Tesla’s new Roadster is now available for reservations—but customers face a critical caveat. The company opened bookings for its wedge-shaped supercar shortly after its reveal, yet the reservation agreement contains a blunt warning: Tesla “cannot guarantee” delivery. The form makes clear that the Roadster remains a work in progress, leaving open the chance that orders could be canceled or postponed without warning.
The production model’s design represents a sharp departure from earlier concept renders. Instead of the flowing, aerodynamic curves shown in prior artwork, the final version adopts flat, angular surfaces, scissor doors, and a dominant rear wing. Its exterior draws from aerospace materials, including copper-coated windows and titanium structural elements. Beneath the surface, ground effect fans and active aerodynamic systems generate extreme downforce, enabling the car to scale steep ramps and even execute upside-down maneuvers during its unveiling.
Tesla’s promotional materials highlight the Roadster’s ability to “fly”, with videos demonstrating the vehicle lifting off the ground, rolling in midair, and performing barrel rolls using cold gas thrusters. The Rocket trim, in particular, incorporates thrusters around the chassis to facilitate these stunts. However, Elon Musk later corrected an earlier claim, stating that the car’s “air tank” requires manual high-pressure nitrogen refills rather than self-recharging. Lars Moravy, Tesla’s vice president of vehicle engineering, confirmed this detail in a follow-up video.
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The Roadster’s power output is unprecedented. Tesla specifies a peak of more than one megawatt, with estimates placing the base Performance model near 1,500 horsepower. The Thrust variant adds four rear-mounted thrusters, enabling sub-one-second acceleration from 0 to 60 mph.
Inside, the cabin adopts a radical approach with a yoke-style steering wheel and steer-by-wire technology, mirroring the design of Tesla’s Cybertruck. The seating accommodates two passengers, or a single occupant in the Rocket trim, with microsuede upholstery. Despite its advanced capabilities, the Roadster remains street-legal, though Musk joked that its aerobatic potential might conflict with traffic regulations.
In the U.K., securing a reservation demands a £5,000 deposit followed by a £45,000 payment within 10 days. The agreement reiterates Tesla’s “no delivery guarantee” policy, reflecting the project’s unresolved development challenges. While the Roadster’s performance and materials represent a technological leap, its actual availability remains uncertain.
