The new Tesla Roadster in Canada.

Tesla showed four versions: the base, the Performance, the Thrust and the Rocket. The Thrust and Rocket carry SpaceX's cold gas thruster system. As I understand it, the Performance skips the SpaceX hardware and uses a suction system for grip, similar in idea to the McMurtry fan car Unconfirmed.

The Performance is the practical one: a GT-style car you can cruise in and then take to the track.

I think this is the real story. It's the same idea SpaceX uses to flip Falcon 9 boosters, shrunk down to fit in a car. Now that it's been miniaturized and proven in a car, I think SpaceX could sell that system on its own for all kinds of uses here on Earth. Like the Cybertruck, the Roadster is a showcase of what their engineering can do.

My take: I don't think the Rocket will ever be road legal; it'll be a closed-track car. I'm not sure the Thrust will be either. Imagine the car in front of you blasting cold gas at you. Musk has said some jurisdictions could allow it Unconfirmed. The Performance is the one you'll actually see on the road.

The 2017 reveal showed four seats. The new Roadster has two. On the Thrust and Rocket, the compressed gas tank sits where the rear seats were. On the base and Performance, I believe that space is for luggage Unconfirmed.

Musk also said the car wasn't optimized for safety Unconfirmed, which is a big departure from Tesla's usual safety-first message. I think that's exactly the appeal for supercar buyers and EV enthusiasts.

Tesla is taking new deposits in Canada. For the Performance, it works out to about CA$70,000 all in: $7,000 to start, then about $63,000 wired within 10 days. The Thrust's second payment is much higher; I believe it's around $363,000 Unconfirmed.

You can cancel any time before configuration, so it's basically an interest-free loan to Tesla. Once you configure the car, the deposit isn't refundable. Terms can change, so check Tesla's order page before you put money down.

Tesla hasn't announced a price for any version, not even the base. My guess is CA$350,000 to $400,000 for the Performance, maybe more. Past $500,000 it's supercar territory, but it does have supercar stats. It isn't a Miata or a Lotus Elise anymore.

For the average owner, nothing changes. I'm not getting thrusters on my Model Y Standard. The Roadster is a halo car, and some of its tech could trickle down to other products later. If you want a Tesla for daily driving in Canada, start with the buying guide.