Roadster ClubTesla Roadster versions:
Performance, Thrust and Rocket.
Performance and Thrust have two seats; Rocket has one. Compare their propulsion, flight claims, reservation access and the specifications Tesla has yet to confirm.
Which Tesla Roadster version can fly?
Tesla assigns flight capability to the one-seat Rocket version. Performance is road-focused; Thrust adds rear acceleration thrusters. Their names do not establish a common acceleration time, flight system or purchase price.
2026 Roadster version comparison
| What to compare | Performance | Thrust | Rocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seating | 2 seatsManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026 | 2 seatsManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026 | 1 seatManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026 |
| Propulsion | Electric driveManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026No thrusters listed for this version. | Electric drive + rear cold-gas thrustersManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026 | Electric drive + perimeter cold-gas thrustersManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026 |
| Aero systems | Active aero + fan suctionManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026 | Active aero + fan suctionManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026 | Fan suction + flight controlManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026 |
| 0–60 mph | Not publishedNot confirmedTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026No version-specific 0–60 mph time on the checked page. | Under 1 secondManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 20260–60 mph; rollout, tires, surface and payload not published. | Not separately publishedNot confirmedTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026Do not assign the demo’s 0.81 s to a saleable trim. |
| Driving range | Not publishedNot confirmedTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026No current range or test cycle provided. | Not publishedNot confirmedTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026 | Not publishedNot confirmedTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026Flight endurance and driving range are separate unknowns. |
| Flight capability | Not offeredManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026Flight system is described for Rocket only. | Not offeredManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026Rear acceleration thrusters do not imply a flight system. | Flight capability claimedManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026Not approved for public road use; regional restrictions apply. |
| Reservation access | By reservationManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026 | Limited releaseManufacturer claimTesla US / checked 15 Oct 2026One reservation per customer; regional legal requirements apply. | Invite onlyManufacturer claimTesla / checked 15 Oct 2026 |
| US reservation payments | $50,000 totalManufacturer claimTesla US / checked 15 Oct 2026$5,000 today + $45,000 within 10 days. US, USD. | $250,000 totalManufacturer claimTesla US / checked 15 Oct 2026$5,000 today + $245,000 within 10 days. US, USD. | Not publicly listedNot confirmedTesla US / checked 15 Oct 2026Invite-only option; no public payment terms verified. |
| Vehicle purchase price | Not publishedNot confirmedTesla US / checked 15 Oct 2026Reservation payments are not the purchase price. | Not publishedNot confirmedTesla US / checked 15 Oct 2026 | Not publishedNot confirmedTesla US / checked 15 Oct 2026 |
Which version matches which intent?
Performance: road driving
Tesla describes two seats, active aerodynamics and suction-generated downforce. A separate, current acceleration time and driving range were not published on the checked page. Treat road-ready language as a product description, not proof of approval in your country.
Thrust: acceleration assistance
Rear cold-gas thrusters are the important distinction. The product page associates a sub-one-second 0–60 mph claim with Thrust. It does not supply enough test detail to compare that claim directly with independently timed cars.
Rocket: a separate flight proposition
The official description specifies one seat and a perimeter flight system. Tesla marks this variant as not approved for public road use. Invitation access and regional availability also matter.
Tesla / checked 15 Oct 2026 · Tesla US / checked 15 Oct 2026
What to verify before reserving
Use the exact trim and region
Do not transfer the prototype’s two-seat presentation, tank figures or demo acceleration to the Rocket reservation specification. The single-seat Rocket description is the controlling trim-level source here.
Final price, delivery month, homologation, insurance and flight operating limits remain separate questions. We have not filled those gaps with estimates.
Tesla Roadster questions, answered
How many seats does each version have?
The checked Tesla descriptions specify two seats for Performance and Thrust, and one for Rocket. The two-seat unveiling prototype does not establish the Rocket cockpit layout.
Is the SpaceX package the same as every new Roadster?
Older references to a SpaceX package should be checked against the current Performance, Thrust and Rocket descriptions. Rear acceleration assistance and a perimeter flight system are different configurations.