Monterey Car Week ended on Sunday with the return of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. A black Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurrier from 1938 was at the show, which is now in its 70s. But it was the electric hypercars and high-performance hybrids, not the historic ones, that stood out this year.
Over the years, the glitz and glamor of Pebble Beach has grown into a week of racing, exhibiting, demonstrating and selling cars in the scenic Monterey Peninsula. Last year the car week was canceled. That year, the champagne flowed despite ongoing concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus.
When the New York Auto Show was canceled earlier this month due to concerns about the existence of the Delta variant, speculation raged that Pebble would also be canceled. But it has crept through as a de facto show that has to take place ahead of the uncertainty of the fall season amid a pandemic.
Credit: David Paul Morris / Bloomberg. The Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier from 1938, winner of the Best of Show Award at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 2021 in Pebble Beach on August 15, 2021.
In the days leading up to the Concours, the streets of Carmel and Monterey were quieter and less busy, and there seemed to be fewer old cars around. There were many modern Lamborghinis, Bentleys and Ferraris in the parking lots, revving their engines. Many guests put masks up and down at gatherings, which were mostly held outside, despite foggy rain and cool temperatures. On Sunday the crowds were back in full force for the Concours, which seemed as crowded as ever.
The main event, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, was once dedicated to restored pre-war classic cars. But as generations and tastes changed, newer cars were introduced on the green. The participants also looked younger; High-performance sports cars dominated the scene.
A 1995 McLaren F1 sold at the Gooding & Company auction on Friday night for a record-breaking $ 20 million. Meanwhile, automakers have been rushing to rally sparkling auto launches of their high-dollar limited edition supercars for the media and their top customers buzzing around at private events.
“Pebble Beach is an important pillar,” said Maurizio Reggiani, CTO of Lamborghini. “Pebble Beach told us what people love about the aesthetics of the car.”
On Wednesday, Audi mainly showed the futuristic Skysphere concept. On Friday, Mercedes-Benz presented a new convertible SL in the Californian style, which will not be officially unveiled until September. Aston Martin displayed its Valkyrie and Valhalla models on a spacious booth overlooking the Pebble Beach golf course, but only allowed the media and serious, verified customers a close look at its models.
Both Rimac Automobili and the Lucid Group came to Pebble Beach to connect with potential customers who can afford to invest in the most expensive electric drives. Rimac used the podium to debut its blazing fast Nevera sports car. Monterey 2021 seemed to have shifted to where new cars and new players overtook old ones on the periphery.
After a year of pent-up demand for super luxury cars, it was the perfect setting to showcase all of these pandemic purchases on the racetrack and streets in and around Monterey and Carmel. When auction prices skyrocketed and seven-figure sports cars were sold out, it became clear that the excitement for performance cars hadn’t let up. The new cars shown in Pebble Beach have a lot in common: All of them are expensive, packed full of sports car technology and manufactured in small numbers. Here are some of the highlights.
Aston Martin
Photo credit: Tamara Warren
After several delays in recent years, the Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider was unveiled as a sold out car by new CEO Tobias Moers. The Valkyrie has removable roof panels and a top speed of 217 mph. Moers, who took on the role in the pandemic, drastically changed the way Aston produces its cars.
Moers said adding new in-car technology is critical to the future of the brand and will move away from using last-generation Mercedes-Benz technology. The Valhalla 2024, which will have a hybrid powertrain, was also on display at the Aston stand.
Audi Skysphere
Photo credits: David Paul Morris / Bloomberg. The Audi AG Skysphere electric concept car during The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, in Carmel, California.
The self-driving Skysphere concept looked more like the CES than a classic car concours. It was the most interesting car presented at Pebble Beach. Audi says it can shrink its wheelbase from a larger car to a small roadster.
Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner
Photo credits: Bentley. Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner.
While the Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner’s luxurious interior received compliments for its luscious leather, the news that a hybrid powertrain would include matters to Bentley.
Bugatti bolide
Photo credit: Bugatti. Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti Automobiles, will be standing next to the Bugatti Bolide at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in 2021.
The bolide wasn’t at Pebble, but was announced at a press conference at The Quail on Friday. For the ultra-exclusive automaker, a new car is a big deal, especially one that will be its last gasoline-powered car. Bugatti says it will manufacture 40 bolides at a cost of $ 4 million each. It will have a top speed of 300 mph.
Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4
Photo credits: David Paul Morris / Bloomberg. A Lamborghini SpA Countach during The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.
The Countach paid homage to the iconic model 50 years after the brand made its debut. Under the hood, it’s a brand new car with a hybrid powertrain that can go 60 mph in 2.8 seconds.
Acura NSX Type S
Photo credits: Acura. The 2022 Acura NSX Type S.
Acura introduced a high-end hybrid version of its NSX supercar. an outgoing variant of the model that will soon no longer exist. It is planned to produce just 350 cars and cost the car from around $ 171,000.
Rimac refrigerator
A luxury Rimac Nevera electric supercar during The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in Carmel, California on August 13, 2021. Photo credit: David Paul Morris / Bloomberg
Rimac made its mark on Monterey with its U.S. debut of the Nevera, a $ 2.44 million electric supercar. Rimac says Nevera will go up to 400 miles on a full charge, with a top speed of 258 mph. Rimac’s vibrant presence in town is a reminder that while Pebble Beach may once be a thing of the past, there is a hunger for new EV players who can overtake the competition.
