Tesla prepares to unveil its Roadster tonight after nearly a decade of delays, with Musk hinting it could hover or fly

Elon Musk is set to unveil the long-awaited second-generation Tesla Roadster at a SpaceX test facility in Waco, Texas tonight, nearly nine years after first promising the electric sports car would reach customers by 2020. The livestream kicks off at 8:55 p.m. ET; Musk responded to the announced 7:55 p.m. CDT start time with the cryptic remark "timing is everything," fuelling speculation that the numbers are a nod to the base price. Analysts are cautious after repeated broken promises, though one CFRA Research analyst suggests the reveal could help Tesla shake its "streak of disappointing product announcements."

Musk has claimed the Roadster will hit 0-60 mph in under a second and top 250 mph, with an optional SpaceX cold-gas thruster package that could let it briefly fly.

Tesla is asking prospective buyers for a $50,000 reservation deposit now, with the car expected to cost upwards of $250,000 — though no firm price has been confirmed.

Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein called the Roadster Tesla's future 'halo car', but Musk himself admitted it is a 'small potato situation' that won't move the needle financially.