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3..2..1... Tesla Roadster 2.0 Set to Launch on October 1
MotorTrend ^ | September 12, 2026 | MotorTrend Staff Writer

Posted on 09/13/2026 2:31:01 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom

In a blurry red, visually cryptic post on X.com, Tesla announced the launch date for its long-promised second generation Roadster: 10.01. Although the image and text in the post itself don’t confirm that the announcement is indeed about Roadster, Tesla posted a link to go with it, to the Roadster page on Tesla.com, which makes it indisputable: come October 1, we’re getting a big update on the second-generation Tesla Roadster and it may have rockets mounted on top. Or... big searchlights. Or possibly snow blower nozzles. Who knows? The image is really blurry.

If you recall, back on November 16, 2017, Tesla unveiled the second-generation Roadster at the Tesla Semi event. CEO Elon Musk said at the time that production of the vehicle would begin in 2020 and that Roadster 2.0 would hit 60 mph in 1.9 secondss, hit a top speed of 250+ mph, seat four people, and have a 200-kWh battery good for 620 miles of range. All for a base price of $200,000 or $250,000 if you want a special “Founders Series.”

Tesla originally promised Roadster 2.0 production for 2020, then the dates began to slide, from 2021... to 2022... to 2023... to you get the picture. These postponements were made mostly during Tesla shareholder updates, and were often accompanied by updates from Musk and additional performance promises.

Will there we rockets that make the Roadster fly to 60 mph in under one second? We shall see on October 1.

In 2018, Musk announced a “SpaceX option package” of approximately 10 small rocket thrusters, arranged around the roadster. He reiterated this SpaceX rocket thruster package in 2020 and then in 2024 claimed that Tesla and SpaceX had radically increased the Roadster’s design goals, describing it as a collaboration between the two companies. Per Musk, the new Roadster would be able to accelerate from 0–60 mph in less than one second, calling that “the least interesting part,” and suggested it might “fly a little.” He promised a production-design reveal by the end of 2024 and vehicle shipments in 2025.



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KEYWORDS: anydaynow; roadster; tesla

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Some are speculating that the end of human-driven Tesla cars is nigh.

Tesla has officially confirmed an October 1 reveal event in Waco, Texas (ninety minutes north of Tesla’s Austin headquarters), for the next-generation Roadster, sending invitations to reservation holders alongside a new countdown on its website.

Tesla on X: "Go for launch"

"Roads? We don't need roads"


1 posted on 09/13/2026 2:31:01 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

And all for the low, low price of $200,000-$250,000. /sarc


2 posted on 09/13/2026 3:45:25 AM PDT by EvilCapitalist (Pets are no substitute for children)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
When I read, "Tesla Roadster launch", I couldn't help but think of this...


3 posted on 09/13/2026 3:46:22 AM PDT by jmcenanly (You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ― Winston)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Cold Thruster Grok calculations. I have not verified:

0-60 mph (26.8 m/s) in 1.1 s is average acceleration of 24.4 m/s², or ~2.5 g.

The Base tire potential (from claimed 1.9 s / ~10 kNm wheel torque) is ~1.4 g on a ~2,000 kg car.

Extra ~1.1 g requires ~22 kN sustained cold-gas thrust. Total impulse: 22 kN × 1.1 s = 24.2 kNs.

Typical cold-gas air/N₂ exhaust velocity ≈ 700 m/s (Isp ≈ 71 s).

Gas mass ≈ 34.6 kg.

At ~250 bar / 300 K (density ≈ 250 kg/m³) storage volume ≈ 0.14 m³ (140 L).

So one-shot to add the incremental 1.1 g requires a 140 liter tank at 250 bar.


4 posted on 09/13/2026 4:21:30 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Tesla doesn’t need a roadster, they just need to replace the idiotic Cybertruck with something more practical that real truck guys would buy and use as a real truck.

The Cyberpunk is a dismal failure. They sold 9000 units all of last year, with 2000 of those going to Musk’s own companies. Good grief.

Replace the idiot Cyberpunk already. That would have far more impact on the market than another toy like a Tesla roadster.


5 posted on 09/13/2026 4:23:01 AM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (America -- July 4, 1776 to November 3, 2020 -- R.I.P.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Wasn’t the Cybertruck supposed to sell 250,000 units per year. Now down to 7,000.

Replace it already, yet Musk stubbornly sticks with it. Big mistake.


6 posted on 09/13/2026 4:25:53 AM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (America -- July 4, 1776 to November 3, 2020 -- R.I.P.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Only a quarter million dollars. What a deal!


7 posted on 09/13/2026 4:27:11 AM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (America -- July 4, 1776 to November 3, 2020 -- R.I.P.)
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To: Freedom_Is_Not_Free

The Cybersuck is without a doubt the ugliest vehicle on the road.


8 posted on 09/13/2026 4:30:08 AM PDT by Fresh Wind
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To: Fresh Wind

I still think the Pontiac Aztec is still the ugliest vehicle ever made.
Walter White drove one in Breaking Bad.


9 posted on 09/13/2026 5:09:30 AM PDT by woodbutcher1963
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To: Freedom_Is_Not_Free
Tesla doesn’t need a roadster, they just need to replace the idiotic Cybertruck with something more practical that real truck guys would buy and use as a real truck.

It is not just Tesla. Ford discontinued it's Lightning F150 EV. GM still sells EV trucks but is mostly a rounding error compared to ICE trucks...

10 posted on 09/13/2026 5:16:12 AM PDT by EVO X ( )
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To: Fresh Wind

A case of function over form. Not my cup of tea, but apparently it’s quite popular.


11 posted on 09/13/2026 5:20:40 AM PDT by Blennos (This is the official Blennos tagline. Thanks to Big Red Badger. )
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To: woodbutcher1963

I was thinking in terms of what’s actually on the roads today. It’s been years since I’ve seen an Aztec.

Search on Google for the ugliest cars ever. The Aztec is well represented. I think it was, in part, the inspiration for the Family Truckster in the National Lampoon Vacation movie.


12 posted on 09/13/2026 5:24:18 AM PDT by Fresh Wind
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

That cold gas isp will drop as the pressure and temperature drop during the N2 blow down.


13 posted on 09/13/2026 5:30:07 AM PDT by kosciusko51
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To: Blennos

The Cybersuck seems popular with those who cover them with wraps advertising their businesses. People do notice them, which is, after all, the whole purpose of advertising.


14 posted on 09/13/2026 5:30:27 AM PDT by Fresh Wind
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To: kosciusko51

True. Specific impulse will be less than shown.

A larger tank won’t be practical.

The whole concept is nuts.


15 posted on 09/13/2026 5:34:16 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Fresh Wind

Good point. It does attract attention.


16 posted on 09/13/2026 5:35:44 AM PDT by Blennos (This is the official Blennos tagline. Thanks to Big Red Badger. )
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Perhaps this option? 😆

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JATO_Rocket_Car


17 posted on 09/13/2026 5:38:47 AM PDT by kosciusko51
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Remember how Tesla initially promoted the Cybersuck as having a base price around $40K. When they finally arrived, the price was much higher, considering that they initially only offered the highest price version, and the cheapest, which arrived later, was around $60K.

Will they try the same trick with the Roadster?


18 posted on 09/13/2026 5:40:40 AM PDT by Fresh Wind
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To: Fresh Wind

“I think it was, in part, the inspiration for the Family Truckster in the National Lampoon Vacation movie.”

The original movie with the Truckster came out in the 80s. The Aztek came out in 2001. Perhaps the Truckster was the inspiration for the Aztek.


19 posted on 09/13/2026 5:43:45 AM PDT by kosciusko51
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To: kosciusko51

LOL! You might be right!


20 posted on 09/13/2026 5:47:39 AM PDT by Fresh Wind
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