Tesla has postponed the launch event for its next-generation Roadster to October 15. Hopefully, this will be the final wait for fans and enthusiasts eager to see the new Tesla Roadster.

The delay itself is dramatic enough, but a new patent application disclosed on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website has made the whole matter even more intriguing.

The new patent obtained by Tesla Motors (TSLA) is titled "Electric Fan Car." Patent drawings show four ducted fans directing airflow rearward to increase downforce and improve high-speed stability. In a teaser image released last month, four white streaks of airflow can be seen shooting upward.

Tesla cleverly concealed design details of the next-generation Roadster in that teaser. The Tesla community noted that the company also flipped the image vertically to add further misdirection. However, when the image is rotated 180 degrees back to its original orientation, the teaser's meaning becomes clear.

Interestingly, Elon Musk originally promised SpaceX cold gas thrusters aimed at achieving roughly 1-second 0-to-60 mph acceleration, not ducted fans meant to boost downforce and improve handling.

Details of the "Electric Fan Car" Patent

According to USPTO records, Tesla Motors (TSLA) filed the patent application on January 17, 2024, and it was granted on September 29, 2026. The grant came just two days before the originally scheduled Roadster debut event.

The patent number at the USPTO is US 12,746,987 B1. Figure 1 in the patent PDF shows airflow channels along the underside of the vehicle.

The patent abstract summarizes the purpose of the invention as follows:

Abstract (Patent No. US 12,746,987 B1)

An electric vehicle includes a ducted fan system configured to increase downforce and reduce aerodynamic drag. The ducted fan system may have a diffuser section extending from an inlet on the vehicle chassis to an outlet at the rear of the vehicle. The ducted fan system may be connected to the electric vehicle's high-voltage battery and control system. The electric vehicle may further include a second set of diffuser sections to further enhance downforce.

Media outlets believe Tesla Motors (TSLA) deliberately used the now-discontinued Model S electric sedan as the illustrative vehicle in this patent. If the company had used engineering drawings of the next-generation Roadster directly, the design would have leaked before the originally scheduled event; combined with this latest postponement, the spoiler effect would have been severe.

But the core question remains: Is this patent really intended for the next-generation Roadster? The most credible answer ultimately rests with Tesla Motors (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk, who will reveal the answer on October 15 in Austin, Texas.

Musk could very well abandon the earlier SpaceX thruster approach, but if so, existing reservation holders and potential buyers will be greatly disappointed.

A Tesla Motors (TSLA) teaser video last year showed a fan spinning at high speed. At the time, I speculated it was a fan for the Roadster, but the event was subsequently postponed indefinitely, leaving the fan's purpose a mystery. This new patent provides plenty of clues (a technical analysis of the patent by Seth Parker can be read on X).

Still, abandoning the high-pressure cold gas thruster approach would be a major setback for Tesla Motors (TSLA).

Tesla Roadster Reservations and Pricing

The Roadster has a massive queue of reservation holders. In 2017, Tesla Motors (TSLA) unveiled the second-generation Roadster at its semi-truck event and immediately opened reservations with a $50,000 deposit. Over the past nine years, many reservation holders chose to cancel and went through a long, slow refund process, but a large number of original reservation customers remain.

The second-generation Roadster's originally announced pricing:

Founder Series: $250,000

Standard version: $200,000

Last month, Tesla Motors (TSLA) reopened reservations, still requiring a $50,000 deposit ($5,000 by credit card, $45,000 by bank wire). However, the official website does not list any sale price. Tesla Motors (TSLA) will announce pricing for the new Roadster at the upcoming event.

Tesla Motors (TSLA) also still needs to deliver about 80 Roadsters to referral program winners. This event will also clarify how the company plans to handle that backlog of deliveries.