Tesla Roadster Reveal Set for Oct 1 Could It Float

Tesla Roadster: New Generation Reveal Set for 1 October

The Tesla Roadster is a battery-electric hypercar manufactured by Tesla Inc., a United States-based electric vehicle (EV) company led by Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk. First shown as a prototype in November 2017, this four-seat flagship is designed to demonstrate Tesla's peak performance capabilities, combining rapid acceleration with a claimed range of 998 kilometres per charge. For Malaysian EV enthusiasts, the Roadster represents a halo product that may eventually enter the local market alongside Tesla's existing Model 3 and Model Y line-up.

Tesla's official Malaysian operations currently retail and service its mainstream EV models, but local availability of the Roadster remains unconfirmed. Tesla published a teaser image on 14 September 2026 with the text "Go for launch" and the date "10.01" written across the bottom, pointing to an unveiling scheduled for 1 October 2026 — nine years after the original prototype debut. The countdown on Tesla's official Roadster page matches this date.

Key Facts

The Tesla Roadster's claimed specifications include a 0–97 km/h sprint of under two seconds, a top speed above 402 km/h, and a driving range of up to 998 kilometres on a single charge, based on Tesla's 2017 announcement figures. Below is a summary of the vehicle's core facts with prices converted from United States dollars (USD) to Malaysian Ringgit (RM) at an approximate exchange rate of 1 USD = RM 4.20.

No Sirim certification or official Malaysian warranty details have been published for the Roadster as of September 2026. Malaysian buyers should note that the vehicle's charging infrastructure would likely rely on Tesla's existing local Supercharger network or 240V home charging with UK-style Type G plugs, consistent with standard Malaysian electrical requirements.

Can the New Tesla Roadster Actually Float or Hover?

Tesla has hinted that the 1 October 2026 reveal will demonstrate a Roadster capable of lifting off the ground using a cold-gas thruster system developed with SpaceX, Elon Musk's aerospace company. The demonstration vehicle is expected to hover at low height and will allegedly be controlled remotely with no driver inside. According to the Malaysian automotive publication Careta, based on an Electrek report, Tesla published a teaser image showing a red Roadster under lighting resembling a rocket launch pad.

"Tesla memberi bayangan akan memperlihatkan Roadster generasi baharu pada 1 Oktober ini, sembilan tahun selepas prototaip kereta sport elektrik itu pertama kali diperkenalkan."

— Qalif Latif, Careta, 14 September 2026

Careta also reported that the propulsion system's noise may be loud enough to harm hearing, prompting organisers to place audiences several hundred metres from the demonstration site. Tesla first floated the SpaceX package idea in 2017, proposing multiple thrusters to enhance acceleration, braking, and cornering. However, this 1 October event is believed to show only a low-altitude hover, not a full road-going prototype. As of 14 September 2026, Tesla has not confirmed the event location or whether the demonstration will be livestreamed.

What Are the Tesla Roadster's Claimed Performance Figures?

Tesla's original 2017 claims were aggressive for an electric hypercar: a 0–97 km/h time of under two seconds, a top speed exceeding 402 km/h, and a range of up to 998 kilometres. These figures were published at the prototype reveal but have never been independently verified on a production vehicle. The SpaceX-equipped version, if offered, would theoretically cut the 0–96 km/h sprint to below one second, a claim attributed to Elon Musk in a February 2024 statement reported by Careta.

For context on the acceleration claim, the current Tesla Model S Plaid achieves 0–97 km/h in approximately 2.1 seconds in independent testing, which means the Roadster's sub-2-second target requires significant powertrain and tyre advancements. No official Malaysian distributor pricing or homologation data has been released for the Roadster, and it is unclear whether the claimed 998 km range was measured under the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) or the stricter US EPA cycle used by Malaysian importers for excise duty estimation. The Roadster's claimed 402 km/h top speed would place it above every production car currently sold in Malaysia, including the Rimac Nevera and the Bugatti Chiron.

Why Has the Tesla Roadster Been Delayed Multiple Times?

The Tesla Roadster has suffered at least five schedule delays. Originally slated for first deliveries in 2020, the timeline was pushed to 2022, then 2023, then 2024, and later to the 2025–2026 window. Elon Musk most recently hinted that production may only begin in 2027 or 2028, which would make the car nearly a decade late against its original target. The delays appear to stem from Tesla prioritising volume models like the Model 3 and Model Y, as well as the Cybertruck, over low-volume halo projects.

These repeated postponements have driven several high-profile customers to cancel their reservations. According to Careta, tech content creator Marques Brownlee and OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman both terminated their Roadster orders, having waited since 2017. Careta's related coverage noted that Tesla shipped approximately one million electric vehicles in 2021 alone, demonstrating where corporate engineering resources are directed. As of 14 September 2026, Tesla has not announced a firm delivery date for the Roadster, and the 1 October reveal will not feature the road-legal production version.

Is the 1 October Reveal the Production Roadster?

No — the vehicle unveiled on 1 October 2026 is expected to be a non-road-legal demonstration model equipped with SpaceX thrusters, not the version that will be sold to the public. Careta reported that this demo vehicle likely fails to comply with standard road-use regulations and may only be offered in extremely limited numbers through a track-driving programme. This means Malaysian buyers cannot expect a homologated, road-registerable Roadster even if the hover demonstration is successful.

The demonstration model's remote-control operation and the need for a several-hundred-metre exclusion zone indicate a high-energy, potentially dangerous test. For comparison, the 2018 Falcon Heavy launch that sent Elon Musk's original Tesla Roadster into deep space carried a dummy astronaut named Starman in the driver's seat; that vehicle has since travelled approximately 3.2 billion kilometres in heliocentric orbit, according to Careta's February 2022 report. The 1 October hover test is thus a technology showcase, not a reveal of the final production specification.

How Does the Tesla Roadster Compare for Malaysian Buyers?

For Malaysian enthusiasts, the Roadster sits in a price bracket far above the typical RM 150,000 to RM 300,000 electric vehicles currently sold in the country, such as the Tesla Model 3, BYD Atto 3, and MG4 EV. At an estimated RM 840,000 base price, the Roadster would be classified as a luxury supercar in Malaysia, competing conceptually with imported vehicles like the Porsche Taycan Turbo S and the Lucid Air Sapphire, although no official local prices exist for those models either.

Practical considerations for Malaysian owners include the tropical climate, which demands robust thermal management for battery packs, and Malaysia's 240V electrical standard that aligns with most EV home chargers. Tesla's local Supercharger network in the Klang Valley would likely support the Roadster if it uses the same North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector deployed on existing Malaysian Tesla models. However, none of this has been confirmed by Tesla Malaysia, and the Roadster's exotic nature makes it unlikely to qualify for Malaysian EV tax exemptions, which historically apply to vehicles priced below RM 100,000 in knockdown kits or RM 200,000 in built-up form.

Common Questions

Will the Tesla Roadster be sold officially in Malaysia?

Tesla already operates an official Malaysian presence selling the Model 3 and Model Y, but no local distributor has announced Roadster pricing or availability as of September 2026. Importation through grey-market channels is technically possible at an estimated RM 840,000 base, but homologation and warranty support remain unconfirmed.

Does the Roadster's hover capability affect its road legality?

Yes. The SpaceX thruster system demonstrated on 1 October is expected to fail standard road-use regulations, meaning the hover-capable version would not be street-legal anywhere, including Malaysia. Careta reports the demo model may only be offered through a limited track-driving programme, not as a certified production vehicle.

What happens to existing Malaysian Roadster reservations?

No official data on Malaysian reservation holders exists. Internationally, the standard reservation required a USD 50,000 deposit (RM 210,000), and high-profile customers like Marques Brownlee and Sam Altman have cancelled after waiting since 2017. Malaysian buyers holding reservations should contact Tesla directly for refund terms.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source from Careta, the Malaysian automotive publication, specifically the article titled "Tesla Roadster Baharu Bakal Dipertontonkan 1 Oktober, Mampu Terapung?" by Qalif Latif, published on 14 September 2026, and sourced from Careta's URL at https://careta.my/article/tesla-roadster-baharu-bakal-dipertontonkan-1-oktober-mampu-terapung. The source material itself references an Electrek report, which is preserved as an inline attribution.

All prices in USD were converted to RM using an approximate exchange rate of 1 USD = RM 4.20, which reflects recent market conditions; actual rates may vary at settlement. Measurements were converted from imperial to metric (0–60 mph to 0–97 km/h; 250 mph to 402 km/h; 620 miles to 998 km). Malaysian context — including Tesla's local operations, charging infrastructure, and EV tax policy — was added solely for geographical anchoring and is not asserted as fact from the source unless explicitly stated. This article was last updated on 28 September 2026. Information specific to Malaysia was not independently verified against a Malaysian government source due to the absence of Roadster-specific data in the original material.