The Concours at Wynn Las Vegas: The New Supercar Summit
For automotive connoisseurs, the term “concours d’elegance” conjures images of sun-drenched lawns, chrome-plated masterpieces, and the hushed reverence of judging. For decades, the benchmark for automotive excellence has been the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and its accompanying Monterey Car Week—a sprawling, moneyed spectacle culminating in a Sunday devoted to the purest forms of automotive design and heritage.
Yet, in the ever-evolving landscape of the automotive world, the established order is being challenged. Every year, the question arises: Is Pebble Beach still the pinnacle? Some argue that the Goodwood Festival of Speed offers a more dynamic, engaging experience. Others point to Amelia Island or Moda Miami as more relevant alternatives. In the world of luxury automobiles, a new rival has emerged, one that is rapidly reshaping expectations and challenging the supremacy of the venerable classics.
The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering has long been the go-to event for those who prioritize modern-day marvels over vintage craftsmanship. The Quail is not just an appetizer to the main course at Pebble; for a growing segment of the automotive community, it has become the main course itself. These are the enthusiasts who appreciate the cutting edge of engineering, the latest technological breakthroughs, and the extreme aesthetics of modern hypercars. The decline of the Geneva International Motor Show left a significant void in the supercar calendar, a void that The Quail has filled with remarkable success.
For years, The Quail has been the world’s premier stage for debutante cars. The Lamborghini Aventador first graced global eyes in Geneva in 2011, but its successor, the Temerario, made its initial appearance at The Quail in 2024. Similarly, the seven-figure Pagani Fenomeno was unveiled at The Quail in 2025. Bugatti debuted the Chiron in Geneva back in 2016, but the Divo (2018) and Mistral (2022) both found their world premieres on The Quail’s green lawns. This trend extends to countless other vehicles, cementing The Quail’s reputation as the go-to venue for showcasing the most exclusive, limited-production machines on the planet.
However, until this past Halloween, I believed The Quail’s position atop the automotive hierarchy was untouchable. Then I attended the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas in 2025. Now, I’m not so sure. It’s important to note that I attended the 2024 Vegas Concours as well. While I had a good time, it felt more like a regional gathering, showcasing many of the usual suspects. If it weren’t for a project I was working on with Czinger, I might not have bothered going this year. But man, am I glad I did.
What Makes This Show So Special?
The 2025 Las Vegas Concours was not just a show; it was a declaration of intent. To understand the impact of this event, one only needs to look at the scale of the exhibits. The Wynn had 48 Bugatti Veyrons on display. Yes, you read that correctly. Out of the 450 total Veyrons ever built, and the 100 sold in North America, 48 were gathered in one place. To be precise, it was 49, as Bugatti also brought a stunning white Vitesse Super Sport to commemorate the Veyron’s 20th anniversary, along with a Bolide, a Centodieci, a Chiron Super Sport, a Divo, a Mistral, and a model of the upcoming 18-cylinder hybrid Tourbillon. Displaying more than 10% of all Veyrons ever produced in one location is an automotive feat that is difficult to comprehend.
But the spectacle didn’t end with Bugatti. The kids, as they say, like Paganis, too. There were more than 40 Paganis in attendance. I didn’t get the exact number, as I was too busy admiring the Veyrons, but there were several Zondas, including a Zonda Revolution (one of only five built), dozens of Huayras, a selection of Utopias, and—to the chagrin of The Quail—the debut of the Huayra Codalunga Speedster. Pagani plans to build only 10 of these machines at a price of $7 million each before taxes and tariffs, if you’re interested. (The mint green one on display in Vegas belongs to Apple’s Tim Cook.) Even if these carbon-titanium extroverts aren’t your thing, the fact that the 2025 Las Vegas Concours was not only the largest gathering of Paganis ever in North America but also the location where Horatio Pagani (who was honored onstage by emcee Justin Bell for his contributions to automotive design) and his team chose to debut a new car speaks volumes. More on that later. Back to the 40+ Paganis: That’s more cars than the factory produces in an entire year.
The Lamborghini section was equally breathtaking, assuming you appreciate these kinds of vehicles. The 2025 Wynn Vegas Concours was the largest gathering of Lamborghinis in history. Yes, ever. Again, I didn’t count, but the number bandied about was around 230. That’s 230 out of the 600 cars present on that Saturday. It was simply mind-blowing. Of those 230, there was a Veneno Coupe (one of only three 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 ReventĂłn (one of 21). The last time I saw all those \”limited-run\” models (as Lamborghini now calls them) together in one place was at the factory’s museum. It was a staggering display of precious, high-horsepower Italian metal and composites.
To maintain some sense of brevity, I’m leaving out 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, insane Pebble Beach Concours-winning 1929 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Barker Tourer 26/120/180 that won best of show in the prewar division here, too), the HWA EVO, a Mercedes-AMG One, two Oldsmobile Aerotechs, and a McLaren F1. Yes, that’s one hell of a car show.
What Could Possibly Come Next?
Two conversations kept resurfacing whenever I stopped to chat with fellow attendees at the Wynn Vegas Concours. The first, and perhaps most pressing, question was: \”How the hell are they going to top this next year?\” I have no idea, but godspeed to the Wynn. The second, and frankly far more intriguing, query came from the OEM manufacturers: \”Should we even bother attending The Quail next year?\” It’s a valid question. Perhaps it’s time to say godspeed to The Quail, too.
Here are a few things you might not know about The Quail: A single ticket cost $1,300 last year. That’s $1,300 as a courtesy for previous attendees (they call them \”legacy ticket holders,\” I believe). It was $1,600 for first-time attendees. Yes, that’s expensive, but it costs OEMs about $400,000 to place a car on a stand there. For six hours. The Vegas Concours charges about one-twentieth of that. And if you want to attend, tickets are $100 each. That’s about $2 per Veyron. I spoke to three different carmakers who openly questioned the need to ever attend The Quail again. They mused, perhaps Las Vegas and Moda Miami are enough? Moreover, attendees won’t be paying heart-attack-inducing hotel prices (a friend stayed at a motel near Pebble that was $1,100 a night, with a five-night minimum), nor navigating soul-crushing traffic from one event to another. And making dinner reservations is easy because Las Vegas is literally built to handle large gatherings.
What I’ve described might sound far-fetched, but remember that just a few years ago, Geneva was the epicenter of the supercar world. I can’t predict the future, but I can assure you that the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas is now on my must-attend list. You should put it on yours, too.
The Allure of Las Vegas: Why This Location Matters
The choice of Las Vegas for a premier automotive event is a strategic masterstroke. Unlike traditional concours venues that can be geographically remote or difficult to access, Las Vegas offers unparalleled infrastructure for large-scale events. The city boasts over 150,000 hotel rooms, making it easy for thousands of attendees, organizers, and exhibitors to find accommodation without breaking the bank. For contrast, a quick search for Pebble Beach hotels in 2025 reveals average prices well over $1,000 per night, with minimum stay requirements of five nights. This logistical advantage makes the Vegas Concours accessible to a wider audience, from car collectors to automotive journalists and industry insiders.
Furthermore, the city’s entertainment ecosystem is perfectly suited for a multi-day automotive festival. While The Quail is primarily focused on