Tesla has unveiled its long-awaited next-generation Roadster in a dramatic demonstration that showed the electric sports car driving upside down, launching into the air, performing a mid-air flip and landing safely.

The unveiling took place on October 15, 2026, at a SpaceX test facility in McGregor, Texas, nearly nine years after Tesla first introduced the second-generation Roadster concept in 2017.

During the demonstration, the Roadster drove up a massive curved ramp until it was almost completely upside down. It then launched from the ramp and used compressed-air thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX to control its movement before landing back on its wheels.

Tesla also demonstrated the vehicle jumping over a lineup of Tesla vehicles, including a Semi and Cybercab, while spinning in mid-air. The company referred to the maneuver as a “kickflip.”

The Roadster is equipped with high-pressure air tanks and multiple cold-gas thrusters that provide short bursts of thrust. The technology allows the vehicle to briefly lift off the ground and control its orientation while airborne. Tesla also demonstrated a fan-based suction system that allows the car to maintain contact with a surface while travelling upside down.

Tesla claims the new Roadster can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 0.81 seconds, making it one of the quickest production cars ever demonstrated. It is also expected to have a top speed of more than 230 mph.

The Roadster has been delayed several times since its original unveiling, with Tesla initially targeting production in 2020. Musk now says production is expected to begin in 2028.

The vehicle is being developed through close collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX engineers, making it an unusual combination of electric-car and aerospace technology. Musk presented the Roadster as a showcase of what Tesla can achieve rather than a vehicle expected to generate huge sales.

The spectacular demonstration has renewed attention on Tesla’s long-delayed sports car, with the company now attempting to turn the Roadster from a decade-old concept into a production vehicle.