CARMEL (CBSF SF) – Thousands of luxury car enthusiasts flocked to Carmel on Friday for the famous Monterey Car Week, one of the most prestigious auto events in the US that came back to life after a year-long hiatus due to the COVID outbreak.
It’s 10 days of shows, premieres, festivals, and auctions that typically draw tens of thousands of people from all over the world to the area. The event brings together more than 200 of the best collector’s cars and presents a selection of top sports and racing cars from the pre- and post-war era.
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Lamborghini was one of several luxury automakers to showcase its power, history and innovation at The Quail in Carmel on Friday.
The Italian automaker debuted the new Countach hybrid engine. It pays homage to the original groundbreaking release marking the 50th anniversary of its debut.
“We are committed to hybridizing our entire range in the 23rd and 24th,” said Lamborghini Chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann.
Only 112 units of the modern Countach will be produced for $ 2.6 million each.
“In our opinion, this is the most important car week for our type of car here in the USA and one of the most important worldwide,” adds Winkelmann.
The Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau said Auto Week traditionally draws more than 85,000 visitors to the area, resulting in $ 67 million in travel expenses. This year the district expects at least 80% of its normal number of visitors. There was also a lot of activity in downtown Carmel on Friday.
“It feels like we’re almost going back to normal. I love that it’s outside, ”said Kimberley Liss from Danville, who is participating in The Quail for the 10th time.
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Liss came to The Quail to see the supercars up close.
“You don’t hear or do it online, but it’s not the same. The ‘vroom, vroom’, ”she added. “It’s nice to just hear them and see them pull up and the mood of the crowd and the energy is just amazing.”
In addition, Bugatti presented a range of extremely unique individual items in its fleet.
It presented its experimental hyper sports car Bolide on Friday. Bugatti announced it would make 40 of the $ 4 million cars. The bolide packs incredible power into a light vehicle.
“The last time we were here in 2019. All of 2020 – so there were no events for us. It feels so good to be back, to be in public again, to be able to represent the brand, ”said Bugatti Deputy Design Director Frank Heyl.
The Quail welcomed a mix of long-time attendees and newbies such as Felton’s Ryan Hoffman.
“When you’re out here and feel the steering wheel, feel the seats, and the leather,” he said. “I just sat in a Rolls Royce and it was so cool.”
Sabrina Silvers said she has no plans to literally drive off in a new pink Rolls Royce. She bought it at auction during Auto Week and it was on display at The Quail.
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“It was very bizarre, we looked at it, we thought about it, we went around and thought more and more about it and then said, ‘We’ll try.'”
