Latest news with #Radwood
Forbes
8 hours ago
- 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.
The Drive
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
The ‘Cassette Deck' on Pioneer's New Retro Head Unit Is Actually a USB Port
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The radical-dude '80s and '90s aesthetic has been celebrated so much that I'm finally a little sick of it. No hate to the Radwood diehards, but I think we've seen enough synthwave sunset imagery to last another generation. However, there is a staple of that era that also happens to be timeless: Straight-lined, simple, minimally digital button-based interfaces. Pioneer's new SXT-C10PS head unit, for example, is so clean and classy that it looks like an OEM option in an old car. But I hope new-car designers take some inspiration from it as well. The SXT-C10PS (apparently for 'Sound Excellent Tradition-Pioneer Style,' according to a German car audio site linked below) was announced this month. Looks like Pioneer has the European market in mind from the jump, which would make it slightly annoying to import and install in a U.S. car, but not impossible. I found release information on the British site Digital Radio Choice , which shared some details from Pioneer Europe NV's Marketing Manager Girish Janday: 'Our studies show that owners prefer to maintain the original appearance of their vehicle dashboards, avoiding modern screens that disrupt the original look. Pioneer's solution is the new SXT-C10PS, combining 1980s retro aesthetics with [a] twist, by including modern features like Bluetooth and DAB+ Digital Radio. By way of design, it also includes a front-facing USB hidden under a front panel resembling a cassette deck, allowing for USB music playback and smartphone charging. The compatible Pioneer Smart Sync App enables users to set up the Advanced Audio Features directly from the driver's seat, optimising the sound from the older, often poorly positioned speakers.' American and European radio are a little different—we have HD radio, they have DAB. There are also some differences in frequencies. But Bluetooth is Bluetooth, and all common cars use 12-volt electronics, so theoretically, you could get one of these sent to you and run whatever songs you want on it through your phone or a USB stick. Sorry for the comically low-res image; this tiny thumbnail was the only picture I could find of the head unit with the 'cassette' cover open, exposing the USB and 3.5mm inputs. Pioneer Output specs are 4x50W max and 4x22W DIN sinus (so about 22W RMS per American standards), and you'll find more details on the preorder listing at which is the only place I was able to quickly find a purchase link. It's pretty spendy at €399 (about $460 at today's exchange rate) before taxes and shipping. While the company's getting the hype train rolling now, the product is slated to release in October. I'd say that should be plenty of time for Pioneer to figure out U.S. distribution—but at the rate import regs are changing, who knows? My enthusiasm waned a little more when I realized I could almost buy a set of tires for that much money, but I'm still absolutely in love with the look. It's not just that it's old school; it's refreshingly retro without being a caricature. It really does look like something you'd find stock in something like a BMW E36 or Mercedes 190E. And yes, you can change the backlight color to match your OE interior. I'm coming off back-to-back road tests of new versions of iconic cars that left me disappointingly lukewarm for similar reasons—the Toyota 4Runner and BMW M5. What could those vehicles possibly have in common? They both have about as much screen square footage as a sports bar. The new Pioneer SXT-C10PS is marketed as retro, and it is, but it's also just a damn good-looking human-machine interface and I wish more automakers would get back to doing things like this from the factory. Want to rant about how much better car interiors looked 20 years ago? Hit up the author at Pro car critic since 2012. Andrew's also been an off-road tour guide, repo man, and Baja co-driver, among other things. Lifetime car nerd, amateur tinkerer, very slow casual racer.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Petersen Automotive Museum Gets Totally Rad With New 80s and 90s Exhibit
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. 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Black Badge Spectre Is the Most Powerful Rolls-Royce Ever
Subtlety is not a reason that inspires people to purchase a Rolls-Royce. And while the all-electric Spectre might just be the most socially conscious of the brand's offerings, its customers have been clamoring for something with a bit more bite. The brand's response is the Spectre Black Badge, launching today as a purple-hued monster of a coupe that looks to the nightclubs of the Radwood era for its flair. Still, with 659 hp from its dual motors and a retuned suspension at its disposal, the Black Badge Spectre promises to have some dance moves of its own. The steering has been adjusted for increased effort, while tweaked roll stabilization should improve feel and cornering flatness. The dampers have also been re-tuned to add a bit more athleticism to the mix, with a specific focus on reducing front-end pitch in acceleration. That'll be important, as the model also comes equipped with a new launch control system called Spirited Mode. This mode unlocks the full 792 lb-ft of instant torque, helping propel the Spectre to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. There's also the new Infinity Mode, which allows instant access to the car's full 659 hp and a sharper throttle response. That sort of output, as it so happens, makes the Black Badge Spectre the most powerful Rolls-Royce yet. Setting the Vapor Violet launch color aside for the moment, the Black Badge Spectre comes with some unique visual tweaks. The illuminated grille now features a colored backplate, with offerings of Tailored Purple, Charles Blue, Chartreuse, Forge Yellow, and Turchese. The backplate and the lighting combine to create a sort of glowing effect, which should make it even easier to identify the car at night. A black-painted hood is also on offer, should you so choose, as is a new coachline stripe option. The optional 23-inch five-spoke wheels (22s are standard) are quite stylish, and can be had in either partially polished or all-black finish, depending on how sinister you want to look. All of the exterior trim has lost the shine found on their regular Spectre equivalent to keep with the theme, while the interior systems add bespoke Black Badge software. The Black Badge Spectre isn't a cheap car. Rolls-Royce will ask $490,000 to start, but as with any Roller these days, the sky is always the limit from there. It might be worth it for the Vapor Violet alone... if you can ignore the 44,000 other colors on the offer list. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
