The Concours at Wynn: Americaβs Rising Supercar Royalty
The Pebble Beach Concours dβElegance has long reigned supreme, but its younger cousin in Las Vegas is stepping onto the global stage, threatening the old guard.
In the rarefied air of luxury automobiles, the question of supremacy is always on the table. As the calendar turns to 2025, the elite automotive world is buzzing with a debate that pits the established hierarchy against a brash, bold newcomer. While the Pebble Beach Concours dβElegance still holds the crown, the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas is making a formidable claim for its throne, particularly among those who favor the cutting edge of supercar and hypercar innovation.
For decades, automotive aficionados have debated the merits of various gatherings: Is it the Goodwood Festival of Speed that takes the top spot? Perhaps the Goodwood Revival, or the refined elegance of Amelia Island? The burgeoning scene in Miami with Moda Miami, the historical gravitas of Retromobile, or the prestige of the Audrain Concours? Wherever the worldβs most valuable four-wheeled machines are displayed and judged, this question inevitably surfaces. The truth remains that Pebble Beach is still the undisputed king of the traditional concours. However, the challenger, the rightful heir to Pebbleβs legacyβThe Quail: A Motorsports Gatheringβmay soon find itself jostling for position with a glittering new rival in the heart of the desert.
The Shifting Sands of the Automotive Calendar
The Quail, traditionally seen as the spectacular appetizer to Sundayβs Pebble Beach Concours, has long since eclipsed the main event for a specific and rapidly expanding segment of the car community. This cohort primarily comprises enthusiasts of modern and brand-new supercars and hypercars. I have lost count of the number of friends who endure the arduous journey to Monterey Car Week only to depart on Sunday morning, having zero interest in what they deem βa bunch of old cars.β
The unfortunate demise of the Geneva International Motor Show has left a significant void in the global supercar calendar, and The Quail has stepped in to fill this gap with remarkable efficacy. Several prominent examples illustrate this shift. The Lamborghini Aventador, for instance, debuted at Geneva in 2011, followed by the astronomical Veneno in 2013. The successor to the Aventador, the Revuelto, was officially unveiled online. However, the Temerario, the HuracΓ‘nβs replacement, made its exclusive world premiere at The Quail in 2024. A similar fate befell the Fenomeno, a seven-figure hypercar that debuted at the 2025 Quail. Bugatti pulled the sheet off the Chiron in Geneva back in 2016. Yet, the Bugatti Divo (2018) and Mistral (2022) were both first shown to the world at The Quail. This trend extends to dozens of other marques. In essence, The Quail has solidified its position as the premier venue for showcasing these high-end machines.
Until this past Halloween, I was convinced that The Quailβs standing in the global automotive hierarchy was unassailable. Then I attended the 2025 Las Vegas Concours, officially titled Concours at Wynn Las Vegas, and suddenly, I was uncertain. I should preface this by mentioning that I also attended the 2024 Vegas Concours. While I enjoyed it, it struck me as being rather regional, or even provincial. There were some impressive cars, but it felt more like the usual suspects. In fact, if it werenβt for a project I was working on with Czinger (which brought me along as its guest), I likely would not have bothered attending this year. But oh man, I am so glad I did. The 2025 edition was an absolute revelation, solidifying its status as a must-attend event for any serious collector or automotive enthusiast.
The Scale of the Spectacle
To fully grasp the magnitude of this event, one must first understand the sheer statistical power of the assemblage. The Wynn featured 48 Bugatti Veyrons on the lawn this year. You read that correctly. Of the 450 total Veyrons ever built, and the 100 sold in North America, a staggering 48 were present in Las Vegas. Well, 49 if you count the Bugatti factoryβs decision to display a magnificent white Vitesse Super Sport to celebrate the Veyronβs 20th anniversaryβalong with a Bolide, Centodieci, Chiron Super Sport, Divo, Mistral, and a model of the upcoming Tourbillon, the 18-cylinder hybrid that will succeed the Chiron. Displaying more than 10 percent of all the Bugatti Veyrons ever built in one location still has my head spinning.
The younger generation appreciates Paganis, too, right? Because there were more than 40 of them. I didnβt get the exact number (I was too busy drooling over the Veyrons), but there were several Zondas, including a Zonda Revolution (one of only five), dozens of Huayras, a multitude of Utopias, andβworryingly for The Quailβthe debut of the Huayra Codalunga Speedster that Pagani plans to produce at a price of $7 million each, before taxes and tariffs, should you be interested. (The mint green one displayed in Vegas under covers belongs to Apple CEO Tim Cook.) Even if these carbon-titanium extroverts arenβt your cup of tea, the fact that the 2025 Las Vegas Concours was not only the largest gathering of Paganis ever held in North America but also that Horacio Pagani (honored onstage by emcee Justin Bell for his contributions to car design) and his team chose this venue to introduce a new vehicle says something profound about the eventβs growing influence.
To return to the subject of more than 40 Paganis: thatβs a larger number of cars than the factory produces in an entire year. This concentration of rare and high-end vehicles is truly unprecedented, making the event a must-see for collectors seeking the most exclusive automotive experiences.
A Lamborghini Mecca
The Lamborghini section was equally mind-blowing if you are a fan of these types of vehicles. First off, the 2025 Wynn Las Vegas Concours was the largest gathering of Lamborghinis ever. Yes, ever. Again, I didnβt count, but the number being discussed was approximately 230. Thatβs 230 out of the 600 cars present that Saturday. Simply mind-blowing. Of those 230, there was a Veneno Coupe (one of only three ever sold to the public; the factory retained a fourth one), a Sesto Elemento (one of ten), a Centenario coupe (one of 20) and convertible (one of 20), and a ReventΓ³n (one of 21). The last time I saw all those βfew-offsβ (as Lamborghini now calls them) together in the same place was at the factory museum. It was a flabbergasting display of precious, high-horsepower Italian metal and composites.
In the interest of brevity, I am omitting details about 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 1929 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Barker Tourer 26/120/180 that won prewar best of show there, too), the HWA EVO, a Mercedes-AMG One, two Oldsmobile Aerotechs, and a McLaren F1. Yeah, thatβs one hell of a car show.
The Future Landscape of Car Shows
Two threads of conversation dominated my discussions with fellow attendees at the Wynn Vegas Concours. The big question was: βHow the hell are they going to top this next year?β I have no clue, but godspeed to the Wynn. The other and frankly far more intriguing query came from the OEM carmakers: βShould we even bother doing The Quail next year?β Good question. Perhaps I should also say godspeed to The Quail.
Here are some things you may not know about The Quail: A single ticket cost $1,300 last year. Thatβs $1,300 as a courtesy if youβve attended in the past (βlegacy ticket holders,β I think they call them). It was $1,600 for first-time attendees. Yes, thatβs 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. Thatβs about $2 per Veyron.
I spoke to three different carmakers who openly questioned the need to ever attend The Quail again. Perhaps, they mused, Las Vegas and Moda Miami are enough? Moreover, for attendees, you wonβt be paying heart-attack-inducing
The Concours at Wynn: Americaβs Rising Supercar Royalty
The Pebble Beach Concours dβElegance has long reigned supreme, but its younger cousin in Las Vegas is stepping onto the global stage, threatening the old guard.
In the rarefied air of luxury automobiles, the question of supremacy is always on the table. As the calendar turns to 2025, the elite automotive world is buzzing with a debate that pits the established hierarchy against a brash, bold newcomer. While the Pebble Beach Concours dβElegance still holds the crown, the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas is making a formidable claim for its throne, particularly among those who favor the cutting edge of supercar and hypercar innovation.
For decades, automotive aficionados have debated the merits of various gatherings: Is it the Goodwood Festival of Speed that takes the top spot? Perhaps the Goodwood Revival, or the refined elegance of Amelia Island? The burgeoning scene in Miami with Moda Miami, the historical gravitas of Retromobile, or the prestige of the Audrain Concours? Wherever the worldβs most valuable four-wheeled machines are displayed and judged, this question inevitably surfaces. The truth remains that Pebble Beach is still the undisputed king of the traditional concours. However, the challenger, the rightful heir to Pebbleβs legacyβThe Quail: A Motorsports Gatheringβmay soon find itself jostling for position with a glittering new rival in the heart of the desert.
The Shifting Sands of the Automotive Calendar
The Quail, traditionally seen as the spectacular appetizer to Sundayβs Pebble Beach Concours, has long since eclipsed the main event for a specific and rapidly expanding segment of the car community. This cohort primarily comprises enthusiasts of modern and brand-new supercars and hypercars. I have lost count of the number of friends who endure the arduous journey to Monterey Car Week only to depart on Sunday morning, having zero interest in what they deem βa bunch of old cars.β
