Jonny Lieberman: This Once-Little Car Show Has Emerged as Perhaps the Premiere Supercar Event on Earth
Watch out, The Quail, because The Concours at Wynn Las Vegas has taken a massive step into the big time.
The Evolution of Automotive Excellence: Where Will the Supercar Stage Move Next?
The landscape of high-end automotive gatherings is a dynamic, ever-shifting terrain where prestige, spectacle, and the relentless pursuit of automotive perfection collide. For years, the conversation has revolved around established titans like Pebble Beach, Goodwood, and The Quail. However, a revolutionary contender has emerged from the heart of the American desert, signaling a profound shift in what defines automotive pilgrimage. The Concours at Wynn Las Vegas has transcended its regional roots to become a global powerhouse, fundamentally altering the hierarchy of supercar presentations and challenging the long-held dominance of even the most prestigious events.
For those immersed in the world of high-value automobiles, the question is almost inevitable: which event reigns supreme? The answer has historically pointed to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, particularly the week-long confluence of events surrounding it. This renowned gathering represents a grand, multi-day extravaganza of rare vehicles and luxurious accompaniments, where precision engineering and aesthetic design are subjected to the most rigorous scrutiny. Combined, these events—including the prestigious proceedings at Pebble Beach itself—form a dizzying spectacle of the world’s most exclusive and expensive vehicles, culminating in what is widely considered the ultimate concours d’elegance.
However, as the automotive landscape evolves, so too does the definition of “must-attend.” Enthusiasts often weigh the merits of various international gatherings. Is the Goodwood Festival of Speed, with its dizzying array of historic racing cars, a superior experience to Pebble Beach? What about the Goodwood Revival, with its immersive celebration of mid-20th-century motorsport culture? Amelia Island, Moda Miami, and Retromobile all vie for attention, and the Audrain Concours has carved out its own niche. Wherever well-dressed aficionados gather to admire exceptional automobiles, the question of whether Pebble Beach remains the undisputed apex inevitably arises.
The truth is, Pebble Beach continues to hold the mantle of the premier concours, and its Sunday event remains the golden standard for purists. But the heir to the throne, the proper successor to Pebble’s dominion, may no longer be the well-established favorite. The Quail, officially known as The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, has long served as an essential precursor to the main event at Pebble Beach. For a growing segment of the global automotive community, however, The Quail has already surpassed Pebble Beach’s Sunday event in relevance. This distinction is largely defined by the growing enthusiasm for new-generation supercars and hypercars. It’s no longer uncommon to encounter car aficionados who make the journey to Monterey Car Week but depart before Sunday, having no interest in “old cars.”
The demise of the Geneva International Motor Show has further amplified this shift, leaving a significant void in the global supercar calendar—a void that The Quail has filled with remarkable success. The Geneva Motor Show was the traditional launchpad for many groundbreaking vehicles. The Lamborghini Aventador made its international debut in Geneva back in 2011, and the hyper-exclusive Veneno premiered there in 2013. More recently, the Aventador’s successor, the Revuelto, made its official public debut through an online unveiling. However, the Temerario, the Huracán’s successor, was introduced to the world at The Quail in 2024. Similarly, the seven-figure Fenomeno made its world debut at the 2025 Quail. Bugatti unveiled the Chiron in Geneva in 2016, but the Chiron Super Sport in 2022 and the Divo (2018) both premiered at The Quail. This pattern holds true for countless other vehicles. In effect, The Quail has firmly established itself as the world’s foremost venue for these remarkable machines.
Until this past Halloween, I had always considered The Quail’s standing in the global automotive hierarchy to be unassailable. However, after attending the 2025 Las Vegas Concours—officially known as the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas—I find myself questioning that certainty. It’s important to note that I also attended the 2024 Vegas Concours and, while enjoyable, it struck me as more of a regional event. The cars present were largely the usual suspects, and frankly, if I hadn’t been working on a project with Czinger, which brought me as a guest, I might not have attended this year. But I am profoundly glad that I did.
The Phenomenal Scale of the 2025 Las Vegas Concours
The Concours at Wynn Las Vegas didn’t just present cars; it reimagined what a car show could be. The sheer volume and rarity of the vehicles on display were staggering, marking a significant leap forward from the previous year. The Wynn hosted an astounding 48 Bugatti Veyrons on its grounds. Considering that only 450 Veyrons were ever built, and 100 were sold in North America, the presence of 48 of them in Las Vegas is unprecedented. One might even argue that there were 49, as Bugatti also presented a stunning white Vitesse Super Sport to commemorate the Veyron’s 20th anniversary. Additionally, the manufacturer brought a Bolide, a Centodieci, a Chiron Super Sport, a Divo, a Mistral, and a model of the forthcoming Tourbillon, the 18-cylinder hybrid set to succeed the Chiron. The significance of showcasing more than 10 percent of all Bugatti Veyrons ever produced in a single location is difficult to overstate, and the scale of this display left a lasting impression.
The younger generation of enthusiasts is also captivated by Pagani, and the show catered to them as well. The Las Vegas Concours featured more than 40 Paganis, though the exact number wasn’t officially released. The collection included several Zondas, among them a rare Zonda Revolution (one of only five ever made). Dozens of Huayras were present, along with several Utopias and—of particular note, given The Quail’s standing—the debut of the Huayra Codalunga Speedster. Pagani intends to produce only 10 of these remarkable machines, with a price tag of $7 million each, before taxes and tariffs. (The mint-green example displayed under wraps belonged to Apple’s Tim Cook.) Even if these carbon-titanium extroverts are not your preferred taste, the fact that the 2025 Las Vegas Concours hosted the largest Pagani gathering ever assembled in North America, and that Horacio Pagani himself—honored onstage by emcee Justin Bell for his contributions to automotive design—and his team chose to introduce a new vehicle there says something profound.
Returning to the subject of more than 40 Paganis, it’s worth noting that this number alone exceeds the total number of cars the factory produces in a single year. This sheer volume speaks volumes about the commitment and support from the Pagani Automobili brand. The Lamborghini section was equally breathtaking for enthusiasts of these high-performance Italian machines. The 2025 Wynn Las Vegas Concours hosted the largest gathering of Lamborghinis in history—yes, ever. Once again, the exact count wasn’t provided, but the consensus was around 230 cars. That number represents 230 of the 600 vehicles on display that Saturday. It was absolutely mind-blowing. Of those 230, attendees witnessed a Veneno Coupe (one of three publicly sold, with the factory retaining a fourth), a Sesto Elemento (one of ten), a Centenario Coupe (one of twenty) and Convertible (one of twenty), and a Reventón (one of twenty-one). The last time such a significant number of these “few-offs”—as Lamborghini refers to them—were gathered in one place was at the manufacturer’s own museum. The display was a mind-bending exhibition of precious, high-horsepower Italian metal and composite materials.
In the interest of brevity, I will refrain from detailing all the Koenigseggs, the Gumpert Apollo, the Czingers, the Nilu, the debut of the McLaren Project Endurance race car, all the cars that were actually judged (including a former and absolutely insane Pebble Beach Concours-winning 1929 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Barker Tourer 26/120/180 that also won the pre-war Best of Show here), the HWA EVO, a Mercedes-AMG One, two Oldsmobile Aerotechs, and a McLaren F1. To be clear, the 2025 Las Vegas Concours featured one heck of a car show. The inclusion of so many limited-production, high-value vehicles—particularly those making their world debuts or attending in record numbers—demonstrates a clear intent to challenge established automotive gatherings on the world stage.
What Could Possibly Come Next?
Two recurring themes dominated the conversations among attendees at the Wynn Las Vegas Concours. The first and most obvious question was: “How in the world are they going to top this next year?” I honestly have no idea, but I wholeheartedly wish the Wynn the very best in their endeavors. The second, and perhaps far more intriguing, query came directly from OEM carmakers: “Should we even bother attending The Quail next year?” This is a valid question. Perhaps it’s time to send The Quail its regards, as well.