The Concours at Wynn Las Vegas: A Supercar Showdown
A New Contender Emerges in the World of Automotive Excellence
The term “concours d’elegance” traditionally refers to a competition where vehicles and accessories are judged primarily on their appearance and presentation. For those deeply immersed in the world of luxury automobiles, the question inevitably arises: which event reigns supreme? While the Pebble Beach Concours, particularly during the iconic Monterey Car Week, has long been the undisputed gold standard, a formidable challenger has emerged from the heart of the Mojave Desert. The Concours at Wynn Las Vegas is no longer just a promising contender; it has firmly established itself as potentially the premier supercar event on the planet, threatening to dethrone its more established counterparts.
The Evolution of a Global Automotive Stage
For years, The Quail, formally known as The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, served as the critical appetizer to the main event at Pebble Beach. However, a rapidly expanding segment of the automotive community has long since shifted its allegiance. This demographic prioritizes late-model and brand-new supercars and hypercars. Many car enthusiasts now make the journey to Car Week but forgo Sunday’s proceedings, finding little interest in “a bunch of old cars.”
Furthermore, the demise of the Geneva International Auto Show created a significant void in the supercar calendar, a void The Quail has filled with considerable success. To illustrate this evolution, consider the following examples. The Lamborghini Aventador debuted at Geneva in 2011, followed by the highly anticipated Veneno in 2013. The Aventador’s successor, the Revuelto, was unveiled via an online livestream, but the Temerario, the Huracán’s replacement, was first publicly shown at The Quail in 2024. The same holds true for the seven-figure Fenomeno, which debuted at the 2025 Quail. Bugatti revealed the Chiron in Geneva in 2016, but both the Divo (2018) and Mistral (2022) were unveiled to the world at The Quail. This pattern extends to numerous other manufacturers, positioning The Quail as the preeminent platform for these types of vehicles.
Until this past Halloween, I believed The Quail’s dominance was secure. Then I attended the 2025 Las Vegas Concours, and I’m no longer so certain. To provide context, I also attended the 2024 event. While enjoyable, it struck me as somewhat provincial. There were some impressive cars, but many felt like typical showcases. In fact, had I not been working with Czinger, which invited me as their guest, I might not have bothered attending this year. However, I am immensely glad I did.
The Wynn: A Haven for the Automotive Elite
The Concours at Wynn Las Vegas is a showcase unlike any other. This year, the Wynn featured 48 Bugatti Veyrons on the lawn. That’s correct. Of the 450 Veyrons ever built and the 100 sold in North America, 48 were present in Las Vegas. Actually, there were 49, as Bugatti also brought 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, the Tourbillon, which will replace the Chiron. Displaying more than 10% of all Bugatti Veyrons ever built in one location continues to leave me breathless.
The younger generation appreciates Paganis too, right? There were more than 40 of them. I didn’t get the exact count, as I was too busy marveling at the Veyrons, but there were several Zondas, including a Zonda Revolution (one of only five), dozens of Huayras, a plethora of Utopias, and—more concerning for The Quail—the debut of the Huayra Codalunga Speedster. Pagani plans to produce only ten of these at a price of $7 million each before taxes and tariffs, should you be interested. The mint green prototype under the cover belonged to Apple’s Tim Cook. Even if these carbon-titanium extroverts aren’t your preferred style, the fact that the 2025 Las Vegas Concours hosted the largest gathering of Paganis ever held in North America, and that Horatio Pagani (who was honored on stage by emcee Justin Bell for his contributions to automotive design) and his team chose this event to introduce a new car, speaks volumes. But more on that later. Back to the 40+ Paganis: this is a larger number of cars than the factory produces in a single year.
The Lamborghini section was equally astounding for those who appreciate such vehicles. First and foremost, the 2025 Wynn Las Vegas Concours hosted the largest gathering of Lamborghinis in history. Yes, ever. I didn’t count, but the reported number was around 230. That’s 230 out of the 600 cars present that Saturday. Simply mind-boggling. Among these 230, there was a Veneno Coupe (one of only three sold to the public, with the factory retaining a fourth), a Sesto Elemento (one of ten), a Centenario coupe (one of 20) and convertible (one of 20), and a Reventón (one of 21). The last time I saw all these “few-offs” (as Lamborghini now calls them) together in one place was at the factory’s museum. It was a flabbergasting display of precious, high-horsepower Italian metal and composite materials.
In an effort to remain concise, I am 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 and insane Pebble Beach Concours-winning 2029 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Barker Tourer 26/120/180 that also won pre-war Best of Show here), the HWA EVO, a Mercedes-AMG One, two Oldsmobile Aerotechs, and a McLaren F1. Yes, this is what I would call one hell of a car show.
The Future of Automotive Events: A New Era Dawns
As I mingled with fellow attendees, two primary topics dominated the conversations at the Wynn Las Vegas Concours. The first, and perhaps the most pertinent question on everyone’s mind, was: \”How on earth are they going to top this next year?\” I have no idea, but I wish the Wynn the best of luck. The second, and frankly more intriguing query, came from the OEMs: \”Should we even bother attending The Quail next year?\” That is a very valid question. Perhaps it’s time to say good luck to The Quail as well.
Many are unaware of the staggering costs associated with The Quail. A single ticket cost $1,300 last year. This was a discounted rate for those who had attended in the past, referred to as “legacy ticket holders.\” For first-time attendees, the price was $1,600. While expensive, this cost is dwarfed by the manufacturer’s expense of roughly $400,000 to put a car on a show stand there—for only six hours. The Las Vegas Concours charges approximately 1/20th of that. And if you wish to attend, tickets are priced at just $100 a piece. That’s about $2 per Veyron. I spoke to three different carmakers who openly questioned the necessity of ever attending The Quail again. They mused whether Las Vegas and Moda Miami were sufficient. 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, with a five-night minimum), nor navigating soul-crushing traffic from event to event. Also, making dinner reservations is easy, as Las Vegas is literally built to accommodate large gatherings.
While these developments might seem extraordinary, it’s worth remembering that just a few years ago, Geneva was the epicenter of the supercar world. I cannot predict the future, but I can assure you that the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas is now at the top of my must-attend list. I suggest you put it on yours as well.
The Concours at Wynn Las Vegas: A Supercar Showdown
A New Contender Emerges in the World of Automotive Excellence
The term “concours d’elegance” traditionally refers to a competition where vehicles and accessories are judged primarily on their appearance and presentation. For those deeply immersed in the world of luxury automobiles, the question inevitably arises: which event reigns supreme? While the Pebble Beach Concours, particularly during the iconic Monterey Car Week, has long been the undisputed gold standard, a formidable challenger has emerged from the heart of the Mojave Desert. The Concours at Wynn Las Vegas is no longer just a promising contender; it has firmly established itself as potentially the premier supercar event on the planet, threatening to dethrone its more established counterparts.
The Evolution of a Global Automotive Stage
For years, The Quail, formally known as The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, served as the critical appetizer to the main event at Pebble Beach. However, a rapidly expanding segment of the automotive community has long since shifted its allegiance. This demographic prioritizes late-model and brand-new supercars and hypercars. Many car enthusiasts now make the journey to Car Week but forgo Sunday’s proceedings, finding little interest in “a bunch of old cars.”
