AUSTIN, Texas — Tesla's long-promised next-generation Roadster is coming "very soon," chief designer Franz von Holzhausen said this week, reviving anticipation for the all-electric hypercar that remains one of the most closely watched projects in the company's lineup.
Von Holzhausen made the remark on the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage. When Leno said he was eagerly anticipating the new Roadster, the designer answered simply, "Yes, very soon," and repeated it when pressed a second time. The exchange, first detailed by Electrek, was brief, but it was enough to send Tesla fans buzzing about a vehicle that has taken on near-mythical status.
A Halo Car Years in the Making
Tesla first revealed the second-generation Roadster in November 2017 with headline-grabbing targets: a 0-60 mph time under 1.9 seconds, a top speed above 250 mph, roughly 620 miles of range, and a starting price around $200,000. Founders Series reservation holders placed deposits of up to $250,000 to secure early build slots.
The car has since become a symbol of Tesla's ambition to push past the boundaries of what an electric vehicle can do. While the company has spent recent years channeling enormous resources into autonomy, robotics, and AI — themes explored in our coverage of how Musk has put AI and robots at the center of Tesla's story — the Roadster represents its performance heritage, a driver's car in an era of self-driving software.
The SpaceX Connection
Part of what makes the Roadster so distinctive is its planned integration with SpaceX. Musk has repeatedly teased an optional "cold gas thruster" package, internally referred to as A71, that could slash the 0-60 time to roughly 1.1 seconds and add short-hop capabilities no production car has attempted. That cross-company engineering is exactly the kind of synergy Tesla has leaned into as Musk's ventures grow more intertwined.
The thruster work is also the reason cited for the most recent timing adjustments, with the hardware requiring additional development before a public showcase. Tesla continues to refine the technology, and the payoff — a road car with rocket-derived performance — keeps expectations sky-high.
What Comes Next
Von Holzhausen has led Tesla design since 2008, shaping the look of the Model S, Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, and Cybercab. His confidence signals that an unveiling could finally be near, even if a full production ramp would likely follow later. Tesla has shown it can bring bold hardware to market, from the stainless-steel Cybertruck to the recently upgraded carbon-fiber Cybertruck underbody.
If the Roadster arrives as Musk and von Holzhausen envision, it will stand as a statement piece — proof that Tesla can build the fastest production car in the world while it simultaneously reinvents transportation with autonomy and energy. For the enthusiasts who have waited nearly a decade, "very soon" is the phrase they have been longing to hear, and 2026 may finally be the year the wait ends.
