When Tesla published promotional footage of the next-generation Roadster executing aerial stunts, the clip drew widespread attention to the vehicle. According to the automaker, a propulsion setup drawing on vacuum-based suction technology and cold-gas thrusters — hardware sourced in part from SpaceX, the rocket venture linked to Elon Musk — gives the top-tier variant of the vehicle the ability to leave the ground.

Reservation books for the Tesla Roadster are now open, with buyers able to choose from three distinct configurations — Performance, Thrust, and Rocket. Manufacture of the vehicle is not expected to get under way until 2028, a timeline that puts it well past ten years since the automaker first put a next-generation electric sports car concept on public display.

Built with both road and track driving in mind, the Performance model accommodates use across either setting. Designed as a two-seat layout, the vehicle pairs an active aerodynamics package with a multi-mode suction arrangement aimed at boosting downforce and raising overall performance levels. According to Tesla, a combination of fans and a ground-sealing system draws air out from beneath the vehicle. According to those specifications, the downforce generated would be sufficient to keep the vehicle pressed against an inverted surface, even without forward motion.

Engineered to boost grip levels and raise the speeds at which a vehicle can hold a corner, active wings adjust their position in response to driving conditions. A Track Mode setting is available to those behind the wheel, bringing the ride height down and recalibrating the suspension setup. Depending on track demands, teams can dial in aerodynamic packages that prioritise either downforce levels or drag reduction.

Marketed as a track-focused, low-volume variant of the Roadster, the Thrust model carries that positioning in its official product description. Two seats are carried over from the Performance variant, yet this configuration layers in cold-gas thrusters at the rear alongside the suction system. Tesla's own specifications place the thruster system's purpose as lifting zero-to-100 acceleration times to beneath the one-second threshold.

Of the three variants, the Rocket sits at the furthest end of the specification range. Configured for a single occupant, the unit is built to meet air-readiness standards and will be distributed through an invitation-based access programme. Mounted around the outer edge of the vehicle, cold-gas thrusters set the Rocket apart from competing designs in its class. According to Tesla's product description, the Rocket variant's thruster array is designed to handle forward thrust, upward lift, and lateral rotation — capabilities the automaker summarised by stating that the vehicle is able to fly.

The company indicated that incorporating SpaceX hardware into the Roadster's design could push its performance past what standard road vehicles are built to achieve, noting that one of the cars had already been launched aboard a rocket. A rocket engine was incorporated into the Roadster's design. The automaker described the resulting vehicle as one built to deliver a higher tier of performance. The firm's statement noted that optional add-on components from SpaceX could meaningfully enhance on-road performance beyond what the base configuration delivers.

Footage played at the launch event captured a white, two-seat prototype navigating the underside of a ramp through suction-based adhesion, rotating while airborne, and touching down with assistance from onboard thrusters. At the same demonstration, thruster power lifted the vehicle clear of a truck and surrounding cars, with the craft rotating through the air as it cleared them.

Reservations for all three variants are now live, with the Rocket tier available only through invitation via the company's website. A deposit of $5,000 — fully refundable — is required from US-based buyers at the point of reservation, with an additional $4,500 due within ten days, and the company notes that bookings are not considered confirmed until those funds have cleared. Failure to finalise payment within ten days will result in the booking being released. The automaker's statement made clear that customers seeking compensation for vehicle alterations would not receive any.

A booking fee of Rs 5,01,000 applies, with the remaining Rs 45,05,000 falling due within a ten-day window from that point. Bookings are already open, yet the line is not expected to move into active production until 2028. Production of the Roadster has not advanced beyond planning at Tesla, with customers who placed orders still awaiting word on when the vehicle will move forward.