The Evolution of the American Motor Show: From Nostalgic Gatherings to World-Class Spectacles
The landscape of American automobile events has undergone a dramatic transformation, mirroring the shifting tastes and global ambitions of collectors and manufacturers alike. What once were exclusive gatherings focused on historical preservation have evolved into dynamic arenas for automotive innovation, technological showcases, and haute horlogerie collaborations. This transformation, anchored by prestigious American events like the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas, reflects a desire to inject the prestige and exclusivity of legendary European shows into a thriving, modern cultural scene.
For decades, the global elite of automobile aficionados considered Pebble Beach the zenith of automotive artistry. Defined as a “show or contest of vehicles and accessories in which the entries are judged chiefly on excellence of appearance and turnout,” the Concours d’Elegance has historically symbolized the ultimate marriage of provenance, design, and engineering pedigree. When speaking of automotive excellence in the United States, most enthusiasts inevitably refer to Monterey Car Week, the umbrella event that culminates in the famed Pebble Beach proceedings. Combined, these events form a veritable orgy of four-wheeled luxury, culminating on the last Sunday in August with what has long been considered the greatest concours in the world. Yet, recent years have seen a growing chorus questioning this long-held dominance.
Is the Goodwood Festival of Speed still superior? What about the Goodwood Revival or the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance? In 2025, Moda Miami emerged as a formidable challenger, attracting a new generation of collectors and celebrities. The Audrain Newport Concours & Museum also continued to solidify its position as a benchmark for historical motoring excellence. Amidst these emerging contenders, the Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance—with its emphasis on modern hypercars and digital presentations—has positioned itself as a uniquely American answer to the global stage, drawing considerable attention from both the automotive press and the high-net-worth community.
Indeed, wherever blue-chip automobiles and their well-dressed owners congregate, the conversation inevitably turns to whether Pebble Beach can still claim the crown. The truth remains that Pebble Beach is still the sovereign of the concours tradition. However, the emerging heir, The Quail, with its fusion of historical reverence and avant-garde technology, may soon find a new and formidable challenger in the desert heat.
Why The Quail? A Masterclass in Strategic Positioning
The Quail, officially known as The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, has historically served as the definitive appetizer to Pebble Beach’s main course. For a select and increasingly vocal segment of the automotive world, The Quail has long since eclipsed the traditional concours. These enthusiasts are primarily driven by a passion for late-model/brand-new supercars and hypercars. I have lost count of the number of automotive friends who make the pilgrimage to Monterey Car Week but depart early Sunday morning, as they hold no interest in “a bunch of old cars.”
The dissolution of the Geneva International Auto Show left a gaping void in the global supercar calendar, a void that The Quail has filled with remarkable alacrity. Examples abound: The Lamborghini Aventador debuted at Geneva in 2011, followed by the exclusive Veneno in 2013. The Aventador’s successor, the Revuelto, made its official public debut through an online unveiling; however, the Temerario (the Huracán’s replacement) made its inaugural appearance at The Quail in 2024. Similarly, the seven-figure Fenomeno was introduced at the 2025 Quail. Bugatti unveiled the Chiron in Geneva in 2016, but the Divo (2018) and the Mistral (2022) both debuted to the world at The Quail. This pattern holds true for dozens of other vehicles. In essence, The Quail has evolved into the preeminent forum for manufacturers of these high-end machines.
Until the 2025 Halloween weekend, I believed The Quail’s status in the global automotive hierarchy was unassailable. Then, I attended the 2025 Las Vegas Concours, and I must admit, I am no longer certain. I should clarify that I had also attended the 2024 event; while enjoyable, it struck me as largely regional and perhaps even provincial. The collection featured some impressive examples, but they were largely the usual suspects. Indeed, had it not been for a project I was working on with Czinger (which had extended an invitation), I likely would not have attended. Nevertheless, I am profoundly glad that I did.
What Exactly Is the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas?
This year, The Wynn showcased an astonishing 48 Bugatti Veyrons on the lawn. You read that correctly. Out of the 450 total Veyrons ever produced and the 100 allocated to North America, 48 were present in Las Vegas. Well, 49, as Bugatti also presented a stunning white Vitesse Super Sport to commemorate the Veyron’s 20th anniversary, alongside a Bolide, Centodieci, Chiron Super Sport, Divo, Mistral, and a model of the upcoming Tourbillon, the 18-cylinder hybrid poised to succeed the Chiron. Displaying, in a single venue, more than 10 percent of all Bugatti Veyrons ever built is an accomplishment that continues to amaze me.
For the younger generation of enthusiasts, Paganis hold a special allure. The Las Vegas event featured more than 40 of these exotic creations. While I did not get the exact headcount (I was admittedly distracted by the Veyrons), there were several Zondas, including a Zonda Revolution (one of only five). Additionally, dozens of Huayras, a contingent of Utopias, and—significantly for The Quail—the debut of the Huayra Codalunga Speedster, a vehicle Pagani plans to build just 10 of at a price point of approximately $7 million each, excluding taxes and tariffs. (The mint-green model displayed under cover belongs to Apple co-founder Tim Cook.) Even if these extroverted carbo-titanium marvels are not your preference, the fact that the 2025 Las Vegas Concours was not only the largest gathering of Paganis ever assembled in North America but also that Horatio Pagani (who was honored onstage by emcee Justin Bell for his contributions to automotive design) and his team chose this venue for a world debut speaks volumes. More on that shortly. Returning to the Paganis: More than 40 vehicles represent a greater annual production volume than the company typically manufactures in a single year.
The Lamborghini exhibit was similarly astonishing for those who appreciate these hyper-performance machines. First and foremost, the 2025 Wynn Las Vegas Concours hosted the largest gathering of Lamborghinis ever. Yes, ever. Again, I did not count, but the number being discussed was approximately 230. This accounted for 230 of the 600 cars present on that Saturday. It was a genuinely mind-blowing spectacle. Among these 230 vehicles were a Veneno Coupe (one of only three ever sold to the public; the factory retains the 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 witnessed all these “limited-edition” creations (as Lamborghini now refers to them) in the same place was at the manufacturer’s museum. It was a breathtaking display of precious, high-horsepower Italian metal and composite materials.
In the interest of brevity, I have omitted details about the Koenigseggs, the Gumpert Apollo, the Czingers, the Nilu, the debut of the McLaren Project Endurance race car, all the officially judged cars (including a former and insane Pebble Beach Concours-winning 1929 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Barker Tourer 26/120/180 that received the Pre-War Best of Show award), the HWA EVO, a Mercedes-AMG One, two Oldsmobile Aerotechs, and a McLaren F1. To be clear, that represents one hell of a car show.
What Could Possibly Come Next?
Two predominant themes of conversation circulated among my fellow attendees at the Wynn Las Vegas Concours. The first major question was: “How on earth are they going to top this next year?” No one has a clue, but I wish the Wynn the very best of luck. The second, and frankly far more intriguing, query was voiced by members of the OEM carmaker community: “Should we even bother attending The Quail next year?” That is a fair question. Perhaps I should extend my best wishes to The Quail as well.
Consider the financial realities: A single ticket to The Quail cost $1,300 last year. This price applied even to “legacy ticket holders,” as the company termed them, who received a discounted courtesy rate. For first-time attendees, the cost was $1,600. While this is expensive, it costs manufacturers approximately $400,000 to secure a booth there for six hours. The Las Vegas Concours charges roughly 1/20th of that cost. For attendees, tickets are priced at just $100 each. That’s approximately $2 per Veyron in the showroom. I spoke with three different manufacturers who openly questioned the necessity of ever returning to The Quail. Perhaps, they mused, Las Vegas and Moda Miami are sufficient alternatives? Furthermore, for attendees, the burden of exorbitant hotel prices—a friend recently reported staying at a motel near Pebble Beach for $1
