Tesla's New Roadster Flew. Now Tell Me Who's Actually Buying One.

Tesla flew its new Roadster off a ramp at its reveal, claimed 0–60 in under a second, and opened reservations from $50,000 to $250,000. Here's what was announced and who's actually buying.

Image: Tesla

Nine years after a surprise "one more thing" at the 2017 Semi event, the second-gen Tesla Roadster is finally real, at least on a stage. Tonight at the SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas, Tesla drove it up a C-shaped ramp, parked it upside down using a suction downforce system, then launched it off the top. Cold-gas thrusters turned it in the air and brought it down to a soft landing. Tesla also claimed a 0–60 time under one second.

The car community will have one of two reactions: "that's the sickest demo ever" or "cool, where's the car?" Both are fair.

What the order screen actually looks like

Tesla's reservation page is a single selector, with no paint, wheel or interior picks yet. Performance is the default: $5,000 due today, fully refundable, and $45,000 due within 10 days. Thrust is marked "Limited," costs $245,000 within 10 days, and is capped at one order per customer, so flippers take note. Rocket says "Invite Only" and can't be selected.

The flight, frame by frame

What Tesla actually announced

• Production target: 2028, according to Musk on stage.
• Three versions on the reservation page:

- Performance: "multi-mode suction system" for downforce, no thrusters. $50,000 deposit ($5k to reserve plus $45k within 10 days).
- Thrust: adds rear cold-gas "acceleration thrusters." $250,000 deposit.
- Rocket: invite-only, single seat, thrusters around the whole perimeter, and what Tesla calls a "full flight system."

• Not announced: final price, range, or real delivery dates. The Verge's description: "less than 30 minutes and felt more like a stunt show than a product reveal."

The receipts problem

The 2017 promises were 0–60 in 1.9 seconds, 250+ mph, 620 miles of range, about $200k, and deliveries in 2020. Early reservation holders paid five-figure deposits and have waited six years past that date. Now the ask for the thruster car is $250k down for a 2028 promise, on a car whose signature feature may never be street legal. Reuters notes it isn't clear how these features would be used or allowed on public roads. The Verge points out that a flying feature would have to get past both the FAA and NHTSA.

The AutoSnipes angle: what's the Roadster really worth?

Forget horsepower. Tonight's real story is allocation as a collectible:

1. The first-gen Roadster is the comp to watch. The 2008–2012 Lotus-based Roadster is the original Tesla collector car. Whenever the new one makes headlines, interest in clean, low-mile first-gen cars spikes. If you own one, now is the time to list it. If you're buying, expect sellers to ask hype money this week.
2. Reservation flipping is coming. Look at ZR1X allocations trading far over MSRP. A $250k Thrust slot from an early reserver could become its own market, if Tesla allows transfers. Watch for it.
3. The "Performance" car is the actual car. Thrusters make the video. The $50k-deposit suction car is the one people might really drive, register, and resell. Its numbers will decide whether this is a supercar or a YouTube prop.
4. Would you buy this? A $250k deposit, a 2028 date, and a feature that might be illegal on the street. Tell us in the comments.

Bottom line

Tesla built the best car demo of the decade. Whether it built a car comes down to 2028, the regulators, and whether 2017 reservation holders ever get keys. Until then, the smartest Roadster money may be in the first-gen cars already sitting in garages.

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Photos: All images courtesy of Tesla, Inc.

Sources: Reuters via Investing.com · WSJ · Engadget · The Verge