Main Keyword: Pebble Beach Concours
Secondary Keywords: The Quail, Las Vegas Concours, supercar calendar, best car show, luxury automobiles, expensive cars, car industry events, automotive gatherings
Pebble Beach Concours: Has It Been Dethroned by A New Contender?
For decades, the definition of the ultimate automotive showcase has been enshrined in the phrase “concours d’elegance.” At its heart, it signifies a competition where automobiles are judged primarily on their aesthetic perfection, build quality, and the elegance of their presentation. The annual Monterey Car Week, anchored by the legendary Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, has long been the pinnacle of this tradition. The Sunday event at Pebble is the crown jewel of a week filled with exclusive gatherings, auctions, and high-stakes automotive transactions—a spectacle of wealth, craftsmanship, and horsepower that culminates in the awarding of the coveted Best of Show trophy.
However, the automotive world is in constant flux. New shows emerge, established events evolve, and consumer preferences shift. The question inevitably arises in elite circles: has the venerable Pebble Beach Concours finally met its match? In this rapidly changing landscape, events like The Quail, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Amelia Island, and the burgeoning Concours at Wynn Las Vegas vie for supremacy, each drawing a unique blend of enthusiasts, collectors, and manufacturers.
For the dedicated connoisseur of rare and exotic automobiles, the Pebble Beach Concours remains unmatched in its historical depth and prestige. Yet, a growing segment of the industry—particularly those drawn to hypercars and late-model exotics—is increasingly drawn to other events. When considering where to invest time and capital, enthusiasts often ask: Which event offers the best blend of automotive excellence, exclusivity, and relevance? As we navigate the complex world of luxury automobiles, understanding these subtle shifts in industry focus is crucial for collectors and investors looking to optimize their experience.
The Rise of The Quail: An Exclusive Preview
The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering has traditionally served as a superb prelude to the main event at the Pebble Beach Concours. For a growing segment of the collector community, however, The Quail has arguably surpassed the Sunday proceedings in terms of relevance and excitement. This shift is particularly pronounced among collectors and enthusiasts who favor modern, high-performance supercars and hypercars. It is a common refrain among those attending Monterey Car Week to skip Sunday’s formalities, claiming they have little interest in what they refer to as “a bunch of old cars.”
The demise of the Geneva International Auto Show has created a significant void in the supercar calendar, a niche that The Quail has filled with remarkable success. The event has become a crucial platform for manufacturers to debut their latest, most cutting-edge machines to an exclusive audience. For example, the Lamborghini Aventador made its debut at Geneva in 2011, and the highly anticipated Veneno was unveiled in 2013. While the Aventador’s successor, the Revuelto, made its first public appearance via an online reveal, the successor to the Huracán, the Temerario, was first shown to the world at The Quail in 2024. Similarly, the Fenomeno, priced at over seven figures, made its debut at the 2025 Quail event.
Bugatti unveiled the Chiron in Geneva in 2016, but the Chiron’s successors—the Divo (2018) and the Mistral (2022)—were both first showcased at The Quail. This pattern extends to numerous other manufacturers, solidifying The Quail’s position as the premier destination for displaying the latest luxury automobiles and cutting-edge automotive technology.
For a long time, it seemed The Quail’s status was unassailable. However, a recent event may have shifted the landscape significantly. The 2025 Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance, held at the prestigious Wynn Las Vegas, emerged as a formidable challenger to The Quail’s dominance. I attended the 2024 Vegas Concours and, while I enjoyed the event, it felt somewhat provincial. There were some spectacular cars, but largely the same ones seen at every other show. It was the work I was doing with Czinger that secured my invitation this year, but I’m immensely glad I accepted.
What Defines the Luxury Auto Show Landscape in 2026?
To understand the evolution of these events, one must look at what constitutes the best car show in the current automotive landscape. The 2025 Las Vegas Concours was a testament to the growing power of this newcomer, showcasing a level of exclusivity and depth that rivals the most established events. At the Wynn event, there were 48 Bugatti Veyrons on display. To put that in perspective, only 450 Veyrons were ever built, and a mere 100 were sold in North America. That represents more than 10 percent of the entire production run, a staggering feat.
Adding to the impressive Bugatti display was a stunning white Vitesse Super Sport, celebrating the Veyron’s 20th anniversary. It was joined by a Bolide, Centodieci, Chiron Super Sport, Divo, Mistral, and a model of the upcoming Tourbillon—the 18-cylinder hybrid set to succeed the Chiron. This aggregation of expensive cars, particularly such a rare and limited production vehicle as the Veyron, left many attendees speechless and marked a historic moment for the Las Vegas Concours.
The children of today also have a taste for Paganis, it appears. More than 40 Paganis graced the grounds. While I didn’t count exactly (my attention was captivated by the Veyrons), the collection featured several Zondas, including a Zonda Revolution (one of only five ever produced). There were dozens of Huayras, numerous Utopias, and—to the concern of The Quail—the debut of the Huayra Codalunga Speedster. Pagani plans to produce only 10 of these at a price of $7 million each, before taxes and tariffs. (The mint-green one exhibited belonged to Apple’s Tim Cook.) Even if these carbon-titanium extroverts are not to everyone’s taste, the fact that the 2025 Las Vegas Concours hosted not only the largest gathering of Paganis in North America’s history but also saw Horatio Pagani—honored by emcee Justin Bell for his contributions to car design—and his team debut a new model says a lot about this evolving event.
This isn’t just a show of rare automobiles; it’s a strategic convergence of automotive innovation, industry influence, and elite social gathering. For manufacturers, the cost of maintaining a presence at traditional events is astronomical. The Quail, for instance, charges around $1,300 for a legacy ticket and $1,600 for first-time attendees. Meanwhile, manufacturers must spend approximately $400,000 to exhibit a single car for just six hours. The Las Vegas Concours significantly undercuts these costs, charging about one-twentieth of the price. For attendees, tickets are a mere $100 each. This dramatic cost difference has led several manufacturers to question the need to return to The Quail.
The Growing Influence of Las Vegas in the Automotive Industry
The 2025 Las Vegas Concours provided compelling evidence that the Las Vegas Concours could become the new center of the supercar universe, potentially surpassing The Quail. My experience there suggests that the event has matured significantly and is no longer just a regional show.
For attendees, the Las Vegas Concours offers a refreshing alternative to the logistical nightmares associated with other high-profile gatherings. You won’t be facing heart-stopping hotel rates or navigating soul-crushing traffic. Furthermore, securing dinner reservations is straightforward in Las Vegas, a city inherently designed to accommodate large-scale events. This level of convenience is a major draw for attendees and manufacturers alike.
I recall attending the 2024 show and being struck by its provincial nature—it felt more like a local car club gathering than a major industry event. This year, however, was vastly different. I suspect the primary driver for my attendance was my work with Czinger, who invited me as their guest. Still, I cannot emphasize enough how glad I am that I went.
The Lamborghini section at the Las Vegas Concours was equally awe-inspiring for those who appreciate these types of vehicles. It was the largest gathering of Lamborghinis ever assembled, although I didn’t get an exact count. Reports suggest around 230 cars were present, representing a significant portion of the 600 cars at the show. Among these were a Veneno Coupe (one of only three sold to the public; the factory retained a fourth), a Sesto Elemento (one of 10), a Centenario Coupe (one of 20) and Convertible (one of 20), and a Reventón (one of 21). The last time I saw all these limited-production “few-offs,” as Lamborghini now calls them, was at the factory’s museum—an incredible display of precious, high-horsepower Italian metal and composites.
In an effort to remain concise, I have omitted mentions of the Koenigseggs, the Gumpert Apollo, the Czingers, the Nilu, the McLaren Project Endurance race car debut, all the cars that were actually judged (including a former and insane Pebble Beach Concours-winning 19
