The Supercar Showdown: How the Wynn Las Vegas Concours Took the Crown from The Quail
For decades, Pebble Beach has reigned as the undisputed king of concours d’elegance, an annual pilgrimage for automotive royalty and enthusiasts alike. But as the supercar landscape evolves, so too do the marquees that define our passion. While The Quail has long served as the opulent appetizer to the Pebble main course, a new contender has emerged from the shimmering heat of Las Vegas, threatening to rewrite the rules of the game. The Concours at Wynn Las Vegas has transcotted its provincial roots, ascending to a global stage that demands the attention of every true automotive connoisseur.
The Rise of a Challenger
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The Supercar Showdown: How the Wynn Las Vegas Concours Took the Crown from The Quail
For decades, Pebble Beach has reigned as the undisputed king of concours d’elegance, an annual pilgrimage for automotive royalty and enthusiasts alike. But as the supercar landscape evolves, so too do the marquees that define our passion. While The Quail has long served as the opulent appetizer to the Pebble main course, a new contender has emerged from the shimmering heat of Las Vegas, threatening to rewrite the rules of the game. The Concours at Wynn Las Vegas has transcotted its provincial roots, ascending to a global stage that demands the attention of every true automotive connoisseur.
The Rise of a Challenger
The standard definition of a concours d’elegance—a celebration of vehicles and accessories judged primarily on aesthetic excellence and presentation—has long been the benchmark for the industry. Yet, in the ever-shifting sands of the automotive world, the traditional hierarchy is being challenged. The Quail (formally known as The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering) has long been a darling of the supercar set, a vibrant alternative to the traditional concours, often favored by those who prioritize hypercars and performance over vintage refinement. The death of the Geneva International Motor Show left a void in the supercar calendar, one that The Quail has filled with remarkable flair.
Case in point, the Lamborghini Aventador debuted at Geneva in 2011, followed by the Veneno in 2013. The Revuelto, the Aventador’s successor, saw its official debut online, but the Temerario, the Huracán’s replacement, first appeared at The Quail in 2024. The same applies to the seven-figure Fenomeno, which was unveiled at The Quail in 2025. While Bugatti unveiled the Chiron at Geneva in 2016, both the Divo (2018) and Mistral (2022) premiered at The Quail. This trend extends to dozens of other manufacturers, solidifying The Quail’s status as a prime venue for cutting-edge automotive launches.
Until this past Halloween, I believed The Quail’s position was unassailable. But then I attended the 2025 Las Vegas Concours (officially, Concours at Wynn Las Vegas). Having attended the 2024 event, I felt the 2025 iteration would likely follow a similar trajectory—regional, if not provincial. I only attended this year due to a project with Czinger (who hosted me as a guest), but I am immensely glad I did. The organizers of the Las Vegas Concours have taken a massive step into the big leagues, and the world of automotive events will never be the same.
The Scale of the Spectacular
The Wynn showcased an unbelievable 48 Bugatti Veyrons this year. That’s right. Out of the 450 Veyrons ever built and the 100 sold in North America, 48 were present in Vegas. Well, 49. Bugatti displayed 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 18-cylinder hybrid Tourbillon. Displaying more than 10 percent of all Bugatti Veyrons ever built in a single venue is nothing short of astonishing.
And for the younger crowd, Pagani fans were spoiled for choice, with over 40 of the Italian masterpieces on display. While I didn’t get an exact count (too busy drooling over the Veyrons), the collection included several Zondas, including a rare Zonda Revolution (one of only five), dozens of Huayras, a herd of Utopias, and, alarmingly for The Quail, the debut of the Huayra Codalunga Speedster. Pagani plans to build just 10 of these seven-million-dollar machines, before taxes and tariffs, so if you’re interested, act fast. (The mint green one hiding under a cover belongs to Apple’s Tim Cook.) Even if these carbon-titanium extroverts aren’t your speed, the fact that the 2025 Las Vegas Concours hosted the largest gathering of Paganis in North America—and that Horatio Pagani (who was honored on stage by emcee Justin Bell for his contributions to car design) and his team chose this venue to introduce a new model—says volumes. But that’s a story for another time. Back to the more than 40 Paganis—that’s more cars than the factory produces in an entire year.
The Lamborghini section was equally mind-blowing if you’re a fan of these kinds of vehicles. The 2025 Wynn Vegas Concours was the largest gathering of Lamborghinis ever. Yes, ever. Again, I didn’t count, but the number being thrown around was around 230. That’s 230 out of the 600 cars on display that Saturday. Simply incredible. Of those 230, there was a Veneno Coupe (one of only three ever sold to the public; the factory kept 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 those “few-offs” (as Lamborghini now calls them) together in one place was at the factory museum. It was a flabbergasting display of precious, high-horsepower Italian metal and composites.
In an attempt at brevity, I’m omitting 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, insane Pebble Beach Concours-winning 1929 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Barker Tourer 26/120/180, which also won best of show in the prewar division here), the HWA EVO, a Mercedes-AMG One, two Oldsmobile Aerotechs, and a McLaren F1. Yeah, that’s one hell of a car show.
What Could Possibly Come Next?
Two topics of conversation kept recurring during my chats with fellow Wynn Vegas Concours attendees. The big question: “How the hell are they going to top this next year?” No clue, but godspeed to the Wynn. The other and frankly far more intriguing query came from the OEM carmakers: “Should we even bother doing The Quail next year?” Good question. Perhaps I should say godspeed to The Quail, too.
Things you may not know about The Quail: A single ticket cost $1,300 last year. That’s $1,300 as a courtesy if you’ve attended in the past (\”legacy ticket holders,\” I think they call them). It was $1,600 for first-time attendees. Yes, that’s expensive, but it costs OEMs about $400,000 to put a car on a show stand there. For six hours. The Vegas Concours charges about 1/20 of that. And if you want to attend, tickets are $100 a pop. That’s about $2 per Veyron. I spoke to three different carmakers that openly questioned the need to ever attend The Quail again. Perhaps, they mused, Las Vegas and Moda Miami are enough? Moreover, for attendees, you won’t be paying heart-attack-inducing prices for hotels (a friend stayed at a motel near Pebble that was $1,100 a night, five-night minimum), nor running around from event to event in soul-crushing traffic. Also, making dinner reservations is easy because Las Vegas is literally built for big gatherings.
The above might sound far-fetched, but just a few years ago, Geneva was the center of the supercar world. I can’t predict the future, but I can assure you the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas is now on my must-attend list. You should stick it on yours, too.
A Deep Dive into the Las Vegas Spectacle
The Concours at Wynn Las Vegas 2025 was a masterclass in staging, organization, and sheer audacity. This wasn’t just a car show; it was an immersive experience designed to captivate and inspire. The Wynn’s opulent setting, combined with its world-class infrastructure, provided the perfect backdrop for a lineup that left spectators breathless. The event didn’t just showcase cars; it celebrated the pinnacle of automotive engineering and design, bridging the gap between past and future in a way few other events can manage.
The Bugatti Legacy: A 20th Anniversary Celebration
To say Bugatti showed up at the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas is an understatement; they dominated the landscape. The Veyron’s 20th-anniversary celebration was the stuff of legend, assembling 48 of the original 450 Veyrons built and 100 sold in North America. This monumental display not only paid homage to a modern legend but also reminded everyone of the engineering prowess that paved the way for the Chiron and the future Tourbillon. The inclusion of the Vitesse Super Sport, a 1,200-hp marvel, was the cherry on top, drawing crowds with its raw power and iconic design.
But the anniversary didn’t stop there. Bugatti also presented a range of its most exclusive models, including