Pebble Beach inspires crowds in California

TENS of millions of dollars roll into California’s Monterey district in August each year for the 10-day-long Car Week event, headlined by the hyper-exclusive Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Dubbed the world’s most prestigious car show, which is a claim it well and truly lives up to, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance did not disappoint in its 73rd running, with high-end manufacturers, custom builders, motorsport divisions, auction houses and collectors wheeling out their finest for the occasion.

Held on the final fairway of the picturesque Pebble Beach golf course, the Concours saw 214 cars from 16 countries compete for the prestigious ‘Best on Show’ title, which this year – for the first time in the show’s history – went to an unrestored vehicle.

The top title was awarded to a 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports, presented by Fritz Burkard of The Pearl Collection in Zug, Switzerland, preserved in its 1930’s royal racing livery. Yes, royal.

“This storied Bugatti, the first Type 59 built, is a rare factory race car that recorded multiple Grand Prix victories at the hands of several important racing greats, and it also has ties to royalty,” said Concours chairperson Sandra Button.

“Perhaps most importantly, it wears all of its history to this day, having been preserved in the livery it was given when redressed by King Leopold of Belgium.”

Alongside the heritage metal competing at the Concours was an incredible array of concepts, limited-run exclusives, retromods, and famed racers, all vying for the attention of punters experiencing the sensory overload that is Monterey Car Week.

Here is our wrap-up of the top cars on show at Monterey Car Week, from across the classic-themed Concours paddock to the motorsport mecca ‘The Quail’ showcase and beyond.

Maserati GT2

Maserati used The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering to premiere its motorsport-derived GT2 Stradale offering to the world.

According to Maserati, the GT2 Stradale is the glorious birth child of the GT2, which marks the brand’s return to GT racing, and the MC20 supercar, offering an in-between option for ultra-rich thrill seekers.

In essence, the GT2 Stradale is a more extreme version of the already manic MC20 offering a power and performance bump that is clearly intended to be unleashed on a closed circuit. It is also the most powerful road-registerable combustion-engine Maserati available.

Maserati managed to squeeze an extra 10hp (7kW) from its twin-turbocharged V6, which now pushes out 640hp (477kW), while also trimming 60kg from the base car. The fettling equates to a 0-100km/h time of just 2.8 seconds, and a top speed of more than 320km/h.

However, the GT2 Stradale also offers improved aerodynamics derived from its racing twin and Maserati says it can generate 500kg of downforce while also improving airflow to the engine and brakes.

“Maserati GT2 Stradale is a unique product, bringing together as it does the brand's greatest sporting heritage, and at the same time representing evolution of one of Maserati's most iconic vehicles, the MC20 halo car,” said Maserati chief executive Davide Grasso.

McLaren mass

Not intended as a religious gathering, but about as close as a car display comes to divinity, McLaren had half-a-century of its greatest racing creations on show at The Quail.

McLaren put the display together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first Formula 1 World Championship, when Brazilian driver Emerson Fittipaldi became the first World Drivers’ Champion aboard the stunning M23 open-wheeler.

The British manufacturer went on to win another 12 World Drivers’ Championships and eight World Constructors' titles, particularly dominant in the years that followed Fittipaldi’s first championship win.

Among the rare racers on display was the M23 that put McLaren on the map, alongside one of only six McLaren 750S with 3-7-59 motorsport theme, a 1970 McLaren M8D Can-Am racer, 1973 M16C IndyCar, and Ayrton Senna’s 1992 MP4-7A Formula 1 car.

Elsewhere at Monterey the marque also revealed its new Solus GT and 750S Spider.

“Fifty years on from our first world championship win, we continue to be inspired by our history of racing through the ages,” said McLaren Automotive chief executive Michael Leiters.

“Today, we compete in Formula 1, GT racing, IndyCar, Formula E, Extreme E and in the virtual world, and every supercar we create is with a continuation of this racing heritage.”

Maybach Monogram

Mercedes-Maybach launched its drop-top SL Monogram Series at Monterey, lifting the covers on the flashiest of its already opulent Mercedes-Benz-based creations.

The two curated design concepts, dubbed ‘Red Ambience’ and ‘White Ambience’, feature design elements like two-tone paint and loads of chrome, lifted straight from Mercedes-Benz’ exclusive Manufaktur customisation program.

The daring roadster is also the sportiest offering from Maybach, known more for extremely luxurious (and expensive) sedans and SUVs – somewhat of a German take on offerings from Rolls-Royce and Bentley.

Based on the Mercedes-AMG SL, the Maybach treatment includes speedster-style ‘humps’ in place of rear seats, lairy five-hole forged wheels (in rapper-approved chrome) and improved comfort and luxury throughout.

The thumping AMG V8 remains, offering the same 430kW, with Maybach claiming a 0-100km/h time of 4.1 seconds and top speed of 260km/h, for those who wish to test the speed humps at speed.

“Our customers love something special. The Mercedes‑Maybach SL Monogram Series adds a sporty two-seater to our model family for the ultimate open-air pleasure,” said head of Mercedes-Maybach Daniel Lescow.

“It combines a dynamic driving experience with everything that characterises a Mercedes-Maybach: excellent craftsmanship, exquisite design details and fine materials.”

Alongside the mighty Maybach was an array of Mercedes-Benz classics, like a 1952 300 SL, 1970 C111 prototype and even a stunning 1998 CLK GTR Le-Mans racer that still looks modern today.

Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo

Nissan dusted off and wheeled out a car that debuted on the racetrack nearly 40 years ago but has rarely been sighted in the wild since its dominant on-track winning streak came to a close in 1990.

Back in the mid 1980s, Nissan premiered the GTP ZX-Turbo, a car built by Lola Cars in the UK and developed by Electramotive Engineering in California, which would become a force to be reckoned with between 1985 and 1990.

The GTP ZX-Turbo made a serious mark when it entered the International Motorsports Association (IMSA) GT Series, taking the fight to formidable rivals from Porsche and Jaguar. It was not long before the Nissan was leading the pack, with legendary drivers Geoff Brabham and John Morton wheeling the turbocharged weapon to victory in 1988.

By 1989, after finding a tyre that could handle the immense power the turbocharged V6 put out – well over 450kW or 600hp in the old money – the car took out the IMSA Constructors championship and defended the title a year later, before being retired.

Punters were given an up-close look at the ZX-Turbo at nearby Laguna Seca, for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, alongside a host of other motorsport icons like the screaming Wankel-powered Mazda 767B (predecessor to the even more iconic 787B).

Automobili Pininfarina Battista Targamerica (now try saying it)

Legendary coachbuilder Automobili Pininfarina showed off the world’s first coach-built electric hypercar at The Quail, delivering the one-off custom to a ‘renowned car collector’ that apparently commissioned it at last year’s Monterey Car Week.

The Battista Targamerica is based on the standard (but also out-of-this-world) Pininfarina Battisa, but the owner wanted a second version without a roof, which cost God-knows how much.

It shares the same electric four-motor powertrain as the base car, producing an eye-watering 15400kW/2300Nm, rocketing to 100km/h in less than two seconds before topping 300km/h – presumably not long after.

While Pininfarina redesigned the carbon-fibre bodywork and monocoque and removed the roof, most of the changes were more… luxury-based. Take for example the humidor fitted between the seats, which is made from aluminium and glass, and designed to hold a suitable and, quite frankly necessary, three cigars. A tailored luggage setup was also added.

We could pour over this car all day, but at this point it’s more of a novelty than anything most mortals will ever get behind the wheel of.

Lamborghini Temerario

The Raging Bull saw fit to unveil its new twin-turbocharged V8 hybrid Temerario, which succeeds the Huracan but drops a couple of cylinders in the process.

While the cylinder count is down, the noise is certainly not with the new V8 revving to an ear-piercing 10,000rpm while producing 676kW, more than 200kW up on its predecessor.

“Every new Lamborghini must surpass its forerunners in performance terms,” said Lamborghini chairman Stephan Winkelmann.

“With the Temerario, we’ve exceeded our expectations with what the mid-engine sports car can be in terms of performance and design.”

All that power (and noise) allows the Temerario to accelerate to 100km/h in 2.7 seconds, onto a top speed of more than 340km/h. All the while, it’s a hybrid.

In fact, the Temerario bookends the Lamborghini range alongside the Revuelto and Urus SE, which is now completely hybridised. Next up is a fully electric model due in 2028.

For now, we’ll settle for a screaming 10,000rpm V8.

Tuthill GT ONE

In saving the (subjective) best for last, Tuthill broke the internet with its ‘90s Le Mans themed GT ONE, based on the Porsche 911 GT1 but somehow…even better.

Keen-eyed readers will recognise the Tuthill name from last year’s Monterey Car Week, where owner Francis Tuthill unveiled the equally notorious 911K, a radical take on the iconic Group B Porsche 911 S/T, but one that weighed 850kg and revved to 11,000rpm.

Call it a restomod, as many have, but the GT ONE is a ground-up build and Tuthill says that each of the 22 production models the firm plans to build will take 3500 meticulous hours to piece together.

The GT ONE, which was styled by California designer Florian Flatau, features a carbon-fibre body with a 4.0-litre flat-six at its heart. Buyers can opt for a naturally aspirated version lifted from the 911K, which produces 500hp (373kW), or Tuthill can add a turbocharger for more than 600hp (447kW).

In the name of free will, owners can also choose a sensible seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, or a manual ‘box for the full experience. There’s an optional aero package too, for those who wish to use the GT ONE on a racetrack.

“The FIA GT1 Class enabled manufacturers to create stunning race cars,” said Tuthill founder Richard Tuthill.

“We have taken the best bits but focused on producing a wonderful road car.”

How much will the GT One set you back? If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford one.