Petersen Automotive Museum Unveils a Summer of Innovation with Four New Exhibits

July 16, 2024 by The Petersen Automotive Museum

The exhibits will feature a diverse range of vehicles, from modern concepts and futuristic self-driving prototypes to rare hypercars

The Petersen Automotive Museum will open four brand new exhibits this August, marking its largest simultaneous exhibit launch to date. Each exhibit will showcase a range of automotive innovations from historical concept vehicles to rare hypercars and futuristic prototypes.

Here's a look at what the world's premier automotive museum has lined up for its second-floor galleries this summer:

Alternating Currents: The Fall and Rise of Electric Vehicles, opens August 3

Supported by BMW and Clarios, this exhibit will showcase the progression of electric vehicles from the late 1800s to modern concepts. Located in the Propulsion Gallery on the second floor, 'Alternating Currents' traces the evolution of electric vehicle production and use from the early days to the modern resurgence and future advancements.

Highlighted vehicles on display include 1896 Riker electric roadster, 1928 Auto Red Bug electric roadster, 1969 GM XP 512E, 1970s Zagato Zele 1000, 1981 HMV FreeWay, 1991 BMW E2 concept, 1992 GM Impact, 1996 AC Propulsion tZero, 2009 Mini E and 2021 Lanark DS Roadster. The exhibit will also feature the Clarios x OPTIMA Batteries Rivian R1T and OPTIMA Power Station, a custom Turtleback Trailer designed to power the camp and provide level 2 charging for the Rivian. From leading the largest EV ride - OPTIMA Unplugged powered by Clarios - through the treacherous terrain of Johnson Valley to scaling the summit of Pikes Peak, this Rivian has elevated EV adventuring to an unprecedented level. Clarios is the world's largest manufacturer and supplier of low-voltage batteries and solutions and their batteries are found in one in three vehicles on the road globally.

Modern Concepts: Future Visions from the Recent Past, opens August 3

Modern Concepts will delve into the past marvels of concept cars produced since the Petersen's opening in 1994. Notable vehicles on display include the 2002 XENO III, 1999 Ford 021C, 1995 Ford GT90, 2002 Cadillac Cien, 2004 Chrysler ME Four-Twelve and 2008 Honda FC Sport.

Super/Hyper: The Ultimate Automobiles, opens August 3

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The museum will celebrate the pinnacle of automotive performance with a rotating display of iconic supercars and hypercars, including some of the fastest, most powerful and most audacious models from the 1960s to the present day. Highlighted vehicles will include a Bugatti Divo and Koenigsegg CCXR.

Driven by Possibility: Waymo's Road to Autonomous Transport, opens August 3

This exhibit will focus on Waymo's groundbreaking advancements in autonomous driving technology, from its beginnings as the Google self-driving car project to its status as a global leader in autonomous ride-hailing. Located in the Production Gallery, visitors can catch a glimpse behind the scenes of Waymo's development process through never-before-seen objects. Featured vehicles include Waymo's Firefly prototype, the first autonomous vehicle to pilot a passenger without an accompanying driver, a prototype version of Waymo's next-generation Zeekr platform, and the Terregator, a six-wheeled mobile robot built by the Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute in 1984.

'This near-simultaneous launch of four incredibly diverse exhibits marks a milestone for our museum,' said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges.'We are committed to showcasing all elements of the automotive world–past, present and future–and this collection of unique vehicles will bring that experience to life for our guests.'

To purchase tickets or for more information about the Petersen Automotive Museum, please visit Petersen.org/exhibits.