Tesla Roadster Teaser Video Suggests Design Changes From 2017 Prototype
The nine-second clip reveals a connected front light bar, departing from the separate headlamp pods seen on the 2017 concept.
Tesla closed out its Semi event in Nevada on Thursday night with a short teaser video for the upcoming Roadster, signaling that the production model will look noticeably different from the prototype first revealed in 2017. The clip, posted to X after the livestream, features a connected white light bar across the vehicle's nose, a design element not present on the original concept.
What Happened
Tesla engineering executive Lars Moravy introduced the clip by stating, “We can’t have a Semi event without the Roadster,” a deliberate callback to the 2017 unveiling where the prototype was driven out of a Semi trailer. The new video opens with trailer doors swinging apart in the dark, revealing a thin white light bar glowing across the front of the car. Tesla and SpaceX logos flash over the frame before the clip ends with the text “See you next week.” The presence of a connected light strip would align the Roadster’s front fascia with Tesla’s other recent designs, including the Cybertruck, Cybercab, Semi, and refreshed Model Y, whereas the 2017 prototype featured two separate curved headlamp pods. Additionally, observers noted what appeared to be part of a SpaceX logo in the video, though Tesla has not addressed this detail.
Why It Matters
The teaser reinforces the long-promised integration of SpaceX technology into the Roadster, specifically the optional SpaceX Package. Elon Musk has previously stated this package would utilize cold gas thrusters to enhance acceleration and potentially allow the vehicle to briefly leave the ground. The reveal event is scheduled for October 1 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern in Waco, Texas, located approximately 20 minutes from SpaceX’s McGregor rocket test site. A temporary flight restriction is currently in place near the test site through October 2. Meanwhile, Tesla has reopened reservations, requiring a $5,000 refundable card payment followed by a $45,000 wire transfer within 10 days, committing buyers to $50,000 before a final price is published. The original 2017 pitch promised 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, 620 miles of range, and production starting in 2020; the timeline has since slipped, with Tesla now pointing to production at Gigafactory Texas no earlier than 2027.
The Bottom Line
Tesla has confirmed the Roadster reveal event will include pricing, specifications, and production targets, details reservation holders have waited nearly nine years to receive. The visual shift from separate headlamps to a connected light bar suggests a design evolution consistent with Tesla’s current vehicle lineup, while the continued presence of SpaceX branding indicates the performance package remains a central feature of the upcoming launch.
