This is the design for the new Roadster developed by Tesla in collaboration with SpaceX. It was unveiled on October 15, 2026, at the SpaceX Test Facility in McGregor, Texas. It changes the curve-centric exterior of the prototype showcased in 2017 and incorporates an angular body and forms derived from aircraft.
Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen and the development team, who participated in the presentation, explained that the SR-71 aircraft and rocket served as design references. The body features hidden headlights and an adjustable rear wing. The glass is tinted to evoke the golden coating of a spacesuit helmet visor. It is a configuration that translates forms and surface treatments from the aerospace field into exterior elements.
Propulsion units that inject compressed gas are positioned around and under the vehicle body. The units at the rear assist with straight-line acceleration, while units in other locations are used to lift the vehicle or control its attitude in mid-air. At the unveiling event, a demonstration was conducted in which the vehicle jumped and rotated in the air without a driver.
It is also equipped with a fan system at the bottom that draws in air and pushes the car toward the ground. Tesla explained that the movable skirts under the body adjust to the road surface, utilizing the actuators of the humanoid robot Optimus. The design incorporated not only the exterior but also a structure that controls the air between the body and the ground.
The propulsion system configuration varies by specification. Tesla's official page states that aerial maneuvering features are limited to the rocket specification and are not available in some regions. Elon Musk has set a target of 2028 to begin production. It is necessary to distinguish between the features and usage conditions of the publicly revealed demonstrations and the actual vehicles on sale.
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