Tesla delays the new Roadster reveal to October 15, and one theory says it could drive on the ceiling
The outdoor Texas event planned for today was pushed back two weeks because of the weather. Meanwhile, clues in the teaser have sparked a spectacular theory.
The next-generation Tesla Roadster was supposed to debut today, October 1, at an outdoor event near Waco, Texas. It won't. On September 28 Tesla said on X that it was moving the reveal to October 15 because forecasters were predicting severe conditions and the event can only be held outdoors. Elon Musk later summed it up as a delay "due to high winds".
It's one more slip for a car first shown as a prototype in November 2017 and promised back then for 2020.
Why the wind matters
Wind is no problem for an ordinary car, so blaming it got people talking, especially since Musk has repeatedly promised an "unforgettable" demo and has even hinted that some version of the Roadster could fly short distances.
Electrek pointed out that the storm forecast for the McGregor area clears within two or three days, so a two-week delay looks generous for a bit of rain. That suggests the demo needs very stable conditions.
Not a Tesla App's theory: a Roadster on the ceiling
Not a Tesla App connected a few dots:
- The teaser image showed the rear of the car upside down, with a light bar and four white plumes that look like thrusters.
- The original date, 10/01, reads the same when rotated 180 degrees.
- Tesla recently filed a patent for fans that increase downforce, the force that presses a car onto the road.
This isn't science fiction. The McMurtry Spéirling electric track car uses underbody fans that suck out air and produce around 2,000 kg of downforce even when standing still, more than the car weighs. In theory, a car like that can drive on a ceiling. Not a Tesla App thinks Tesla could pair fans with the cold-gas thrusters Musk has talked about to run through an inverted loop or a short upside-down section of track.
To be clear, this is a theory, not something Tesla has confirmed. We'll find out on October 15, unless it slips again.
What it means for drivers
For most of us the Roadster is a dream car, not a shopping-list car. electrive notes that in Germany a reservation means a €4,000 deposit followed by a mandatory €39,000 transfer, and warns that party tricks like thrusters could run into trouble with European road homologation.
The interesting part is the technology. If downforce fans ever reach a production car, the same idea could eventually mean more cornering grip without big wings that hurt efficiency. And on an EV, every aerodynamic gain shows up directly as range.
