The New Tesla Roadster Is in a Los Angeles Museum Lobby Through Tuesday. A Field Guide to What to Look For, and What Is Still Unconfirmed
By EV Bandit | Updated October 24, 2026
Key takeaways
- The Roadster unveiled in Texas is on public display in the main lobby of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles from Saturday, Oct. 24 through Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.
- Daily hours (10 AM to 6 PM) and no ticket for the lobby car rest on a single outlet, Drive Tesla Canada. Confirm with the museum before you drive.
- Tesla claims 0 to 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds for Performance, under 0.9 seconds for Thrust and under 0.59 seconds for Rocket, plus more than 300 miles of range. Those are stage claims, not independent tests.
- Tesla North notes it is unclear whether the lobby car includes the thruster hardware.
The Tesla Roadster that was unveiled in Texas goes on public display today in the main lobby of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, and stays through Tuesday, October 27. It is the first time the public can see the car up close, according to Tesla North, which says Tesla North America confirmed the dates on X. The museum calls it "a limited four-day appearance."
"A limited four-day appearance." The Petersen Automotive Museum, as quoted by Tesla North
At a glance
| Question | Answer | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Main lobby, Petersen Automotive Museum, Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles (6060 Wilshire Blvd per Drive Tesla) | Tesla North, Drive Tesla Canada |
| When | Saturday, Oct. 24 through Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026 | Tesla North, Drive Tesla Canada, The Shop Magazine |
| Hours | 10 AM to 6 PM daily, per one outlet | Drive Tesla Canada only; Tesla North and The Shop Magazine do not list hours. Confirm with the museum before you drive. |
| Ticket | None needed to see the lobby car, per one outlet | Drive Tesla Canada only. Confirm. |
| Which car | The same Roadster shown at the unveiling in Central Texas | Tesla North, The Shop Magazine, Drive Tesla Canada |
Claims worth testing against the real car
Tesla showed three versions at the unveiling. Per Tesla North's recap, the company claims 0 to 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds for Performance, under 0.9 seconds for Thrust and under 0.59 seconds for Rocket, plus more than 300 miles of range. Those are Tesla's claims from a stage presentation, not independent tests, and a car on a lobby floor cannot confirm any of them. What a visitor can judge is fit, finish, size, the cabin and the layout.
One question a visitor cannot answer from the sidewalk either: Tesla North notes it is unclear whether the lobby car includes the thruster hardware. Do not assume it does. Tesla's engineering chief Lars Moravy said at the event that the thrusters produce more than three times the force needed to lift the car, even at a deliberately heavy weight, per the same report.
What to look at from the rope line
Tesla released a 34-second clip on X on Friday, October 23, showing the Roadster's touchscreen, according to Tesla North. Tesla's caption: "Inspired by fighter jet cockpits, Roadster's interface was designed around the pilot." The clip shows a track-mode screen with lap data, brake and motor temperatures, aero modes and a thruster readout. That report rests on one outlet and a promotional clip, and we have not confirmed that the displayed values are real rather than demo data. If the lobby car has a lit screen, it is the one place to compare.
What we could not confirm. Daily hours and ticketing rest on a single outlet. Whether the thrusters are installed on the lobby car is unconfirmed. We found no source for production dates beyond what Tesla said at the unveiling. We will update this page if the museum or Tesla publishes more.
For the full record of promises versus the car shown, see our unveiling report and the explainer on the fans, thrusters and wings.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see the new Tesla Roadster in person?
In the main lobby of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles (6060 Wilshire Blvd per Drive Tesla), from Saturday, Oct. 24 through Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.
What are the hours, and do I need a ticket to see the Roadster at the Petersen?
Drive Tesla Canada lists 10 AM to 6 PM daily and says no ticket is needed to see the lobby car. Tesla North and The Shop Magazine do not list hours. Confirm with the museum before you drive.
Does the museum Roadster have the thrusters installed?
Unconfirmed. Tesla North notes it is unclear whether the lobby car includes the thruster hardware. Do not assume it does.
How fast is the new Tesla Roadster?
Per Tesla North's recap, Tesla claims 0 to 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds for Performance, under 0.9 seconds for Thrust and under 0.59 seconds for Rocket, plus more than 300 miles of range. Those are Tesla's claims from a stage presentation, not independent tests.
Going this weekend? Tell the 255,000-member Tesla Model Y owners group what the panel gaps and cabin looked like in person. Photos beat press releases.
Sources
- Tesla North, Oct. 23, 2026: Roadster Petersen display
- Drive Tesla Canada: public display details
- The Shop Magazine, Oct. 22, 2026
- Tesla North, Oct. 23, 2026: cockpit interface video