New Tesla Roadster Revealed: Specs, Performance and UAE Expectations

Tesla unveiled the new Roadster on Thursday 15 October 2026 at SpaceX's test site in McGregor, near Waco, Texas. A live run showed 0 to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds, reportedly with the thrusters engaged, and Elon Musk said production starts in 2028. Tesla has not announced a price.

 

This guide covers what Tesla has actually said about the new Tesla Roadster, which numbers are still unverified, and what buyers and car enthusiasts in the UAE can realistically expect.

What Tesla Announced

Tesla listed three versions: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. Thrust and Rocket add cold gas thrusters, a system Tesla says draws on SpaceX's thruster experience. On Tesla's own Roadster page, the thrusters are described as an optional upgrade, which suggests the Performance is the base car.

 

 

The 0.81 second figure came from a live demonstration and was not independently timed. Tesla later quoted 0.67 seconds with rollout subtracted. The AED conversions use the fixed rate of 3.6725 and are for reference only.

Specs: Stated, Reported and Unconfirmed

What Tesla has stated

• Range above 300 miles (about 483 km). Outlets report this as Tesla's figure, but it is not a certified number for any version

• Output of about 1 MW (roughly 1,340 hp), shown at the event

• Thrusters that Tesla says produce four to five times the force the tyres can put down

• A multi mode suction fan, active wings and a Track Mode that lowers the car

• Weight savings from magnesium, titanium and carbon fibre

• Production in 2028, according to Musk

 

Tesla also quoted a top speed above 230 mph (about 370 km/h). Coverage disagrees on which version that applies to, and one outlet lists 214 mph in the current spec details, so treat the top speed as unsettled.

What has been reported but not verified

Reports from the event and later interviews describe two rear motors, an 800 to 1,000 volt architecture, 4680 cells and torque of roughly 1,300 to 1,400 Nm depending on trim. On the thruster hardware, reports describe four rear nozzles on the Thrust and six more on the Rocket, for ten in total, fed by around 600 litres of compressed gas.

 

Charging is described as roughly 10 minutes for most of a charge, but sources give different ranges (15 to 80 percent or 15 to 85 percent), so this is a target, not a spec. Battery capacity in kWh and kerb weight have not been officially stated.

 

Be careful with older numbers. The 2017 pitch mentioned a 200 kWh battery, 620 miles of range and a base price of USD 200,000. Those figures belong to the earlier programme and do not describe this car.

What 0.81 Seconds Means in Practice

A time like that comes from a controlled run on a prepared surface. If the thrusters were engaged, as reports suggest, the number says little about how the car launches on tyres alone. The under 0.9 and under 0.59 second figures for Thrust and Rocket are targets until independent testing confirms them.

 

The Rocket also changes the question. A single seat car with thrusters designed to lift and rotate it is closer to a stunt machine than a road car, and Tesla has not published its flight limits. The Performance version is the one aimed at road use.

Price and Reservations

Tesla has not announced a price for any version. The reservation payments reported for the US are USD 50,000 for the Performance and USD 250,000 for the Thrust, reportedly taken as USD 5,000 by card with the balance due within ten days. One report says reservations reopened in the US, Canada and China.

 

The history matters here. The Roadster was first shown in November 2017 with deliveries promised for 2020, and the schedule has slipped repeatedly since. Reports also say Tesla cannot guarantee when or whether delivery will happen, so anyone planning around a 2028 delivery should keep that in mind.

UAE Expectations

Availability and pricing

Tesla announced its UAE launch in 2017, so the market is not new to the brand, and Tesla runs a UAE version of its Roadster page. That page says availability is subject to each region's legal requirements and notes that the Rocket trim is not available in all regions. No UAE price, reservation terms or delivery date have been reported.

 

Some websites already publish AED price estimates and claim UAE availability in 2025 or 2026. Those figures carry no source and predate the 2028 production timeline, so they should not be relied on. The final UAE price will depend on Tesla's regional pricing, which has not been announced.

Road use

Tesla says the Rocket is not approved for public road use. The road status of the Thrust has not been clarified. Musk said at the event that this is the car that will end up on the roads, and the Performance is the version Tesla positions for road use. Whether any version can be registered in the UAE depends on approval that has not been announced.

Driving conditions

Public road speed limits in the UAE sit far below anything this car can do, so most of the performance will stay theoretical outside a track. Heat management and fast charging access are the practical questions for any high output EV in Dubai, and Tesla has not yet published detail on either for this car.

Can You Rent a Tesla in Dubai Now?

Nobody can rent a Roadster at the moment, since production is not due until 2028. If you want to drive a Tesla in Dubai today, VIP Rent a Car lists several models on its Tesla rental in Dubai page, including the Model X and the Cybertruck. Rates, mileage and availability change, so check the current listing before planning around a specific car.

 

For something fast in the meantime, the supercar rental in Dubai and sports car rental in Dubai pages cover what is available now, and the luxury car rental in Dubai page covers sedans and SUVs for longer trips.

What to Watch Next

• Tesla's UAE Roadster page for a regional reservation option

• Final pricing for each version

• Whether any version receives road approval in the UAE

• Any change to the 2028 production date

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the new Tesla Roadster be available?

Musk said production begins in 2028. Tesla has not published delivery dates, and reports say it cannot guarantee when deliveries will happen.

 

How much will the Tesla Roadster cost?

No price has been announced. The reported US reservation payments are USD 50,000 for the Performance and USD 250,000 for the Thrust.

 

Can I reserve the Roadster from the UAE?

Tesla has a UAE Roadster page, but reports list reservations as open in the US, Canada and China, and no UAE terms have been confirmed. Check Tesla's UAE page before paying anything.

 

Is the Tesla Roadster road legal?

Tesla says the Rocket is not approved for public road use. Approval for the other versions in the UAE has not been announced.

 

How fast is the new Tesla Roadster?

A live run showed 0 to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds. Tesla's targets are under 1.6, 0.9 and 0.59 seconds for Performance, Thrust and Rocket, and it quoted a top speed above 230 mph.

 

Can I rent a Tesla in Dubai?

Yes, though not the Roadster. Current Tesla models are listed on the VIP Rent a Car Tesla page, and availability varies.