Tesla's Roadster cockpit reveals fighter jet inspiration: What drivers can expect

The Roadster’s cockpit layout is a significant departure from Tesla’s usual design, featuring a central display with the car itself at the focus. In a 34 second video posted to X on Friday afternoon, Tesla gave future owners their clearest look yet at the cockpit of its next generation Roadster. The clip opens on a black screen with red graphics and a 3D wireframe of the car, which sits beside the Roadster’s squared off yoke. Tapping parts of the model brings up controls for the rear wing, including low drag and high downforce positions, along with a charging page with a charge limit bar and a small music player.

A row of tabs along the bottom reads Home, Vehicle, Listen, Climate and Navigate. Most of the video is spent in Track Mode. The dashboard shows a live circuit map, a list of session lap times, brake and motor temperatures, and pressure and temperature readouts for each tire. A setup page lets the driver pick Auto, Low Drag, High Downforce or Custom aero modes, adjust aero balance and brake balance, and switch stability and traction control off.

Along the bottom, a status bar reads “Thruster · 5,500 PSI” next to a “Boost Ready” indicator. That gauge ties the software to the hardware Tesla showed off near Waco, Texas on October 15. The Thrust and Rocket versions use cold gas thrusters fed by carbon overwrapped pressure vessels, and Tesla lists 0 to 60 mph times of under 0.9 seconds and under 0.59 seconds for them.

The interface could still change before deliveries. Elon Musk said at the event that Roadster production will begin in 2028, and Tesla says the flagship Rocket version is not approved for public road use. Reservations are open with a $50,000 payment, while Thrust is listed as a limited release and Rocket is invite only. Those who want to see the car in person will get their first chance this weekend. The Roadster goes on display in the lobby of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles from October 24 to 27.