AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from The Verge, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

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Tesla’s next-generation Roadster sports car is finally expected to launch at an event in Waco, Texas, after nearly a decade since Elon Musk first announced plans for it. The vehicle promises to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under two seconds and reach speeds over 250 mph. It also features an optional "SpaceX package" with cold-gas thrusters that allow the car to fly a little, according to Musk.

Despite these claims, the Roadster has been described as extreme vaporware due to years of missed deadlines and broken promises. Several reservation holders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and YouTuber Marques Brownlee, canceled their orders assuming the project would fail. The car is positioned as a status symbol rather than a practical product, with Musk stating it will be the last Tesla vehicle built for human driving while the company focuses on autonomous robots and AI.

The timing of the launch faces challenges in an EV market with high energy prices and slowing sales. Many potential buyers prefer internal combustion engines for their mechanical characteristics and brand loyalty over electric performance metrics. Competitors like Rimac, Pininfarina, and Lotus have struggled to sell similar hypercars despite impressive engineering feats. Additionally, Tesla has already achieved comparable acceleration times with its Model S Plaid, released in 2021.