Tesla’s second-generation Roadster combines ambitious performance hardware with a cockpit interface designed for driving data. Videos from the company’s October event offer a closer look at the touchscreen, showing drivers controlling the electric sports car’s adjustable aerodynamics and track-focused systems.
The display uses a dark interface with red and white graphics inspired by the cockpit screens of fighter jets. The layout makes important vehicle information easily accessible. Smaller displays at the bottom of the windshield also show speed and lap data, helping the driver monitor performance without having to look away from the road for long periods of time.
Production is still scheduled for 2028, giving Tesla time to refine the software. However, the footage already offers a detailed look at how the automaker plans to integrate the Roadster’s special hardware into its digital controls.
A cockpit for drivers
The touchscreen organizes its main functions into five tabs: Home, Vehicle, Lists, Climate and Navigate. The familiar arrangement is intended to help existing Tesla owners find everyday controls without having to learn an entirely new interface.
Home offers a three-dimensional wireframe model of the Roadster. Drivers can zoom in on the mechanical components, which appear in metallic gold. The visualization also makes hardware such as the suspension and engines visible.
Touchscreen controls allow drivers to adjust the rear wing, hood ventilation and exterior lighting. The display also provides access to battery information and charging limits. There is a compact music bar above the main navigation bar.
The design goes beyond appearance. Tesla has described the interface as being different from its previous systems, with a focus on the Roadster’s specific needs. A bright mode offers an alternative to the predominantly dark display, although both retain the same basic layout.
Track mode gets technical
There are four profiles available to the driver on the Vehicle tab: Comfort, Balance, Sport and Custom. Each offers a different approach to the vehicle’s handling characteristics, while Custom offers more detailed customizations.
Drivers can change acceleration behavior, suspension stiffness and ride height. Additional controls cover aerodynamic components, including the front and rear fenders. This flexibility could help owners adapt the car for street driving or track driving.
Track mode takes the interface into more specialized territory. The display shows lap times, session statistics and a route map. It also includes vehicle telemetry and allows drivers to access information relevant to monitoring performance on a closed route.
The steering fork provides another level of control. Its buttons include turn signal, boost and drag reduction system functions, eliminating the need to navigate touchscreen menus during demanding driving.
In addition to a boost readiness indicator, Tesla also showed a pressure gauge for the engine with a reading of 5,500 PSI. The display combines the Roadster’s unusual drive hardware with the same digital environment used for traditional vehicle settings.
Everyday controls take on personality
The remaining tabs focus on routine functions. “Listen” displays album art and playback information, while “Climate” displays cabin airflow and seat temperature. Navigate provides the vehicle’s map interface.
Tesla has also included a playful detail in the rear view. An animated hedgehog appears to walk up a driveway before waving at the driver. The little Easter egg adds personality to a user interface otherwise dominated by performance data.
The production version could still differ from the car shown at the event. Tesla has time to adjust the layout and functionality until the planned start of production in 2028.
