The long-awaited public debut of the next-generation Tesla Roadster has been delayed once again, Autoblog reports, according to UNN.
Details
Tesla has once again shifted the timeline for its next-generation Roadster, pushing the long-promised public demonstration to August 2026. This latest delay comes after CEO Elon Musk missed a series of self-imposed deadlines, including an April 1st target and subsequent promises of a late spring presentation. According to The Information, sources familiar with the project report that the event, where the electric vehicle is expected to showcase its incredible rocket propulsion technology, is now scheduled to take place in Texas.
While chief designer Franz von Holzhausen recently hinted that a teaser or social media preview could appear within weeks to drum up interest, history suggests fans should temper their enthusiasm, the publication writes. This is far from the first setback for the flagship car, as the company has repeatedly moved dates over the past several years. Nearly nine years after its initial unveiling in 2017, the flagship EV continues to test the patience of the automotive world, the outlet notes.
The primary reason for the current delay is the complex engineering required for the extreme SpaceX option package, internally codenamed A71. This unusual configuration replaces traditional rear seats with approximately ten cold-gas rocket thrusters developed in collaboration with aerospace engineers. Musk claims this system will allow for 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in just 1.1 seconds, while providing enough downforce and lateral force to drastically alter cornering and braking, and even allow the car to briefly hover above the ground.
Company executives were reportedly present for early internal testing of this hardware in late April, but the system clearly requires additional validation before facing the public. The protracted development cycle means that while the company has selected a production facility for assembly, the assembly lines themselves remain stagnant. Physical product development has stalled to such an extent that Tesla has had to renew its legal trademarks to keep the name active while engineers figure out how to safely merge rocket science with consumer vehicle safety, the publication points out.
In the meantime, as the publication writes, "until a real demonstration takes place in Texas this August, this rocket-powered Roadster remains the industry's most expensive vaporware project."
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