Latest news with #PetersenAutomotiveMuseum
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Musk says Tesla's robotaxi service to ‘tentatively' launch in Austin on June 22
A fully functional, pre-production Tesla Cybercab, also known as the Robotaxi, is seen on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on Friday, Nov. 29,2024. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) AUSTIN, Texas — Elon Musk says Tesla is 'tentatively' set to begin providing robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, on June 22. In a post on his X social media platform, Musk said the date could change because Tesla is 'being super paranoid about safety.' Investors, Wall Street analysts and Tesla enthusiasts have been anticipating the rollout of the driverless cabs since Musk said earlier this year that the service would launch in Austin sometime in June. Last month, Musk told CNBC that the taxis will be remotely monitored at first and 'geofenced' to certain areas of the city deemed the safest to navigate. He said he expected to initially run 10 or so taxis, increase that number rapidly and start offering the service in Los Angeles, San Antonio, San Francisco and other cities. Musk has been promising fully autonomous, self-driving vehicles 'next year' for a decade, but the pressure is on now as Tesla actually begins to operate a self-driving taxi service. Sales of Tesla's electric vehicles have sagged due to increased competition, the retooling of its most popular car, the Model Y, and the fallout from Musk's turn to politics. The Austin rollout also comes after Musk had a public blowup with President Donald Trump over the administration's tax bill. Some analysts have expressed concern that Trump could retaliate by encouraging federal safety regulators to to step in at any sign of trouble for the robotaxis. The Associated Press
Forbes
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
The Petersen Auto Museum Opens Extensive ‘80s And ‘90s Car Exhibit
A McLaren F1 on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum's 'Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of ... More the '80s and '90s" exhibit. Ask any car enthusiast aged 20 to 50 what their favorite era of cars is, and I bet a healthy percentage will point to the 1980s and 1990s. Especially after their rise to prominence over the past couple of years, thanks in part to the folks behind Radwood. But this hasn't always been the case. That's because it's often been overshadowed by cars of '50s, '60s and '70s. For a myriad of reasons—nostalgia among older generations being a major one—famous collections, car shows, and auto museums have proudly displayed vehicles from these eras for quite a long time, highlighting their technological developments and design, as well as the greater culture of the era. But there's no reason why all-things automotive from the '80s and '90s shouldn't fill the same venues for the exact same reasons. The Petersen Automotive Museum's 'Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the '80s and '90s' exhibit. Nostalgia is nostalgia, and there's much to be celebrated about this this time period: the Petersen Automotive Museum's latest exhibit, 'Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the '80s and '90s,' proves why. 'This era defined what it meant to be behind the wheel, as cars became bold expressions of personal identity,' said Terry L. Karges, executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum, in the event's official press release. 'The exhibit is a full sensory time machine that brings the energy, creativity and unforgettable style of the '80s and '90s roaring back to life, and it's unlike anything we've ever done before.' I was in attendance at the exhibit's official unveiling this past Friday, June 7th, and walked away thoroughly impressed by how it all came together. The Petersen Automotive Museum's 'Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the '80s and '90s' exhibit. As the Petersen's first-ever exhibit that focuses on a set era, there's so much to take in. The cars, trucks and motorcycles are undoubtedly the stars of the show, but there's also an extensive amount of wall and floor space dedicated to video games and fashion. Naturally, the music echoing off of every vehicle's bodywork is quite fitting, too. In terms of connecting these corners of culture to give visitors a sense of what the time period was all about, the museum absolutely nailed it. Massive societal change, excess, expression, performance, bombast, fascinating technological progress—it's all documented and on display, ready to educate any curious mind. All walks of life will undoubtedly find something fascinating, even if they consider themselves to already have an encyclopedic knowledge of the subject matter. Including yours truly. I consider myself well-versed in this era, especially when it comes to all-things performance cars, but even I discovered something new. And I was amply impressed by the hardware that PAM staff were able to get their hands on, too. A Cizeta V16T supercar, Lamborghini LM002, Audi Sport Quattro S1, Gucci-customized 1984 Cadillac Seville, 1986 Citroen BX 4TC, tremendously forward-thinking 1998 Panoz Q9 GTR-1 Hybrid, McLaren F1 (my personal favorite), and so much more. The variety in four- and two-wheeled fare is outstanding, there's truly something for everyone. The Petersen Automotive Museum's 'Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the '80s and '90s' exhibit. The exhibit is now open and won't be there forever—I highly recommend making the trip if you're in Southern California or are planning a trip to this beautiful corner of the country sometime in the next few months.
New York Times
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
On a Search for an Old E.V., Jay Leno's Car Obsession Came Up Clutch
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together. As an energy reporter on the Business desk of The New York Times, I often cover the transition to electrify the world around us, including automobiles and heating and cooling systems. But until I spoke with the historian at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, I did not know that electric cars rattled down city streets as far back as the mid-1890s. A century ago, roughly a third of taxi drivers in New York City shuttled passengers around in electric cars. I set out to write an article about these cars, and a time before lawmakers gave deference to the oil industry by offering numerous tax breaks, paving the way for gasoline-powered vehicles. But finding an original E.V. that I could ride in proved difficult. Most of them sit in museums and personal collections. Enter the comedian — and car collector — Jay Leno. My editor suggested I reach out to Mr. Leno after learning about his 1909 Baker Electric, housed in his famous garage. Mr. Leno's team gave an enthusiastic 'Yes' in reply. When I arrived at his warehouse garage in Burbank, Calif., in April, Mr. Leno had his Baker Electric charged and ready to hit the streets. The 116-year-old car, which had been refurbished, looked like it had just rolled off the showroom floor. Still, the wooden high-top body, 36-inch rubber wheels and Victorian-style upholstery whispered the car's age. It was basically a carriage with batteries, enabling drivers to free horses from their bits and harnesses. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Car and Driver
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Retro Ford F-150, Lambos Star in New Radwood-Era Petersen Museum Exhibit
A new exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is showcasing icons of the 1980s and 1990s. Ultra-rare cars on show include the very first Buick GNX, the original DeLorean time machine from Back to the Future, and a one-of-one Nissan Skyline GT-R. It's the biggest Petersen exhibit so far this year, and there are even more '80s and '90s heroes to see throughout the museum. Remember the 1990s? Of course you do, it was just 10 years ago. Oh, wait, no it wasn't. No wonder our knees hurt. Well, should you remember the era of the Sony Discman and New Kids on the Block with fondness, the Petersen Automotive Museum has a great new exhibit for you. Along with a '92 Ford F-150 Flareside, pictured above with eye-popping paint and a cab spoiler, there are other Radwood-era eye candy, including iconic Lamborghinis such as an '85 Countach 5000S and '89 LM002. Read Our Review Petersen Automotive Museum A Radwood-Era Exhibit It's called 'Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the '80s and '90s,' and it's crammed with iconic vehicles that defined the era. This is a mainstage blowout experience, a Guns N' Roses touring with Aerosmith type of thing. The new exhibit features more than 13 classics that represent blockbuster movies, a world-beating performance, or the bedroom poster you had up next to the handbill from License to Drive. Petersen Automotive Museum On the Hollywood side of things, there's the original DeLorean DMC-12 time machine from Back to the Future, as well as the 1998 Beetle used in the Austin Powers franchise (also a time machine). Rally-car royalty is represented by a 1985 Audi Sport Quattro Group B car, and there's also the very first Buick GNX on display. Read Our Review Petersen Automotive Museum Perhaps most exciting are the supercars, which range from rare beasts like the Vector M12 and the sixteen-cylinder Cizeta Moroder V16T to the apex predator of them all, the McLaren F1. JDM culture will also be present with something of a mic drop moment: the NISMO Skyline GT-R LM homologation special built to allow Nissan to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There's only one in the world. Petersen Automotive Museum Read Our Review Petersen Automotive Museum Whether you're into Countachs or Corvettes, there's something for everyone here. Grab your denim jacket, hairspray the heck out of your hair, then get on down to the Petersen Museum. The exhibit opens Friday, June 6. Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels.
Auto Blog
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Petersen Automotive Museum Gets Totally Rad With New 80s and 90s Exhibit
Arguably the coolest auto museum in Los Angeles just got even cooler Los Angeles is one of the greatest places on Earth to be if you're a car enthusiast. Sure, there's the weather, wealth, and winding canyons, but there's also places like the Petersen Automotive Museum. Throughout its thirty-year history, it has been no stranger to hosting themed events and exhibits. But this one is special, particularly if you happen to be between the ages of, say, 35 and 45 or a connoisseur of the decades that practically invented the term 'retro.' In just a few short weeks, the Petersen will play host to a curated collection of super rad 1980s and 1990s supercars, SUVs, and more. Totally Awesome promo poster — Source: Kahn Media/Petersen Automotive Museum Totally Awesome! brings some of the most poster-worthy cars ever to a museum setting It's undeniable that the 1980s and 1990s brought some real heartbreakers to the street. Swoopy spoilers, sharp, angular designs, 'futuristic' digital dashboards, and rudimentary head-up displays were all the rage. Pop-up headlights were positively in vogue, and in-car CD players were the next big thing. The Petersen Automotive Museum's latest exhibit is making a toast to the era, and it isn't just limited to cars. The organization says there will be everything from motorcycles to video games — something for everyone, really. Of course, since you're reading Autoblog, there's a less than zero chance that you're interested in what cars, exactly, will be hanging around. Brace yourselves, because the guest list reads like a Radwood attendee's fever dream. The McLaren F1, Lamborghini Countach (and, even quirkier, an LM 002), and, naturally, the DeLorean DMC-12 are all scheduled to be on display. The latter, in fact, is the DeLorean DMC-12; yes, the one from Back to the Future. Even more notable guests include a genuine Audi Sport Quattro Group B rally car, a Corvette Indy concept, and the first Buick GNX built. In the parlance of our (bygone) times: tubular. Opening day is June 7th, 2025, and the exhibit is scheduled to run until April of 2026. McLaren F1 Lamborghini LM 002 and Countach Cars from the '80s and '90s are bigger than ever — just check your local auction listings As vintage American muscle started getting tremendous auction attention in the early 2000s, cars from the 1980s and 1990s have begun to similarly rise to popularity and downright collectability. A quick peek at any of the popular online auction sites will reveal an entire economy of ostensibly overpriced sheet metal. Who knew a 1991 GMC Syclone would one day be worth $130,000? Even less niche cars command exorbitant prices; how does an $81,000 1998 Suburban sound? Turns out, there's a lot of love for this extremely unique era in automotive history, and, funny enough, it turns out that nostalgia never gets old. Arguably, one of the best ways to enjoy it is the exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Final thoughts The Petersen Automotive Museum is a fantastic visit no matter what exhibits are featured, but we're certain this one will have many enthusiasts taking that trip to Los Angeles that they've been putting off. As a two-time visitor, I can personally attest to the level of thoughtfulness and detail that the Petersen Automotive Museum puts into every aspect of its experiences. It's going to be worth the visit, especially if you're already in Southern California or adjacent regions. Tickets start at $21, and I submit that there's little else you could do in LA that's a better bang for your buck.
