First shown in 2017 with numbers no road car had matched, the new Roadster has spent nine years between concept and production. This guide collects what has been confirmed, what has only been claimed, and what is still unknown, with a source for each.
The reveal date has passed. The figures on this page are pre-reveal targets until we update them against the official production specifications.
Most Roadster coverage treats the 2017 figures as fact. They are targets. Here is how the public record sorts out as of late September 2026.
These figures come from the 2017 unveiling and from later statements by Tesla executives. Treat every line as a target until production cars are tested.
| Item | Figure | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 0–60 mph | 1.9 s2017 unveiling | Claimed |
| 0–60 mph, SpaceX package | Under 1 sElon Musk, 2018 onward | Claimed |
| 0–100 mph | 4.2 s2017 unveiling | Claimed |
| Quarter mile | 8.8 s2017 unveiling | Claimed |
| Top speed | Over 250 mph (402 km/h) | Claimed |
| Wheel torque | 10,000 Nm (≈7,376 lb-ft) | Claimed |
| Battery | 200 kWh | Claimed |
| Range | 620 mi (≈1,000 km) at highway speed | Claimed |
| Drivetrain | Three motors (one front, two rear), all-wheel drive with torque vectoring | Claimed |
| Body | 2+2 seating, removable glass roof that stores in the trunk | Concept |
| Designer | Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla chief designer | Confirmed |
| Assembly | Texas, low volume | Confirmed |
| Production start | Second half of 2027Musk, Nov 6, 2025 | Target |
| EPA range, curb weight, charging speed | Not published | Unknown |
In 2018 Musk described an optional package that would fit the Roadster with cold-gas thrusters, borrowed in concept from SpaceX. No production car has used anything like it.
“There will never be another car like this, if you could even call it a car.”
Elon Musk, as reported by the automotive press
The 2017 prototype was a long-hood, cab-rearward coupe with a removable glass roof. Tesla has said the production car will look very different, so these photos show where the design started.
Tesla's pre-reveal teasers show a large rear wing, full-width LED tail-lights and four horizontal nozzles at the rear. None of these were on the 2017 car.
Reports suggest the production car will lean on ground effect for downforce. Earlier talk of a fan-based "sucker" system appears to have been dropped.
Industry coverage expects Tesla's 4680 cells, fast DC charging and optional driver assistance features. None of this has been specified yet.
Tesla's first car used a lithium-ion pack of 6,831 laptop-style cells in a chassis developed with Lotus. It proved an electric car could be fast and desirable.
About 2,450 cars were built before production wound down and Tesla moved on to the Model S.
A red prototype rolled out of the Tesla Semi trailer at the end of the truck's unveiling. Tesla quoted 1.9 s to 60 mph, 620 miles of range and a 2020 launch.
Musk's own first-generation Roadster, with a spacesuited mannequin called "Starman" at the wheel, was the dummy payload on the first Falcon Heavy launch. It is now in orbit around the Sun.
Musk said an option package would add cold-gas thrusters to the car.
Tesla prioritized the Model Y, Cybertruck and battery production, and the Roadster's launch year slipped annually. In February 2024 Musk said the design goals had been "radically increased".
At Tesla's annual shareholder meeting, Musk pointed to the second half of 2027 for the start of production.
Lars Moravy said on a podcast that the Roadster will be built in Texas.
An unveiling event in Waco, Texas, with reservation holders invited. We will update this page once official specifications are published.
This is a stated target. The Roadster's history suggests caution.
Photo: Rutger van der Maar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Resized.
Photo: Smnt, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized.
These are the figures from Tesla's original 2017 reservation program. Tesla has since removed pricing from its website, and the production car may cost more.
The starting price announced at the unveiling. Not confirmed for the production car.
The first 1,000 cars, paid in full at reservation.
A $5,000 card payment followed by a $45,000 wire transfer.
Roadster Order is an information site. We never ask for deposits, card details, wire transfers or crypto payments, and we do not act for Tesla, Inc. or any dealer.
If you want to reserve a Roadster, go directly to tesla.com, typing the address yourself. Be wary of any other website, message or social media account that asks you to pay a deposit for a Roadster.
Tesla plans to unveil the production-spec car on October 1, 2026. Musk has pointed to the second half of 2027 for the start of production. Both dates could still move; the original target was 2020.
The 2017 quote was $200,000 for the base car and $250,000 for the Founders Series. Tesla no longer lists a price, and final pricing has not been announced.
Tires limit acceleration: in any car that relies on grip, the rubber can only transfer so much force. The sub-one-second claim depends on the SpaceX package's thrusters adding force that does not go through the tires. Until a production car is tested independently, it remains a claim.
The 2017 prototype was a 2+2, with two small rear seats. Some reports suggest both two- and four-seat versions. The final layout will be confirmed at the reveal.
In Texas, according to Tesla vice president Lars Moravy. It is planned as a low-volume car.
No. This is an independent information site with no connection to Tesla, Inc. We do not accept orders, deposits or payments of any kind. Reservations, when available, are handled only by Tesla at tesla.com.
Musk's first-generation Roadster was launched on the maiden Falcon Heavy flight on February 6, 2018. It is on an elliptical orbit around the Sun that crosses the orbit of Mars.
We rely on public reporting and statements. If you spot an error, please email us.