Events, parades and competitions, all with protagonists on four wheels. This is Monterey Car Week, an event that each year brings together the most exclusive and distinguished classics in history with the most spectacular supercars of the moment.
If every year the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, which glamorous event which takes place on the shores of Lake Como becomes one of the most exclusive scenarios in the automotive industry around the world and is the unmissable event for car enthusiasts in Europe, on this side of the world, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the Essential sample of a collector’s vehicle and held annually in August at California’s exclusive Monterey Golf Club, USA.
And this was confirmed last weekend in its 72nd edition. Monterey Car Week increased year by year, and today it is considered one of the most famous events in the automotive world, mainly due to the Economic impact (over $60 million and over 100,000 visitors from outside the US county). Added to this is its solidarity component, where there are more than 10,000 children who benefit from donations received during this week. Since the beginning of the charitable activities, more than 30 million dollars have been raised during the event.
But when it comes to omnipotence, it is undoubtedly the Pebble Beach Contest that commands the most attention.
On this occasion it was Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster from 1937 who got the first place in the Concours d’Elegance. The model, whose first owner was the Shah of Afghanistan at the time, is one of three exemplary cars still circulating in the world.
The model, on loan from Jim Patterson, of Louisville Patterson Collection , beat the 216 cars from 18 countries that participated in the show. With this victory, Mercedes-Benz reaches 10 victories in the Pebble Beach Best of Show and thus breaks the tie it had with Bugatti.
In the second place there was another model from the German firm: a 1930s Special 710 SS Roadster. Further behind were a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corto Figoni Cabriolet, and a 1939 Delahaye 165 Figoni and Falaschi Cabriolet.
Of course, there were also other cars that strongly caught the attention of the participants. And it is that today Pebble Beach is not only a showcase for the most distinguished vintage cars in the world, but also for exclusive world premieres.
Every year, more and more brands participate in this select event, whether with a new model, a special edition or spectacular prototypes, which point directly to the profile of the people who gather here, where a single entry costs 250 dollars, or just over 120 thousand pesos.
The news
One of the big innovations came from Pininfarina, who introduced the Pura Vista concept to the company, a 100% electric SUV which he had put forward a few weeks earlier, in which he underlined his dynamic design and sporty lines. With reverse opening doors combined with gull wings, it has a configuration for four people (2+2).
Another Italian who dazzled was Maserati, during the presentation of the MCXtrema, an exclusive supercar for the tracks and the brand’s fastest ever.
Developed on the basis of the MC20, its production will be limited to 62 copies and although all the mechanical details have not been delivered, the firm of the trident has only pointed out that It will have 730 Hp of power thanks to your 3.0L Nettuno V6 engine the same as the MC20, but improved.
“The MCXtrema was created with the aim of offering an incredibly exclusive product, which can define a new paradigm for our track cars,” said Maserati CEO Davide Grasso.
Hennesey couldn’t stay out of Monterey Car Week 2023. The Texas-based company introduced the Venom F5 Revolution Roadster, a impressive two-seater with fiber finish exposed carbon, a power of 1,817 Hp and a production of only 12 examples.
The hypercar has significant Design and aerodynamic improvements among which the diffusers stand out larger front and rear , a recalibrated suspension and the rear spoiler is specially designed for this car, among others. Its maximum speed has not yet been confirmed and it is estimated that it can reach 434 km/h.
What is known is that its price will be 3 million dollars and that although its production is limited to 12 units, it is not excluded that the brand will produce more if there are customers interested.
A little more “earthly” was the presentation of the German brand Mercedes-Benz which arrived with the SL 63 Manufaktur Big Sur, just inspired by Californian sunsets.
With a 4.0L V8 turbo engine with 585 HP and 800 Nm, its the bodywork is dyed in a striking orange shade metallic, with a black textile top, 21-inch forged wheels, AMG exterior chrome package; while the interior has been worked with the same black and orange contrast using lots of Manufaktur Mystic Red and Black Nappa leather as opposed to bright tone stitching and decorations.
The luxury houses The Japanese did not want to be absent and they also said present in Monterey. So Infiniti released the QX Monograph, the preview of what the QX80 renewal will be, and which shows new tunes in its design language. Of course, the interior did not reveal anything, because it is a motor show.
For its part, the electric came to Acura with the ZDX. Honda’s luxury subsidiary revive an unloved name in its time (2009-2013), but with which it hopes to make a strong entry into the electric SUV segment.
The new SUV will take advantage of the General Motors Ultium platform, with whom he has a collaboration, and promises a autonomy of 506 kilometers and maximum power, in its twin-engine version, of 500 Hp. The brand claims that in a fast charger its battery is able to obtain about 130 kilometers of autonomy in just 10 minutes of connection, its arrival is scheduled for next year in the American market and its price would be around 60 thousand dollars.
Monterey Car Week wouldn’t be the same without Bugatti and Rolls-Royce. And they were precisely the ones in charge of showing one of the greatest eccentricities of the Californian sample.
The French firm had two gems: the Chiron Super Sport Golden and the Golden Mistral Hypercar, a pair of golden dreams that few will really be able to access, but the Mistral Hypercar stands out by showing off the natural carbon fiber in several pieces, while that in the interior Bugatti has worked with two tones of genuine leather and combined with gold. But undoubtedly the most impressive is under the hood, as this exclusive version could be the farewell to the 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine, which delivers 1,578 hp. It will be printed in 99 copies and its price exceeds 5 million dollars. In any case, all units already have owners.
Rolls-Royce, meanwhile, manages to go beyond luxury with the new Droptail La Rose Noire. It is the most luxurious model in history that only four customers will have the chance to have it in their possession.
This is the first of a special series of four units that take the design forward of the next Rolls-Royce Droptai, the next convertible that will replace the Dawn. Each copy is a “one-off”, that is to say a unique vehicle and is produced under the strict instructions of its owners.
Inspired by the “Black Baccara” rose, it took more than two years to place the 1,603 pieces by hand of wood, the 150 coats of paint the front part features 202 stainless steel ingots and is hand painted.
Under its hood, the protagonist is its famous V12 twin-turbo petrol engine which achieves nothing less than 591 horsepower and a maximum torque of 800 Nm. This is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission and its power goes to the rear wheels. The brand did not communicate the price.
As in the past seven decades, Monterey Car Week didn’t disappoint anyone and auto enthusiasts were treated to the crème de la crème of the industry.
Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
