Celebrating the old and the new during one of the most important automotive events of the year
Favorites from the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d’Élegance
Celebrating the old and the new during one of the most important automotive events of the year
Similar to the way Miami Art Week has grown exponentially, from the founding Art Basel fair to more than ten art and design fairs, hundreds of installations, brand experiences and events, so to has the activity around vintage car week in Pebble Beach, anchored by The Concours d’Élegance. Vintage car races, auctions, elaborate private homes with auto company experiences for customers, and of course activations and launches for new cars aplenty now stretch out for nearly a week preceding the Concours, but if there was ever a question about them eclipsing the reason so many gather at the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links’s 18th green, this year’s event clearly showed that the Concours is still the focus. Each year it showcases the highest scoring vintage vehicles from smaller shows, across both its standard categories (such as pre-war convertibles) as well as its specialty categories, which often celebrate brand or model milestones or, as we saw this year, a specific type and moment of automotive design, such as Wedge-shaped concepts and prototypes. This new class demonstrated both the desire to include more modern designs appealing to many younger enthusiasts and collectors and brought a much appreciated energy to the weekend. Spending time with so many brands, vehicles and experiences, here are those that stood out from the week.
Easiest Way To Get Around: Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono
With all the vehicles that descend on Monterey County during Car Week the traffic is maddening though always a delight with so many vintage and exotic cars to gawk at. If you’re trying to see and do as much as possible there’s only one method of transportation to choose and that’s something with two wheels. This year we had the pleasure of trying Ducati’s first single-cylinder Supermotard motorcycle, The Hypermotard 698. Combining the precision front end typical of Ducati with the nimbleness of a Supermotard, the 698 Mono is equipped with the new Superquadro Mono, a record-breaking single cylinder engine producing 77.5 HP at 9,750 rpm and 46.4 lb-ft of torque with a maximum revolution limit of 10,250 rpm. With a dry weight of only 333 lbs and a tall, upright riding position, the 698 instills instant confidence in the rider, perfect for cutting through traffic. The RVE version that we rode comes standard with Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up/Down, black frame, and dedicated graphics.
Best Specialty Manufacturer Interior: RUF Rodeo
Apparently inspired by Ralph Lauren’s Ranch, the interior of RUF’s first off-road oriented model was one of the most talked about cars at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. Rich, dark brown leather and colorful woven textiles combine to create a unique sports car cabin. It’s truly unique and a great pairing with RUF’s decades of expertise modifying Porsche 911s for maximum driving enjoyment. The Rodeo features a 9.5-inch ride height, an adjustable all-wheel-drive system and a six-speed manual transmission. A turbocharged 3.6L flat-six with 610hp powers the car, which has a carbon fiber monocoque that brings the curb weight under 3,000 lbs, ensuring the name Rodeo to be appropriate indeed.
Best Special Edition: Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years
Accompanying the 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911 Turbo class at The Quail, Porsche unveiled the latest 911 Turbo in the form of a special edition commemorating the milestone. Tastefully adopting styling elements inside and out from previous generations of Turbos, the “50 Years” model includes seat centers and inner door panels upholstered in “MacKenzie” tartan inspired by Ferry Porsche’s favorite of the three tartans available for the 1975 model year Turbo. There’s also an available heritage design package which uses Aventurine Green Metallic as the base color and adds matte white silk graphics to the body in the form of a “lollipop” (with choice of number up to 99) as well as “50 Years Turbo” and “Porsche” model designations. Here the Sport Classic Wheels are painted Silver/White and get a historic Porsche crest from 1964 on the center caps to match the one on the hood and steering wheel. Lest one think this is merely an appearance package, the Turbo 50 Years also gets additional standard equipment over a 911 Turbo S in the form of a sport exhaust, PASM with a 10mm lower ride height, front-axle lift, tinted LED Matrix headlights and black brake calipers. One thing that happily remains the same as the standard Turbo S, a 0-60 time of 2.6 seconds.
Best New Supercar: Maserati GT2 Stradale
There were many highly anticipated debuts at the 2024 edition of The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, but one of the largest crowds we were a part of was for the reveal of Maserati’s new barely street-legal supercar—the GT2 Stradale arrives at an interesting moment for Maserati as the brand has its strongest portfolio in many, many years, including singular vehicles like Gran Cabrio Folgore, the only convertible EV on the market, and the Grecale Trofeo, a performance crossover with personality to go with its capability. The GT2 Stradale is clearly intended to let driving enthusiasts and collectors know that as Maserati celebrates its 110th Anniversary the brand is still connected to its racing roots and brings serious performance to the street, not just the track as they did with the debut of the limited edition MCXtrema in 2023. Given its captivating appearance and competitive stat sheet we expect the GT2 Stradale to have quite a few fans.
Best Interior Redesign: 2025 Lincoln Navigator
The Navigator made its debut at Pebble Beach in 1997 as a 1998 model year, and has consistently been the brand’s best selling vehicle. The fifth generation makes its debut as a 2025, and was presented first at a private event and then on the Concour’s Concept Lawn. The exterior is broader, more vertical and more SUV than truck. A split tail gate is one of its best new attributes, providing additional functionality and making it easier to use in a range of circumstances. From its executive style second row seats to a new “Lincoln Rejuvenate” multi-sensory experience, the interior steels the show though, nearly unrecognizable from its past generations with its upgraded materials, styling and technology, and can seat. up to eight people.
Best Class at Pebble Beach: Land Rover “Queens Series”
This year’s edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance was one of the strongest we’ve attended. The crowd was manageable, the weather was uncharacteristically beautiful and the classes were robust, progressive even. From the featured classes of “Wedge-Shaped Concept Cars and Prototypes” to “1990s BPR & FIA GT Race Cars” and “Maserati” to “Frua Coachwork” there was an energy flowing from the eclecticism on the grass this year. The vehicles that stole the show and drew everyone to the far end of the green were 10 humble 4x4s turned into royal transportation for HM Queen Elizabeth II. Presented together for the first time ever outside the UK, this group of Land Rover and Range Rover models used by the late Queen was something to behold because of people’s strong connection to their owner. From the earliest Royal vehicle, a Land Rover Series I “State Review”, to the first Range Rover to take the role of ceremonial state review vehicle, a heavily modified 1974 Range Rover, the collection’s cultural impact was impossible not to feel. Our favorite? The Queen’s personal 1983 Defender 110 V8 that she commissioned herself and used at Sandringham. It remains part of the active Royal Fleet.
Best Driving Experience: Ferrari 296 GTS on Highway 1
We’ve had ample seat time in the hardtop 296, but this was our first go in the hard-top Spider and it did not disappoint. In fact, we prefer it to the coupe because nothing is lost by opting for the folding hard-top model. It’s still one of Ferrari’s best looking models, it’s still absurdly quick and it’s still every bit the driving enthusiast’s machine the hardtop is. The Spider adds more direct access to the slightly unusual, yet entirely sonorous exhaust note produced by the twin-turbo V6, which happily borrows its symmetrical firing order from a Ferrari V12. The electric motor seamlessly delivers extra power and torque which, combined with the already potent output of the V6, enables the GTS to sprint out of corners and on to the next one at a pace that sometimes takes a minute for your brain to catch up to; it also offers around seven miles of pure EV range. Believe it or not, we enjoyed using the battery for a bit of silent driving along the coast and through the Redwoods of Big Sur. For a Ferrari convertible to allow you to soak up an environment so completely is a new experience, one that’s nice to have the option to switch in and out of without even having to take your hands off the steering wheel.
Best Restomod: Eccentrica V12
Powered by a 5.7-liter V12 engine and oozing 1990’s style, the Eccentrica V12 produces an impressive 550 HP and 600 Nm of torque. Paired with a custom 6-speed transmission featuring updated gear ratios, the Eccentrica offers an elevated analog driving experience not found anywhere else in the restomod landscape. Key features include enhancements to the V12 engine with new valves, camshafts, and an electronic throttle body. The 208mph top speed is more easily achieved with an improved power-to-weight ratio and an innovative TracTive suspension system for a smooth, responsive ride. Updated power steering, Brembo brakes, Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires, and custom 19-inch aluminum alloy rims bring enhanced confidence to sit alongside the enhanced capability.
Best Restomod EV: Kindred Bronco EV
We’ve been fans of Kindred Motorworks since getting behind the wheel of their EV restomod Chevy 3100 pickup a few years back. Their approach to both restomod EV’s and combustion engine models impressed us in terms of fit and finish, which we’d attribute to Kindred keeping development of their vehicles in-house at their Mare Island, CA facility. To that point, the new Kindred EV Bronco arrives with a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain driven by an 80 kWh battery that supports DC fast charging. The engineering team focused on delivering an EV model that’s comparable to the 5.0L V8 powered Kindred Bronco Heritage and Trail editions, so system output is estimated to be 402hp and 492 lb-ft of torque. That’s a lot of juice for a classic 4×4, however Kindred has taken a holistic approach here and not just added a-lot of power, but reinforced the frame, upgraded the suspension, added limited-slip front and rear differentials and added power disc brakes with regenerative-energy capture at all four wheels as well. A soft “bikini top” is standard and a hardtop is optional, either way the truck as a six-point roll cage and a locking rear lift gate with soft-open function. Inside and out, the Kindred Bronco EV is a fully fleshed out vision for a modern electric 4×4 in a timeless package.
Best Reveal: Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series
Perhaps some saw this coming, we certainly had our suspicions, but overall we think Mercedes-Maybach pulled off an impressive debut at a beautiful venue with the unveiling of the SL 680 Monogram Series. The more luxurious take on the Mercedes-AMG SL idled down an LED runway that accentuated the metallic Red Ambiance paint and allowed guests to hear just how much quieter the exhaust is on this Maybach model. For the first year a glossy White Ambiance paint will be available in addition to Red Ambiance, but the only interior choice is a Crystal White Napa leather. Visual differences inside include a model specific steering wheel, stainless-steel pedals and door sills, while outside the “Maybach SL” features a black hood with a Maybach logo pattern that matches the soft-top and Maybach logo grilles at each corner of the lower fascia. In addition to recalibrated suspension settings, additional sound-deadening material has been added to further refine the ride experience. While we’ve enjoyed hustling the AMG SL 55 and 63, we expect the cruising experience of the Maybach SL 680 to suit the platform best. We’ll just have to wait until the second half of next year to find out.
Best Auction: Broad Arrow
A fresh take on a car auction is difficult to pull off, yet Broad Arrow did so with their reformatted event at Monterey Jet Center. Taking place alongside Hagerty’s Motorlux, which over the past few years has become the unofficial kick-off party for Monterey Car Week, Broad Arrow’s auction ran in the style of a fashion show with cars appearing from behind a curtain and taking to the elevated “runway” inside the massive hangar where the car would rotate on a platform in front of the auctioneers before exiting back down the runway. With bidders and observers seated down either side, the auction felt more intimate than the traditional format with rows of seats all facing a stage. The sale of a 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Rennversion (one of 9 customer GT1’s constructed) for $7,045,000 headlined the two day auction, with additional highlights including five auction records, led by a rare 1998 RUF CTR 2 at a hammer price of $2,095,000.