Tesla Roadster Reveal Nears as Elon Musk Fuels ‘Back to the Future’ Easter-Egg Speculation — TSLA CEO Says ‘Timing Is Everything’

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is counting down to the latest reveal of its long-delayed next-generation Roadster, with Elon Musk adding intrigue to apparent Back to the Future references surrounding the event. Tesla Teaser Fuels Movie Easter-Egg Speculation Tesla scheduled the Roadster livestream for Oct. 15 after postponing its planned Oct. 1 outdoor event because of severe weather. The company’s official livestream page now carries a Roadster countdown. Musk amplified Tesla’s latest teaser on X with three words, stating, "Timing is everything." The teaser shows the Roadster’s illuminated rear against a space-themed background and includes the phrase "Where we are going," language that has fueled comparisons with Back to the Future. A previous Roadster teaser similarly concealed "Where we’re going…" in the image. Timing is everything https://t.co/xs1DtjA9Nj— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 14, 2026 Some fans have also speculated about a possible 1955 reference, although there is no indication from Tesla or Musk that the timing is intentional, making the connection an Easter-egg theory rather than an announced feature of the event. Read Also: Ross Gerber Says Tesla May Make Just ‘a Few Hundred’ Roadsters: ‘Hovering Is a Gimmick’ Roadster Delays Become a Running Joke The bigger joke surrounding the Roadster, however, has been its timetable. Tesla first unveiled the second-generation model in November 2017 and originally targeted deliveries for 2020. The program has repeatedly slipped since then. The repeated missed targets have turned the Roadster into a recurring punchline among automotive and technology followers, particularly whenever Musk announces another date. This year alone, Musk said in March that the new Roadster would "probably" debut in late April, after earlier plans had pointed to an April demonstration. The event later moved toward summer, then August, before Tesla announced Oct. 1 and subsequently pushed it to Oct. 15 because of weather. SpaceX Thrusters Raise Performance Expectations Further Expectations have grown alongside the delays. Reuters reported that Tesla has worked with SpaceX on a limited Roadster version using cold-gas thrusters, with a demonstration potentially showcasing technology capable of producing extreme acceleration and even briefly lifting the vehicle. Musk has also revived speculation about the concept by saying, "You will get flying cars," while the proposed SpaceX hardware has kept hovering claims alive. Tesla’s current Roadster page still advertises a 1.9-second 0-to-60 mph time, more than 250 mph top speed and 620 miles of range. Price Action: TSLA shares were trading 0.09% lower at $374.88 in after-hours trading on Tuesday. Read Also: Goldman Says Tesla’s Robotaxi, Optimus Outlook Will Matter More Than Q3 Earnings. Here’s the Bar for Oct. 21 Photo courtesy: Rokas Tenys on Shutterstock.com