DOMINANT ANGLE
Budapest first praises the Roadster's stunt, then recalls its nine-year delay: the Hungarian press stops at the feat of the Tesla-SpaceX thrusters and the announced performance figures.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Telex: unveiled Thursday evening at SpaceX's McGregor test site (Texas), with acceleration from 0 to 97 km/h in under one second and over 370 km/h top speed, according to Musk.
- 02
HVG: the Roadster announced in November 2017 for around 2020 will not be delivered until 2028; a 600-litre air tank powers the thrusters developed with SpaceX.
- 03
Telex: no official price, but deposits of $50,000 (Performance) and $250,000 (Thrust); the Rocket is by invitation only.
ANALYSIS
Budapest, October 16, 2026. The Hungarian press is treating the Roadster as a technical spectacle and a long-delayed promise. Telex reports that Tesla presented its new electric sports car on Thursday evening, "local time", during a show at SpaceX's test site in McGregor, Texas. Elon Musk stated that the vehicle is reminiscent of science fiction films because it "will be capable of flying". According to Telex, it will go from 0 to 97 km/h in less than one second, with a top speed of over 370 km/h.
The showstopper described by Telex: the two-seater, without a driver, climbs a steep ramp, remains suspended upside down, descends, then pivots in the air and lands using air jets. HVG specifies that the car, developed jointly by Tesla and SpaceX, uses special nozzles and a 600-liter high-pressure air tank to move through the air and, if necessary, "stick" to the asphalt. The site also mentions electronically controlled steering, brakes, and acceleration (steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, throttle-by-wire).
HVG emphasizes the time that has passed. The first production Roadster (2008-2012) was based on a Lotus platform; its successor, unveiled by Musk in November 2017, was promised with a 0 to 100 km/h time of 1.9 seconds, over 400 km/h, and 1,000 km of range, with a planned release date of around 2020. Nothing has come of it in nine years, and the first deliveries are not announced until 2028, meaning an additional two years of waiting. The site's title, "9 years later, here is the Tesla Roadster, which can also fly", summarizes this double register.
The figures for the final version vary depending on the model. HVG cites, according to Musk, a single-seat Rocket version that can reach 96 km/h in 0.59 seconds, with a top speed of around 370 km/h and 480 km of range; a two-seat Thrust version that can reach 0 to 100 km/h in 0.9 seconds; and a base Performance version that can reach 0 to 100 km/h in 1.6 seconds. The Rocket is only available by invitation.
As for the price, no tariff has been announced. Telex notes that the pre-order page displays three variants, with a deposit of $50,000 for the Performance and $250,000 for the Thrust. HVG, on the other hand, mentions a payment of "5+45 thousand" dollars for these two versions, which does not quite match Telex's figure. Both media outlets stick to the demonstration and characteristics, without commentary from analysts or market reaction.
