Pebble Beach, and the entire Monterey Car Week is probably not the biggest car event in the world. But we have little doubt it's the most expensive. Where some of the most valuable cars in the world are driven onto the grass of the Pebble Beach Golf Links, and are seen all around the California town.
Of course, with that many classics puttering around, new car makers don't want to be left out. So they bring incredible one-off and ultra-limited edition versions of some of the most expensive new cars on the market to show off during the event. Some shown for the first time, some already sold-out, all among the most exclusive vehicles in the world. So here are the best ones revealed during Monterey Car Week.
The Bugatti Centodieci
The Centodieci is in existence because Bugatti doesn't think you remember the EB110 of the company's ill-fated 1990s return. So they're paying tribute to that original four-turbo monster with their latest four-turbo monster.
Bugatti wanted a tribute without a design copy. Possibly because the original hasn't aged all that well, and because this one is based on the Chiron so they couldn't change all that much. It keeps the trademark horseshoe grille, but makes it tiny like the EB110's. With gunslit headlights and the samer perforated C-pillar treatment, it's a pretty good recreation of the original, really. The engine makes 1,000 hp more than the original at 1,600 hp. Up from the standard Chiron. It's also 20 kg lighter. They're making 10, they'll start at 8 million euros, and they're already sold out.
Lamborghini SVJ 63 Roadster and Huracan Evo GT
Lamborghini brought a pair of special editions. And like many of the Pebble Beach Specials, it's more like a trip through the fanciest paint and trim shop in the world that's created these two.
The SJV Roadster takes the 759 hp V12-powered and active-aero enhanced SJV and runs it through the Ad Personam department. With just 63 made (and all already sold), there are eight special design combinations to choose from. The car on display comes in a special grey with bare carbon accents outside. With special engine covers, air vents, and mirrors. Inside is a tri-tone Alcanatara interior with more carbon accents and special white Q-Citura stitching.
The Huracan Evo GT Celebration is, well, a celebration of Lamborghini's winning class at the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring two years in a row. So it's a bright orange and green car that mimics the livery of the racer. Plus there are number panels on the side like the race car. And other fun bits like a laurel wreath on the fender, Daytona 24 and Sebring 12 badges, and a plaque telling you it's one of 36 made.
On the inside, the stitching matches the outside, and the cars get new racing seats that are appearing for the first time in this car. It gets a V10 engine, and this one might not be sold out. Yet.
Drako GTE
You may have heard of Drako before. The upstart electric automaker announced the GTE back in June. But now they've actually revealed it at Monterey, and what a machine it is. With four electric motors installed in a chassis delivered by Fisker, this one's capable of a combined 1,200 hp and massive torque. Drako claims 6,491 lb-ft of torque. Though that's at the wheels, so it's going to be a more reasonable number at the output shafts of the motors.
The car is a four-seater, even if it doesn't look like it from the outside. And it uses a 90 kWh battery. Drako says the car's torque-vectoring system was developed around the Nürburgring and that it can adjust wheel torque 1,000 times a second, with Ohlins dampers keeping the wheels planted. They're planning to make 25, priced from US$1.25m with deliveries expected next year.
Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera Sciàdipersia Cabriolet
The Sciàdipersia Cabriolet made its North American debut at The Quail. Touring Superleggera has been coachbuilding cars since 1926. Its CV includes cars like the Lancia Flaminia Coupe, Lamborghini 350 and 400 GT, and the Maserati 3500 GT. Plus many of Enzo Ferrari's earliest, like the 166MM. Their latest is the Sciàdipersia. It is a Maserati GranCoupe with a gorgeous new set of panels attached. The company says that the look is inspired by the 3500GT that was Carrozzeria Touring's first road car.
It's powered by the base Maser's 5.0L V8, generating 460 hp, but that's not what matters here. What matters are the looks, and those are best described by staring at the beautiful pictures.
Rolls-Royce Pebble Beach 2019 Collection
Rolls brought 13 special Bespoke Commissions cars to Monterey. And all, it says, are offered exclusively for clients who are at the event. They add a splash (Rolls calls it an explosion) of colour to the company's line.
The headliner is a Phantom in black and gold. Appropriately understated for the company's top car. Inside, it gets the Phantom Gallery, which is the only in-car canvas for displaying art in your car.
Four Cullinan SUVs start the bring that colour splash, in special grey, green, gunmetal, and blue. With a special "iced finish" Rolls says is solid like a matte colour, but with an elegant shine. The Ghost, Wraith, and Dawn, though, are the true standouts. With what Rolls calls a "painter's palette of colours from this years' wildflower super bloom" in Monterey. Pastel green, coral, and yellow. All exclusive colours. The yellow car is a Black Badge which adds a new technical fibre fascia and interior accents, plus special starlight headliner. It's hard to get much more exclusive than the concert tee of cars, where you had to be here to buy one. And there were only 13.
