Want to See the Tesla Roadster in Person? Here's Your Chance

The Tesla Roadster that appeared alongside Elon Musk and his team at its October unveiling is heading to the Petersen Automotive Museum, where the public will get its first up-close look at the long-delayed electric supercar. The car goes on display in the museum's main lobby from Saturday, October 24th through Tuesday, October 27th, a limited four-day appearance that marks the first time anyone outside the reveal can experience it in person.

The vehicle on show is the same one Tesla unveiled on October 14, 2026, in McGregor, Texas. The Petersen describes the appearance as the first chance for the public to see how Tesla "challenged the limits of design, engineering and physics to deliver an expertly crafted vehicle that can perform at levels unlike any other production car."

That reveal arrived almost nine years after the original Roadster prototype's debut. According to Tesla, the car will hit 0-60 mph in under 1.0 second, pull up to 2 g of cornering grip, and deploy thrusters sourced from SpaceX. Production is slated for 2028.

The most unconventional element sits underneath the car. Tesla has fitted a fan suction system that draws the Roadster down onto the pavement, producing enough downforce for as much as 2 g of cornering force. The car can take corners hard enough to appear to defy physics, and the setup is aimed at setting track records. Musk set the ambition plainly: "It's gonna crush every track record that has ever existed," he said. Tesla has also claimed the car can literally fly.

The Roadster will also hold a distinct place in Tesla's lineup as the rest of the range moves toward autonomous driving. Musk said the driver will stay in control of the car. "This will actually be long-term the only manually driven car that Tesla makes," he said. "So if it's going to be the only manually driven car, let's take it to the limits and beyond the limits."

Visitors to the Petersen will find the Roadster in the lobby for all four days of its run.