Main Keyword: Concours d’Elegance
Secondary Keywords: Pebble Beach Concours, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Quail Motorsports Gathering, Las Vegas Concours, Amelia Island Concours, Retromobile, car shows, luxury cars, supercars, hypercars, automotive events, classic cars, vintage cars, Bugatti Veyron, Lamborghini, Pagani, Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, custom cars, high-end vehicles, collector cars, auto show comparison, luxury car shows, best car events, Monterey Car Week.
Target Audience: Automotive enthusiasts, luxury car collectors, supercar and hypercar fans, attendees of high-end events, individuals interested in automotive history and performance.
Target Location: United States, Las Vegas, Pebble Beach, Monterey, South Beach (Miami), Goodwood (UK), Amelia Island.
Target Intent: Informational (comparing car shows), Comparative (evaluating the best events), Decision-Focused (deciding where to attend next year).
Market Data Analysis:
Competition: The market for automotive luxury events is competitive, dominated by established names like Pebble Beach and Goodwood. Recent market analysis indicates growing interest in more accessible and modern events that cater to the latest supercar releases and lifestyle trends.
Pricing Power: Luxury events command premium pricing for tickets and exhibitor booths, reflecting the high value of the audience they attract. However, there is increasing pressure to offer better value and a more inclusive experience to retain market share.
s’s that $1,300 a head for “legacy” attendees, and it’s $1,600 for newcomers. If you’re wondering about the cost to the automakers, it’s about $400K for a six-hour stand.
The Quail as the New Luxury Benchmark: A Deep Dive into Global Concours Excellence
In the high-octane world of collectible automobiles, the term “concours d’elegance”—a showcase or competition primarily judged on stylistic excellence, finish, and presentation—carries significant weight. For decades, the gold standard was singular: the Pebble Beach Concours, the crown jewel of the annual Monterey Car Week. This week-long immersion of luxury vehicle gatherings, culminating in the Sunday judging, has long been synonymous with the pinnacle of automotive elegance.
Yet, in the fast-paced landscape of 2025, established hierarchies are being tested. Enthusiasts, collectors, and automotive brands are increasingly asking a fundamental question: Is Pebble still the undisputed leader? The answer is complex. While Pebble remains the throne, a powerful challenger has emerged in the form of The Quail (officially known as The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering).
The Quail: The Supercar Renaissance
For a certain and growing segment of the car community, The Quail has long since eclipsed the traditional Sunday concours. These enthusiasts prioritize the cutting-edge of modern supercars and hypercars. I have spoken with countless individuals who make the pilgrimage to Car Week but depart on Sunday morning, having no interest in what they deem “old cars.” The passing of the Geneva International Auto Show has left a premium gap in the supercar calendar, a void that The Quail has filled with remarkable success.
The Quail’s role in automotive history is undeniable. For example, the Lamborghini Aventador debuted at Geneva in 2011, and its limited-edition successor, the Veneno, followed in 2013. The Aventador’s replacement, the Revuelto, was introduced via an online unveiling, but the Temerario—the Huracán’s successor—made its grand entrance at The Quail in 2024. The same is true for the seven-figure Fenomeno, unveiled at the 2025 Quail. Bugatti launched the Chiron in Geneva in 2016; however, the Bugatti Divo (2018) and Mistral (2022) were both first presented to the world at The Quail. This pattern extends to numerous other marques, demonstrating that The Quail has become the world’s premier showcase for these modern automotive icons.
The 2025 Las Vegas Concours: A New Contender
For many years, I believed The Quail’s position was secure. That conviction was tested this past Halloween when I attended the 2025 Las Vegas Concours, officially Concours at Wynn Las Vegas. While I had enjoyed the 2024 Vegas Concours, it struck me as rather provincial. The offerings were the usual suspects, and I likely would not have attended the 2025 event if I had not been working on a project with Czinger. I am profoundly grateful for that opportunity, as the 2025 Las Vegas Concours was nothing short of extraordinary.
A Display of Unprecedented Scale
The Las Vegas Concours stunned attendees with displays that redefine the concept of automotive magnitude. The Bugatti pavilion alone was mind-bending. The organizers showcased an astounding 48 Bugatti Veyrons—a number that represents more than 10% of the entire global production. Of the 450 Veyrons built worldwide and the 100 sold in North America, this single venue featured nearly half of them. Furthermore, Bugatti displayed a breathtaking white Vitesse Super Sport to commemorate the Veyron’s 20th anniversary, alongside a Bolide, Centodieci, Chiron Super Sport, Divo, Mistral, and a prototype of the upcoming 18-cylinder hybrid Tourbillon, the replacement for the Chiron. Simply witnessing over 10% of all Bugatti Veyrons ever built in one place left me speechless.
The younger generation’s obsession with Pagani was also on full display. More than 40 Paganis were present. While I did not count them—my attention was admittedly captured by the Veyrons—the roster included several Zondas, including a Zonda Revolution (one of only five built). There were dozens of Huayras, a multitude of Utopias, and—in a development that should worry The Quail—the debut of the Huayra Codalunga Speedster. Pagani plans to build only 10 of these at a price tag of $7,000,000 each before taxes and tariffs. (The mint green model under the covers belonged to Apple CEO Tim Cook.) Even if these extravagant machines are not your preference, the significance is undeniable: The Las Vegas Concours hosted the largest Pagani gathering ever in North America, and Horatio Pagani himself—honored onstage by emcee Justin Bell for his contributions to automotive design—chose this venue to introduce a new model. More on that in a moment. Considering that The Quail is the best show in the world for modern luxury vehicles, this development speaks volumes.
The Las Vegas Concours truly impressed with its Lamborghini section, which was equally breathtaking for those who appreciate these magnificent machines. This event was the largest gathering of Lamborghinis ever assembled. I did not count, but the estimate was around 230 of the 600 cars present that Saturday. It was simply mind-blowing. Among these, there was a Veneno Coupe (one of only three sold to the public; the factory kept a fourth), a Sesto Elemento (one of only 10), a Centenario coupe (one of 20) and convertible (one of 20), and a Reventón (one of 21). The last time I witnessed all these “few-offs,” as Lamborghini calls them, together in the same place was at the factory’s museum. It was a flabbergasting display of precious, high-horsepower Italian metal and composites.
What Could Possibly Be Next?
Two themes dominated my conversations with fellow attendees at The Quail and The Las Vegas Concours. The first, and perhaps the most obvious question, was: “How on earth can they top this next year?” I do not know, but I wish The Quail the best of luck. The second query, however, was far more intriguing and came directly from the automotive OEMs: “Should we even bother doing The Quail next year?”
This is a fair question. The cost differential is staggering. A single ticket to The Quail last year cost $1,300 for “legacy” attendees and $1,600 for newcomers. However, it costs OEMs approximately $400,000 to host a booth there for six hours. In contrast, The Las Vegas Concours charges only about 1/20th of that for exhibitor space. Moreover, if you wish to attend, tickets are a mere $100 each—approximately $2 per Veyron. I spoke with no fewer than three different manufacturers who openly questioned the necessity of returning to The Quail. Perhaps, they mused, Las Vegas and Moda Miami are sufficient? Furthermore, for attendees, the burden of heart-attack-inducing hotel rates—a friend mentioned a motel near Pebble costing $1,100 per night with a five-night minimum—is eliminated. Navigating soul-crushing traffic from event to event is also unnecessary, and making dinner reservations is remarkably simple in a city built for large gatherings.
The Market Shift: From Old Guard to New Powerhouses
The above discussion might sound far-fetched to some, but just a few years ago, Geneva was the undisputed epicenter of the supercar
