BY PETER BARNWELL / COBEY BARTELLS
ARGUABLY the world’s premier celebration of the automobile, there’s more to Monterey Car Week in a late summer, northern California than you’d think.
A packed program of events over more than a week includes the legendary Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance, The Quail: An Auto Sports Gathering, Classic motor sports events, hill climbs, cruises, a rally from New York to Monterey, brand reunions, numerous other concourse events and four classic car auctions run by Mecum, RM Sothebys, Bonhams and Gooding and Co.
There is even a Concourse d’Lemons for, well, lemons and there are plenty of those littering the automotive world.
Cars worth millions of dollars (each) change hands at these keenly anticipated auctions and this year was no exception.
But we are only scratching the surface here, you will have to go there personally to get a full appreciation of what could rightly be described as classic car heaven.
Monterey Car Week might be all over for 2022, but it will go down as one of the best ever.
Let’s be generous here and call it America’s largest and most prestigious car show that runs over 10 days in sunny California a few hours south of San Francisco. The all-out car ‘festival’ showcases the old, the new, and everything in between.
The world’s rarest and, of course, most expensive vehicles converge across Monterey County for the various festivities, most notably the 71-year-old Pebble Beach Concours d-Elegance classic car meet – where this year patrons were treated to an ultra-rare 1932 Duesenberg J Figoni Sports Torpedo that took out Best in Show.
Across the week, an estimated US$400 million ($A581.8m) worth of classic cars were auctioned, the most expensive being a one-of-two 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider raced by Carroll Shelby that sold for US$22 million.
High-end manufacturers also take advantage of the exclusive event to launch their latest and greatest – this year being no exception.
McLaren revealed its ultra-limited Solus GT hyper car, a track-only closed-cockpit racer with a V10 engine that spins to more than 10,000rpm.
The Solus GT was first born virtually in the Gran Turismo Sport video game as a no-holds-barred vision of what could be before McLaren engineers were tasked with bringing the concept to life as a special commission for 25 lucky customers.
“The McLaren Solus GT is the realisation of a radical McLaren concept vehicle originally created for the world of virtual racing,” said McLaren Automotive chief executive officer, Michael Leiters.
“Engineered free of any restrictions from road or race regulations, but with the full spectrum of McLaren’s expertise to bring it to reality, it epitomises our pioneering spirit.”
The metal realisation of the ultimate McLaren is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10, mated to a seven-speed sequential ‘box, producing 609kW/649Nm and capable of revving beyond 10,000rpm.
The Solus GT will rocket to 100km/h in just 2.5 seconds and is capable of more than 200mph (322km/h) – on the racetrack of course.
Weighing in at 1000kg, and producing a staggering 1199kg of downforce, the Solus GT is capable of “the fastest lap times of any McLaren outside of single-seater racing” and the car-maker likens the driving experience to that of a Formula 1 car.
While McLaren hasn’t released pricing details, sources estimate a US$3.6 million ($A5.19m) price tag – unsurprising, really.
Aston Martin also unveiled the new V12 Vantage Roadster – its most powerful production model ever alongside the coupe version – offering unprecedented open-air thrills for fans of the marque.
The new V12 Vantage Roadster features a wide body design, wide-track suspension, and Aston Martin’s venerable 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine. The monstrous unit produces 515kW/753Nm, sent to the rear treads via an eight-speed automatic transmission and propels the Vantage to 100km/h in 3.5 seconds.
Owners have little chance of keeping their hat firmly on their head in the drop-top Aston Martin, with a claimed top speed of 200mph (322km/h).
The V12 Vantage Roadster has shed plenty of weight, further enhancing performance, thanks to a carbon fibre front bumper, clamshell bonnet, and front guards. A weight-saving composite material has also been used for the rear bumper and deck lid, as well as a lightweight 1mm-thick stainless steel exhaust system.
The new V12 Vantage Roadster is limited to just 249 examples globally and Go Auto has confirmed it’s bound for Australia – presumably in very limited numbers.
“The V12 Vantage Roadster is available to Australian and New Zealand customers, and we anticipate strong interest within both markets,” said an Aston Martin spokesperson.
“However, we are unable to disclose exact numbers of local customer orders.”
Bentley was also busy throughout Monterey Car Week, unveiling its ultra-premium Mulliner Batur grand tourer – giving us a taste of its future EV design focus.
Despite premiering the new design DNA “that will ultimately guide the design of Bentley’s future range of Battery Electric Vehicles”, the Batur is powered by Bentley’s most powerful internal combustion engine.
It’s all a little confusing, but Bentley’s aim here is to debut its new design language, destined for EV models, while still celebrating its W12 engine.
“As the engine enters its twilight years as part of Bentley’s Beyond100 transformation journey to being fully electrified, the Batur forms the first part of a celebration of the W12’s extraordinary power, torque and refinement,” Bentley’s official release stated.
The 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 produces an eye-watering 544kW/1000Nm, with an ‘eLSD’ electric diff to manage all that torque.
Bentley has gone to great lengths to enhance the handling of the Batur, with speed-tuned air suspension, electric anti-roll bars, four-wheel steering, and torque vectoring.
Just 18 examples will be produced, all reserved by Mulliner clients and priced at $2.8 million, with deliveries expected in mid-2023.
“The Batur is a significant car for Bentley. Far more than the heir to the highly successful Bacalar, the Batur showcases the design direction that we’re taking in the future as we develop our range of BEVs,” said Bentley chairman and chief executive, Adrian Hallmark.
“Beneath the beautiful exterior lies the most powerful engine we’ve ever developed. Our W12 engine is easily the most successful twelve-cylinder automotive engine in history, and as it approaches its retirement to make way for future hybrids and BEVs, we want to mark its accomplishments.”
The 18 vehicles will be built by Bentley’s in-house bespoke coachbuilding division, Mulliner, offered with lavish options like 3D printed 18 karat gold, sustainable natural fibre composites, and titanium parts.
Cadillac pulled the wraps off the Celestiq concept, a car that will serve as the brand’s halo model in the EV era. Bigger than expected, Celestiq in production car form is likely to go for somewhere between the $US200,000 to $US300,000 with extremely limited production.
Celestiq will be hand built at GM’s Warren, Michigan, Technical Centre with extensive customising options available to buyers.
While Car Week might be the epicentre for ICE and ‘restomod’ engine transplants, this year was notable for the number of EVs on display, some approaching production, some prototype and some concepts. All gave an interesting view into the future.
Lincoln unveiled its latest concept, the Model L100 big electric sedan that is a design exercise unlikely to go into production, the Faraday FF 91 was on display with a claimed 1050 horsepower from three motors under its lithe skin.
Not forgetting the US-made Czinger 21C hybrid of course with a 1250hp bespoke petrol V8 hybrid electric powertrain under Lemans-like bodywork. Designed, built, and manufactured in Los Angeles the 21C comes with an inline seating arrangement and butterfly doors.
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