Tesla’s long-promised next-generation Roadster is once again in the spotlight after chief designer Franz von Holzhausen said it is coming ‘very soon.’ The comment was made during an appearance on Jay Leno’s Garage, but no new details or dates were provided. The Roadster, first revealed in 2017, has faced repeated delays and shifting timelines.
A Familiar Promise on Jay Leno’s Garage
Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s chief designer, appeared on the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, where he was asked about the long-awaited Roadster. As the episode wrapped up, Leno said he was ‘eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new Roadster.’ Von Holzhausen replied, ‘Yes, very soon.’ When pressed again by Leno, he repeated, ‘Very soon.’ Leno responded with a pointed, ’10 years… just shy of 10 years,’ highlighting the lengthy wait since the car’s original unveiling.
Von Holzhausen was not on the show to discuss Tesla specifically, but rather to showcase his 400-horsepower V8-swapped Pontiac Solstice, a gasoline car he designed at GM. During the segment, he remarked, ‘I’m a Tesla guy, but the sound sounds pretty good,’ referring to the Solstice’s engine.
The Roadster’s Shifting Timeline
Tesla first revealed the next-generation Roadster prototype in November 2017, promising production by 2020. Since then, the timeline has repeatedly shifted. After missing the original target, production was pushed to ’12-18 months’ out, then to 2022, 2023, and 2024.
In February 2024, Elon Musk stated there would be a production unveil by the end of that year, with deliveries expected in early 2025. However, this did not occur. In November 2023, Musk set a new demo date for April 1, 2026, but later admitted this date gave him ‘deniability.’ The demo was then moved to ‘late April,’ then to ‘a month or so’ on the Q1 earnings call, and finally to August. As of August 2026, no public demo has taken place.
Technical Challenges and Reservation Holders
A key feature of the upcoming Roadster is the SpaceX ‘cold gas thruster’ package, internally referred to as ‘A71.’ Tesla and SpaceX presented an early prototype of this system to Elon Musk in late April, but it was not ready for a public demonstration, contributing to the latest delay.
The original specifications for the Roadster included a 0-60 mph time of 1.9 seconds, a top speed of 250 mph, and a range of 620 miles. The starting price was set at $200,000 (~AUD 283,289), with Founders Series reservation holders having put down $250,000 (~AUD 354,111) nearly a decade ago. These early supporters are still waiting for their vehicles.
Why this matters
The ongoing delays and lack of concrete updates on the next-generation Tesla Roadster have become a source of frustration for reservation holders and EV enthusiasts. Despite repeated assurances from Tesla executives, including the latest ‘very soon’ comment from the chief designer, the company has yet to deliver on its promises.
The Roadster’s protracted development highlights the challenges Tesla faces in bringing advanced, high-performance vehicles to market, especially when introducing new technologies like the SpaceX thruster package.
What this means for buyers
Potential buyers and reservation holders should remain cautious, as no firm production or delivery dates have been confirmed for the next-generation Roadster. Those interested in the vehicle may want to wait for an official unveiling or further concrete updates from Tesla before making any financial commitments.
Key Specs
- Prototype Unveiled: November 2017
- Original Promised Production Date: 2020
- Latest Demo Date Target: August 2026 (not yet held)
- 0-60 mph Time: 1.9 seconds
- Top Speed: 250 mph (~402 km/h)
- Range: 620 miles (~998 km)
- Starting Price: $200,000 (~AUD 283,289)
- Founders Series Reservation: $250,000 (~AUD 354,111)
Source
Images sourced from: electrek.co, notateslaapp.com, livecarmodel.com
