Tesla has delayed the long-awaited reveal of its second-generation Roadster once again, with severe weather at the planned Texas launch venue forcing the company to move the event back by two weeks.
The final production version had been due to make its debut on 1 October, almost nine years after the Roadster was first shown as a concept. Tesla has now confirmed that the reveal will take place on 15 October instead.
The company said it had been monitoring the forecast with local meteorologists before deciding to postpone the outdoor event.
Tesla has yet to confirm whether the revised launch will still take place at the originally planned venue in Waco, Texas.
Tesla Roadster reveal and launch date
The second-generation Roadster has been through a lengthy development process since it was unveiled alongside the Tesla Semi in 2017.
Tesla originally targeted 2020 for the car's launch, but that date slipped to 2022. Further delays followed, with the Roadster subsequently pushed back through 2023 and 2024 before the project went largely quiet.
The latest reveal announcement had appeared to signal that the wait was finally coming to an end. That has now changed, although the new 15 October date means buyers will only have to wait another two weeks for Tesla to show the production car.
Roadster deposit holders had been invited to the original event on a non-transferable basis. Tesla has never confirmed how many deposits it has taken.
Tesla Roadster price and specs
When the Roadster was first announced, Tesla claimed it would deliver performance that would put it among the quickest production cars in the world.
The original figures included a claimed 0-60mph time of 1.9 seconds, a top speed above 250mph and a range of around 620 miles.
Those figures were extraordinary when they were announced in 2017, and they would still represent a formidable combination for an electric car today. However, Tesla has yet to confirm whether the production Roadster will retain those specifications.
The company has also previously discussed an optional package using cold-air thrusters developed with SpaceX. Elon Musk has claimed this could reduce the car's 0-60mph time to around 1.1 seconds.
That technology remains one of the most unusual promises attached to the Roadster, but its availability and final specification have yet to be confirmed.
Tesla Roadster design gets a major rethink
Tesla's only official teaser for the forthcoming reveal shows little of the car, although exhaust plumes from the proposed thruster system are visible.
Other details appear to hint at a significant departure from the original concept.
A full-width rear light bar and a substantial rear wing can be seen, suggesting a much more aggressive design than the relatively clean and understated two-door shown in 2017.
The original Roadster concept was presented as a 2+2 convertible with styling derived in part from the Model S. The production car could look considerably more dramatic when Tesla finally pulls the covers off.
Tesla Roadster price in the UK
Tesla previously indicated that the Roadster would cost around £150,000 in standard form, with the higher-spec Founders Series expected to cost approximately £185,000.
Those figures date back to the original announcement, so prospective UK buyers should wait for Tesla to confirm current pricing and specifications before treating them as final.
The company has also yet to confirm when UK deliveries will begin or exactly which versions will be offered here.
Tesla Roadster faces new electric supercar rivals
The latest delay means Tesla's Roadster will now be revealed after Jaguar's forthcoming Type 01, another high-profile electric performance car targeting the upper end of the market.
The two cars occupy a similar space, although their approaches are very different.
Tesla has spent years promising extreme acceleration and a huge driving range, while the Roadster's eventual production specification will determine how closely the finished car matches the claims made when the concept first appeared.
For now, the biggest question is simple. After years of delays, the 15 October event needs to show a production-ready car with firm specifications and a clear route to customers.
Until then, the Roadster remains one of the most ambitious unfinished chapters in Tesla's line-up.