Archive:2028 Tesla Roadster
Template:Improve images Template:Infobox automobile The 2028 Tesla Roadster is a planned battery-electric T-top sports car to be built by Tesla, Inc. from 2028.[1][2] Four to five prototypes were demonstrated at the SpaceX Rocket Development and Test Facility near McGregor, Texas on October 15, 2026.[3]Template:Rp One prototype performed a measured 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of 0.81 seconds,[4] and other prototypes performed air born kickflip and landing maneuvers.[5]
A dedicated Roadster Factory Texas (RTFX) facility exists for production within the Tesla Gigafactory Texas campus.[1]Template:Rp
History
Telsa had originally developed and sold a 2008 Tesla Roadster as its first product. In 2026 Lars Moravy referred to the 2017 Tesla Roadster prototype as having been the "middle roadster";[6]Template:Rp with the technology of the middle Roadster evolving into the Tesla Model S Plaid.
Models
Four models are planned: base, performance, thrust, and rocket.[6]Template:Rp
| Model | Base | Performance | Thrust | Rocket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motors | 2 | |||
| Power | 1 MW | |||
| Battery | 115 kWh | |||
| Seats | Template:Won | Template:Won | Template:Won | Template:Won |
| Luggage | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Fans | Template:Won | Template:Won | Template:Won | |
| Thrusters | Template:Won | Template:Won | ||
| COPV | Template:Won | Template:Won | ||
| Gas | Template:Won | Template:Won | ||
| Thrust (rear) | 80 kN | 80 kN | ||
| Thrust (down) | 80 kN | |||
Performance, thrust and rocket versions include a sucker system with four rear-mounted fans[3]Template:Rp and four independent skirts.[3]Template:Rp Thrust versions have four cold gas thrusters.[7]Template:Rp Rocket versions add six extra nozzles for a total of ten cold gas thrusters.[7]Template:Rp
The rocket version will not be road-legal.[2]
Cockpit
The central cockpit area is covered by a titanium oxide-coated glass windshield at the front,[3]Template:Rp and removable T-top panels above the seating area.[6]Template:Rp
The vehicle uses steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire.[6]Template:Rp The base of each seat is fixed, with the rear portion reclining using a pneumatic release.[6]Template:Rp The pedals slide to match leg length.[6]Template:Rp
A centrally positioned screen is fixed at an angle facing towards the driving position.[3]Template:Rp A second small horizontal display is positioned below the windshield.[3]Template:Rp A small circular cut-out is provided at the base of the windshield for a plug-in quick-release windscreen wiper.[6]Template:Rp
Battery
The electric vehicle battery is mounted flat under the vehicle and constructed of a quantity of cylindrical 4680 cells, with a Nickel-based Lithium-Ion chemistry specific to the Roadster programme.[6]Template:Rp Cells use an aluminium can instead of steel,[3]Template:Rp with the completed pack having a titanium top plate, and aluminium bottom plate.[3]Template:Rp Cells are produced in California at Tesla's pilot production line.[1]Template:Rp
Battery capacity is 115 kWh,[7]Template:Rp with a road range of Template:Convert/- miles,[6]Template:Rp or estimated race track usage of 20‒30 minutes.[8]
Charging will be over 500 kilowatts, at 800‒1000 volts,[6]Template:Rp with a target of 15-percent to 85-percent in 10 minutes.[6]Template:Rp The electrical charging port is located behind the rear wing, with the wing required to be extended during charging.[6]Template:Rp
Motors
The car is rear-wheel drive only.[6]Template:Rp Two Template:Convert/kW electric motors are arranged back-to-back between the rear wheels and together rated at Template:Convert/MW.[6]Template:Rp Transmission is via planetary reduction[3]Template:Rp at a ratio of 8.4:1.[3]Template:Rp Torque is Template:Convert/Nm.[1]Template:Rp
Both motors operate at the battery pack voltage of 800‒1000 volts.[6]Template:Rp Separate power inverters drive each motor,[6]Template:Rp enabling torque vectoringref name="2026-10-16-top-gear">Template:Rp and removing the need for a [[[differential (mechanical device)|mechanical differential]].[3]Template:Rp
Electric motor inner lamination are formed from Template:Ill.[6]Template:Rp
Aerodynamics
Most of the body panels pivot to adjust the automotive aerodynamics.[6]Template:Rp The space in front of the windshield can open, along with side-mounted barge boards.[6]Template:Rp When opened, the front area of the car serves as a large hidden wing with Template:Convert/m2 of air flow.[3]Template:Rp
Two movable surfaces are located behind the front chin spooler, allowing air to be diverted.[3]Template:Rp
Sucker system
On performance, thrust, and rocket versions a sucker system increases downforce under the car by two G-force, by using four rear-mounted fans to lower the pressure under the car.[3]Template:Rp At speeds under Template:Convert/mph four deployable skirts are lowered to the ground.[3]Template:Rp The deployable skirts are made of rubber with bristles made of nylon,[3]Template:Rp and are sacrificial wear items that needs to be replaced.[3]Template:Rp Above Template:Convert/mph front and rear skirts are retracted to induce a Venturi effect as air passes under the vehicle at high-velocity.[3]Template:Rp
The sucker system is documented in a patent filed by Tesla called "Electric fan car".[9][10]
Cold gas
On thrust and rocket versions, one or two composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) storage tanks are installed in the car.[7]Template:Rp The first tank holds Template:Convert/l of either atmospheric air, or nitrogen gas.[6]Template:Rp An optional second longer tank—available only on the rocket version, and installed in place of the passenger seat—holds an additional Template:Convert/l of gas.[1]Template:Rp Template:As of an inlet nozzle is used for refilling the gas system,[6]Template:Rp taking for 6‒7 hours.[6]Template:Rp
With a higher initial pressure, more gas is available for longer.[3]Template:Rp The COPV tanks muss to be vented at an approximately equal rate from both ends to avoid creating uneven pressure within the tank.[1]Template:Rp As the pressure in the tank decreases, progressively less thrust is available.[1]Template:Rp Slight adjustment in distribution of gas released into the left and right nozzles is used for yaw (steering) control.[1]Template:Rp
Titanium pipes convey the gas to splitters by made of inconel.[1]Template:Rp Nozzles are titanium.[1]Template:Rp Plumbing on the rocket version is more complex, but enables all gas to be routed to the rear thrusters for a longer acceleration time.[1]Template:Rp
Reaction
Speaking in Italian the Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna stated that the presentation of the Telsa Roadster in October 2026 was ten-out-of-ten for both technology and presentation.[11]Template:Rp
Lars Moravy of Tesla, responding to Tom Ford of Top Gear magazine, reiterated that downward thrust on the rocket version of 80 kilonewtons vastly exceeded a takeoff weight of Template:Convert/kg (car and gas combined) under Earth gravity.[12] Template:Blockquote
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Template:Cite video
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Tesla's 1,500-hp 2028 Roadster can fly—just not on public roads". Postmedia Network. 2026-10-16. https://driving.ca/auto-news/entertainment/2028-tesla-roadster-ev-rocket-thrust-fly-acceleration. "Rocket trim can fly, but this single-seat version is, unsurprisingly, not road-legal"
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 Template:Cite video
- ↑ Template:Cite AV media
- ↑ Prakash, Timothy. "Rocket thrusters and a kickflip: Tesla unveils radical new Roadster". The Sun (Malaysia). https://thesun.my/motoring/rocket-thrusters-and-a-kickflip-tesla-unveils-radical-new-roadster/. "Roadster demonstrated an acceleration time of 0-100 km/h in just 0.8 seconds, although the figure has yet to be independently verified. … the car appeared to perform a kickflip over Tesla's electric semi-truck."
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 Template:Cite video
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Template:Cite video
- ↑ Lisenby, Joel. "Tesla Roadster Revealed: It Flies, Drives Upside Down and Hits 60 in 0.81 Seconds". Electron Motion. https://electronmotion.com/2026/10/15/tesla-roadster-reveal/. "Franz von Holzhausen told MotorTrend every version shares a 115 kWh pack … The cells will come from Tesla's pilot plant in California, and the car from its own building at Giga Texas, Roadster Factory Texas (MotorTrend, 08:12)"
- ↑ Template:Cite patent
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Template:Cite interview
- ↑ Template:Cite tweet