app integration
- Built-in route planning
- Connected media services
- Over-the-air software updates
- Performance-data displays
Final seat design, storage space, infotainment system, driver display, audio system, climate controls, phone integration, and driver-assistance equipment have not been announced.
The 2017 cabin should not be assumed to represent the production interior. Control layouts and safety regulations have changed since the original concept was built.
Dimensions, Cargo, and Practicality
Tesla has not published final exterior or interior dimensions for the production Roadster.
| Practicality Specification | Current Status |
| Seating capacity | 4 announced |
| Doors | 2 |
| Roof | Removable glass panel announced |
| Exterior length | Not announced |
| Width | Not announced |
| Height | Not announced |
| Wheelbase | Not announced |
| Curb weight | Not announced |
| Front cargo space | Not announced |
| Rear cargo space | Not announced |
| Rear-seat legroom | Not announced |
| Ground clearance | Not announced |
The removable roof was designed to store in the rear cargo area, giving the Roadster an open-air driving option without requiring a powered folding-roof mechanism.
Practicality will depend heavily on the final design. Important unanswered questions include whether the rear seats remain, how much cargo space is available with the roof stored, whether the front trunk survives the redesign, and whether the car has enough ground clearance for ordinary roads.
A front-axle lift or adjustable suspension would be particularly useful for steep driveways, parking structures, speed bumps, and trailer loading.
Exterior Design
The 2017 Roadster concept had a smooth, low body with short overhangs, a glass canopy, large wheels, and a removable central roof panel. Its shape looked closer to a closed sports car with a removable roof than a traditional soft-top roadster.
Tesla’s September 2026 teaser suggests that the new vehicle may use a different rear design and more aggressive aerodynamic features.
Potential exterior priorities include:
- Low aerodynamic drag
- Active aerodynamic elements
- High-speed stability
- Brake and battery cooling
- Lightweight body construction
- Removable roof storage
- Sufficient road clearance
- Tire cooling
- Functional rear downforce
- Safe visibility around the vehicle
Reuters reports that the program may have shifted toward a new carbon-fiber hypercar rather than a Roadster based on Model S Plaid components. Tesla has not yet published the final body material, structural layout, weight, or aerodynamic data.
Potential Strengths and Weaknesses
Because the Roadster is not in production, these points describe its announced potential and current purchasing risks rather than a completed vehicle.
Potential Strengths
- Exceptional announced acceleration
- Top-speed target above 250 mph
- 620-mile announced range target
- All-wheel-drive traction
- Four-seat layout
- Removable glass roof
- Possible access to Tesla’s charging network
- Over-the-air software support
- More practical concept than a conventional two-seat supercar
- Major halo-car appeal
- Possible limited-production collectability
Current Weaknesses
- Still not in production
- No confirmed delivery date
- No current final price
- No EPA-certified range
- No final battery or charging specification
- No independent performance testing
- No crash-test results
- No warranty information
- No established repair or ownership record
- Original specifications date back to 2017
- Several earlier launch timelines were missed
- Production design may differ greatly from existing images
- Large historical reservation payments
- SpaceX package details remain unclear
- Unknown insurance, tire, and repair costs
Competitors
The Roadster’s eventual competitors will depend on its final price, performance, body style, and production volume.
- Rimac Nevera: The clearest electric-hypercar benchmark, with independently verified performance and customer vehicles already produced.
- Porsche Taycan Turbo GT: A more practical high-performance EV with four doors, established service support, and proven track capability.
- Lucid Air Sapphire: Combines extreme electric acceleration with four-door usability and a full-size cabin.
- Maserati GranCabrio Folgore: A current open-top electric grand tourer for buyers who value roof-down driving and traditional luxury.
- Lotus Evija: A low-volume electric hypercar focused on power, weight, and circuit performance.
- Polestar 6: Another future electric roadster, though its final timing and production specifications also need confirmation.
- Tesla Model S Plaid: A less exclusive but far more practical alternative for buyers primarily interested in Tesla acceleration and charging access.
Related Content
Before considering a high-performance EV, read, are electric cars worth it to compare home charging, mileage, energy costs, battery ownership, and resale factors.
You can also read:
- Best electric cars
- How electric cars work
- How long electric cars take to charge
- What to check before buying a used EV
- Tesla Model 3
- Tesla Model Y
- Tesla Model S
- Tesla Model X
- Tesla Cybertruck
FAQs
Is the new Tesla Roadster in production?
No. As of September 14, 2026, customer production has not begun.
When will the Tesla Roadster be revealed?
Tesla has scheduled a new Roadster unveiling for October 1, 2026. This is a presentation date, not a confirmed customer-delivery date.
When will Tesla Roadster deliveries begin?
Tesla has not confirmed a production or customer-delivery date. Any estimated year published before the October presentation should be treated cautiously.
How much will the Tesla Roadster cost?
There is no confirmed current price. Tesla announced a $200,000 base price and $250,000 Founders Series price in 2017, but those figures are historical.
Can you reserve a Tesla Roadster?
Tesla has accepted reservations at different points since 2017. The former US reservation URL currently redirects to the main Roadster page. Check Tesla’s live site for current availability and read the complete payment and refund terms before sending money.
How much was the Roadster reservation payment?
Tesla previously required $50,000 for a regular Roadster reservation. The earlier Founders Series required a $250,000 payment. Current reservation requirements have not been confirmed.
How fast will the Tesla Roadster be?
Tesla’s 2017 target was 0–60 mph in 1.9 seconds, 0–100 mph in 4.2 seconds, an 8.8-second quarter-mile, and a top speed above 250 mph. Final production figures have not been published.
Will the Tesla Roadster accelerate from 0–60 mph in under one second?
Elon Musk has discussed a sub-one-second target connected with a SpaceX-related system. Tesla has not demonstrated or certified that performance in a production car.
What is the Tesla Roadster’s range?
Tesla announced a 620-mile target for the 2017 concept. The Roadster does not have an EPA-certified production range.
How large is the Roadster battery?
Tesla previously announced a 200-kWh battery. The battery capacity of the redesigned production-intent Roadster has not been confirmed.
How quickly will the Roadster charge?
Tesla has not published a final maximum charging rate, charging curve, home-charging rate, or 10–80% time.
Does the Tesla Roadster have four seats?
The 2017 concept had four seats. The rear seats appeared small and were designed more like occasional-use positions. Tesla has not confirmed whether the redesigned car retains the same layout.
Is the Tesla Roadster a convertible?
The concept used a removable glass roof panel that could be stored in the cargo area. It was not a conventional powered soft-top or folding-hardtop convertible.
What is the Tesla Roadster SpaceX package?
Tesla has discussed using cold-gas thrusters to improve acceleration and vehicle control. Final hardware, price, road legality, performance, seating effects, and production availability remain unconfirmed.
Is the Tesla Roadster safe?
There is no production vehicle or independent crash-test rating yet. Final structural, restraint, airbag, and active safety specifications have not been announced.
What warranty will the Tesla Roadster have?
Tesla has not announced Roadster warranty coverage. Buyers should not assume that it will use the same terms as other Tesla models.
Is this the same Roadster Tesla sold in 2008?
No. The original Roadster was produced from 2008 to 2012. The upcoming model is a separate second-generation vehicle with a different platform, design, performance target, and battery system.
Final Verdict
The Tesla Roadster remains a promising concept rather than a buyer-ready production car. Its 2017 targets—1.9 seconds to 60 mph, more than 250 mph, and 620 miles of range—were extraordinary, but they have not been verified in a customer vehicle.
The October 1, 2026 unveiling could finally provide the information needed to assess the Roadster properly. Until then, its price, design, powertrain, battery, charging performance, production timing, safety, warranty, and real-world capability remain open questions.
For now, the Roadster is worth watching, but not yet ready for a confident buying recommendation.
Tesla has scheduled a Roadster unveiling for October 1, 2026. The vehicle is not in customer production, and its price, specifications, range, features, warranty, and delivery timing may change.