Tesla appears ready to finally unveil its long-delayed second-gen Roadster, nearly nine years after the electric sports car was first announced. In a post on X, the company wrote “Go for launch” alongside an image showing the date 10.01. This strongly points to an October 1 reveal.
The teaser graphic also appears to reference the optional cold-gas thrusters Tesla has previously discussed for the vehicle. SpaceX technology is reportedly behind this system, which is expected to deliver extreme acceleration. Additionally, it could potentially allow the vehicle to briefly lift off the ground in some form. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly described the next Roadster as something that goes far beyond a conventional sports car.
Go for launch pic.twitter.com/Khu03eiZ04
— Tesla (@Tesla) September 12, 2026
Tesla originally unveiled the second-generation Roadster back in November 2017, promising extraordinary acceleration and range. However, the vehicle has since faced multiple delays. Some customers have waited years after placing large reservation deposits. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was among them, publicly complaining about the lengthy wait before eventually receiving a refund.
More recent reports suggest Tesla may have abandoned the original design shown back in 2017. Instead, the company is reportedly preparing a significantly different vehicle, which could explain the lengthy development timeline. Therefore, the Roadster unveiled on October 1 could look very different from the red prototype Tesla first revealed nearly nine years ago.
Even after the October reveal, buyers should not expect deliveries right away. Musk has previously said production could begin around 12 to 18 months after the final unveiling. That timeline would push actual production well into 2027 or even 2028. Finally, the upcoming reveal will at least give eager customers their first real look at what has become one of Tesla’s most delayed projects.
