Every year, the rich and famous congregate in Monterey, California, to show off the cream of the automotive crop and, as ever, this year that included a lot of new limited edition models. From Rolls-Royce to Cadillac, Mercedes to Maserati, the world’s top brands were on hand to show off, and here are our favourite reveals so far from Monterey Car Week, America’s fanciest automotive event.
Lamborghini Unveils Huracan Successor
Lamborghini had perhaps the biggest unveiling of the show so far with the Temrario, its follow-up to the much-loved Huracan. Sadly, the V10 is gone now, but it has been replaced by is a mighty powerful twin-turbocharged V8 hybrid powertrain that makes a whopping 907 hp and can rev all the way up to 10,000 rpm. That power allows the Temerario to sprint to 100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds and to continue accelerating all the way to a top speed of 340 km/h. With it, Lamborghini can boast a fully electrified lineup, now that the Revuelto and Urus are offered with battery-assisted powertrains.
Rolls-Royce Phantom Scintilla
Few brands evoke luxury like Rolls-Royce, and no other automaker has a hood ornament that’s as well known. That’s why, to celebrate its 120th birthday, the English carmaker has designed a limited edition model inspired by the statuesque figurine on its vehicles’ prow: The Spirit of Ecstasy.
Limited to just 10 examples, the Phantom Scintilla Collection’s name comes from the Latin for “spark,” and celebrates the fleeting moment when sculptor Claude Johnson was inspired to design the hood ornament. The model features a bespoke starlight headliner that captures the presence of the Spirit of Ecstasy, embroidery that recalls the fluttering of the figure’s robes, and, most importantly, the hood ornament receives a ceramic finish to make it look more like the ancient marble statues that inspired it.
Maserati Brings a Pair of Supercars
Although it isn’t quite as old as Rolls-Royce, Maserati has some history behind it, too, and is celebrating its 110th birthday this year. To mark the occasion, the brand brought two special versions of its mid-engine supercar, the MC20. The first, the Tributo Modenese, is an homage to the city Maserati calls, Modena. It features blue and black paint with gold highlights, special badging, and just one example will ever be built.
The second offering will be a little less rare but should be even more exciting for drivers. The MC20 GT2 Stradale is designed to be the ultimate performance model thanks to a big wing on the back, 60 kg (132 lbs.) of weight reduction, and 10 additional horsepower over the standard model (for a total of 640 hp). That all amounts to an impressive 0-100 km/h time of just 2.8 seconds.
Mercedes Has Even More to Show Off
Mercedes could hardly contain itself this year, bringing three special edition models to Monterey this year: the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Edition 130Y Motorsport, the Mercedes-Maybach S 680 Edition Nordic Glow, and the Mercedes-Maybach SL Monogram Series.
Not to be outdone, Mercedes’ first car celebrates 130 years of competition and features retro design elements. Those include blue stripes, plaid seats, and a special steering wheel all inspired by the brand’s racecars in the 1950s. Somewhat ironically, buyers won’t be able to race their Mercedes-AMG GT3 130Y Motorsport, because its engine hasn't been homologated for competition. But there's a good reason for that. With 680 hp at its disposal, this is the most powerful GT3 vehicle ever built at its Affalterbach factory.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Maybach launched the SL 680 Monogram series, the sportiest model in the luxury brand’s history. It gets a chrome grille, a three-point star hood ornament, a monogrammed hood, and an insulated soft top. Inside, comfort seats upholstered in crystal white nappa leather with a new floral design greet occupants, as do Maybach-specific startup animations. Combined with the Mercedes SL’s 585 hp V8, it should all make for a very comfortable cruiser with neck-snapping acceleration.
Finally, Mercedes-Maybach introduced the U.S.-exclusive S 680 Edition Nordic Glow, which is limited to just 50 examples. Finished in white and Violet Metallic, the paint scheme is inspired by the northern lights. Inside, the car gets a wood and leather steering wheel, leather seats finished in Rose Grey with Amethyst Grey contrast stitching, and Rose Gray piping.
Cadillac Sneaker Collab
In addition to unveiling its concept for the future of V-Series performance, the Opulent Velocity (read our full report here), the brand also chose this week to reveal that it is collaborating with Surgeon on a custom sneaker collection. The shoes are inspired by its lineup of EVs, including the Lyriq, the Celestiq, the Optiq, and the Escalade IQ. Designer Dominic Ciambrone worked with the automaker’s artisans at the GM Design Center in Warren, Michigan, to ensure that the sneakers reflected the spirit of the vehicles it was inspired by.
Acura Performance EV Concept
Acura previewed its first, fully in-house-developed electric crossover for North America with the Performance EV Concept. Featuring handsome coupe body lines, a full-width taillight, and a diffuser, the concept is leaning heavily toward the performance side of the equation. You can read our full report on the concept here but, unfortunately, no performance specs have yet been shared.