Tesla (TSLA) Stock: Roadster’s Face Finally Peeks Out of the Shadows

TLDR

• Tesla released a new teaser image of the next-generation Roadster ahead of its October 1 reveal event in Waco, Texas.
• The teaser shows only a full-width LED light bar, with the rest of the car hidden in darkness.
• Reservations have reopened, requiring a $5,000 refundable credit card charge followed by a $45,000 wire transfer within 10 days.
• The Roadster was first unveiled as a prototype in 2017 and has been delayed at least eight times since.
• Investors and reservation holders are watching for confirmed pricing, performance figures, and a real production timeline.

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Tesla (TSLA) stock is in focus this week after the company dropped a fresh teaser for its long-delayed Roadster. The reveal event is set for October 1 at 8:30 p.m. in Waco, Texas.

See you next week pic.twitter.com/BT52bGVxFu

— Tesla (@Tesla) September 25, 2026

The new image doesn’t show much. It’s mostly darkness, with a full-width LED light bar glowing across what appears to be the car’s front end.

That’s likely intentional. Tesla has leaned on mystery and drip-fed teasers for years while the Roadster program sat in limbo.

Invitations for the event have gone out to reservation holders. The exact venue hasn’t been made public yet.

This isn’t Tesla’s first rodeo with the Roadster. The car was first shown as a prototype back in 2017, promising sub-2-second 0-60 mph acceleration and a claimed range of around 620 miles.

Since that 2017 debut, Tesla has pushed the launch back at least eight times. So a bit of skepticism from longtime watchers is fair game here.

What Tesla Has Promised So Far

The 2017 prototype came with big numbers attached. Top speed was pegged above 250 mph, with a roughly 200 kWh battery pack behind the range claims.

Rocket thrusters from @SpaceX

The new Tesla Roadster will be out of this world 👀 https://t.co/jzD4OJ68Zb pic.twitter.com/ejfhRzcmrs

— X Martians (@X_Martians) September 14, 2026

There was also talk of SpaceX-developed cold-gas thrusters possibly making an appearance at the reveal. Whether that capability is real or just for show remains unproven.

None of these performance claims have been independently verified in a production setting. That’s part of why the October event matters so much to reservation holders.

Reservations Are Open Again

Tesla has reopened the reservation portal for the new Roadster. The process starts with a $5,000 refundable credit card payment.

From there, customers have 10 days to complete a $45,000 wire transfer to lock in their spot. That puts the total commitment at $50,000 before a final price has even been confirmed.

Some of these reservation holders have been waiting since the car was first teased nine years ago. That’s a long time to sit on a deposit without a delivery date.

The original Roadster, Tesla’s first production car, sold from 2008 to 2012. It was built on a modified Lotus Elise chassis and offered around 200 miles of real-world range, a big deal at the time.

About 2,450 units of that first Roadster were built before Tesla shifted its attention to the Model S. It’s remembered as the car that proved a lithium-ion battery sports car could actually work in the real world.

The upcoming reveal is expected to include confirmed specs, interior details, and word on production plans. Investors will also be listening for any update on delivery timing given the years of delayed promises.

The event is scheduled for October 1 in Waco, Texas, at 8:30 p.m.