SAN FRANCISCO,  — Tesla unveiled a redesigned version of its electric Roadster on Thursday, featuring rocket-style thrusters developed in collaboration with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, while announcing that production is scheduled to begin in 2028.

The two-seat sports car made a dramatic appearance at an event held at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas. The white vehicle drove upside down on a ramp using a suction system, performed an aerial turn and landed using built-in thrusters. It later demonstrated the technology by jumping over a truck and other vehicles.

The unveiling comes more than a decade after Tesla first introduced a prototype of the next-generation Roadster, with earlier delivery targets repeatedly delayed.

Rocket Thrusters and High-Performance Specifications

Tesla vehicle engineering chief Lars Moravy said the Roadster can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than one second and reach a top speed exceeding 230 mph. The vehicle is also expected to offer a range of more than 300 miles on a single charge.

Musk suggested the car could eventually approach half the speed of sound, although executives did not provide a specific target price during Thursday’s presentation.

Tesla’s reservation page lists three versions of the vehicle:

  • Performance: Requires a $50,000 deposit.
  • Thrust: Includes acceleration thrusters and requires a $250,000 deposit.
  • Rocket: An invitation-only, single-seat model described as featuring a full flight system.

Tesla previously quoted a base price of $200,000 for the Roadster nearly a decade ago.

The original Roadster, introduced in 2008 and sold until 2012, was Tesla’s first electric vehicle. Built on a Lotus Elise chassis, it helped establish the company’s reputation for high-performance electric cars.

SpaceX Partnership Fuels Merger Speculation

The close collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX prompted speculation that Musk could eventually seek to combine the two companies, both of which he controls.

Tesla investor Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management described the Roadster presentation as an impressive engineering demonstration but questioned its commercial significance. He also suggested the event highlighted potential reasons for bringing the companies closer together.

Musk has previously downplayed the Roadster’s financial importance to Tesla, describing it in 2023 as a relatively small contributor that would not materially change the company’s financial performance.

Nevertheless, analysts see the vehicle as a potential showcase for Tesla’s engineering capabilities. Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein described the Roadster as a future flagship model designed to demonstrate the company’s technology and performance credentials.

Tesla’s Priorities Shift Toward AI and Robotics

The Roadster reveal comes as Tesla increasingly focuses on autonomous driving, artificial intelligence and robotics rather than relying exclusively on conventional vehicle manufacturing.

Earlier this year, the company discontinued sales of its Model S and Model X vehicles to make room for production of its Optimus humanoid robots. Tesla has also introduced the Cybercab, a two-seat robotaxi designed without conventional manual controls such as a steering wheel or pedals.

The company’s existing electric vehicle lineup has experienced declining sales over the past two years, although higher gasoline prices helped support deliveries in the third quarter.

Tesla shares rose approximately 5% in premarket trading on Friday following the Roadster presentation.

Investors Await Tesla’s Financial Results

Tesla is scheduled to report its third-quarter earnings on October 21, with analysts emphasizing that profitability and cash flow will matter more to investors than the spectacle of the Roadster demonstration.

Josh Gilbert, lead analyst for Asia-Pacific at trading platform eToro, said investors would focus primarily on the company’s margins and cash flow when assessing its financial performance.

While the redesigned Roadster offers Tesla a high-profile product to showcase its engineering ambitions, its eventual commercial impact will depend on whether the company can deliver the vehicle on schedule and translate its advanced technology into meaningful business results.

Original article
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