Monterey Car Week 2025 blends heritage, exclusivity, and electrification

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(TestMiles) - Monterey Car Week 2025 celebrates Chrysler's 100 years, Lamborghini's hybrid Fenomeno, Acura's RSX EV, Jaguar's Type 00 U.S. debut, Range Rover luxury, and BMW's motorsport DNA

The Monterey Peninsula once again becomes the world's automotive epicenter

Every August, the Monterey Peninsula transforms into the automotive world's grand stage. Monterey Car Week 2025 was no exception, mixing auctions, heritage anniversaries, private showcases, and bold debuts. Chrysler marked a century of American innovation. Lamborghini unveiled the Fenomeno, its most powerful hybrid yet. Acura previewed its first in-house EV with the RSX Prototype. Jaguar's Type 00 made its U.S. debut in French Ultramarine blue. Range Rover hosted a private House blending couture and capability. BMW reminded everyone of its motorsport roots with the M2 CS. Together, they painted a picture of where the industry has been, and where it is going.

Why does this car week matter right now?

Monterey Car Week is not just another auto show. Born in 1950 with the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, it has become a week-long theatre of heritage, auctions, racing, and launches. What makes 2025 significant is balance. Chrysler leaned on its 100-year legacy, while Lamborghini, Acura, and Jaguar pushed electrification and design into new territory. Range Rover turned exclusivity into lifestyle. BMW proved heritage and performance still resonate. Monterey 2025 wasn't just about sheet metal, it was about narrative power.

Chrysler's centennial was a celebration of American engineering milestones: the 1926 Imperial E-80, the first U.S. production car to top 70 mph; the 1934 Airflow with aerodynamic innovation; and the 1970 HEMI 'Cuda, a muscle icon. At Monterey, Chrysler reminded audiences that a century of audacity and design daring remains part of America's story, even if the brand itself is entering an uncertain future.

How does it compare to rivals?

Where Chrysler looked back, others looked forward. Lamborghini's Fenomeno was the headline act: a "few-off" limited to 29 cars, serving as both rolling sculpture and physics experiment. Its naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12, paired with three electric motors, produces 1,066 horsepower. With 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds and a top speed north of 220 mph, it redefines hybrid performance. Active aero, a forged composite chassis, and 6D sensor integration prove Lamborghini can electrify without losing spectacle.

Acura presented a different vision: attainable electrification with performance credibility. The RSX Prototype, finished in Propulsion Yellow Pearl, will become Acura's first EV engineered in-house. Built at Honda's Ohio EV Hub, it brings dual-motor all-wheel drive, Brembo brakes, and sport-tuned suspension. The real star was ASIMO OS, Acura's new operating system that learns driver behaviour, curates playlists, and evolves through over-the-air updates. It was less theatre than Lamborghini but more relevant to the mainstream future.

Jaguar leaned into design. The Type 00 had already toured Paris, Monaco, and Goodwood, but Monterey marked its U.S. debut in bespoke French Ultramarine. The car itself represents Jaguar's "Copy Nothing" philosophy: fearless design mixed with performance and art. But in California, the color was the message a bold blue chosen to pair with an immersive design showcase curated with Harper's BAZAAR and Road & Track. Jaguar wasn't selling lap times; it was selling identity, artistry, and exclusivity.

Range Rover's House returned to Pebble Beach for the fourth time, inviting only the select few. Guests viewed a one-of-one SV Special Edition inspired by the Monterey coastline and the Sport SV Carbon, a 626-hp masterpiece with carbon-fiber detailing, 23-inch wheels, and ceramic brakes. More than vehicles, it was an immersive brand retreat where architecture, design, and automotive performance converged. Range Rover didn't just present SUVs, it presented a lifestyle.

BMW rounded out the week with tradition and performance. At Legends of the Autobahn, the 2026 M2 CS debuted with 523 hp, 100 pounds trimmed, and a Nürburgring lap record for compact cars. Alongside came a limited 8 Series and a 50th anniversary celebration of the 3 Series, featuring Warhol and Mehretu's Art Cars on the Pebble Beach lawn. Where others shouted novelty, BMW whispered consistency: motorsport, culture, and design evolution.

Who is this for, and who should skip it?

Monterey Car Week is a paradox. On one hand, anyone can see classics cruising through Carmel or attend the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion to watch historic racers. On the other hand, the most coveted venues, The Quail, Range Rover House, and private marque dinners, remain gated, invitation-only spectacles for collectors and clients. Enthusiasts revel in the theatre. Collectors chase rare cars across auction blocks. Brands sharpen their narratives. Casual buyers looking for practicality? Monterey is not for them. This is about legacy, aspiration, and cultural theatre on four wheels.

What is the long-term significance?

Monterey Car Week 2025 highlighted three trajectories for the global auto industry. First, electrification has become aspirational. Lamborghini's hybrid, Acura's EV, and Jaguar's design-led Type 00 prove electricity can be as thrilling as petrol. Second, heritage remains an economic lever. Chrysler's centennial and BMW's anniversary events underscored the selling power of history. Third, luxury has shifted to experiences. Range Rover House and Jaguar's immersive design showcase were less about products and more about culture and lifestyle alignment.

Auctions underscored this duality. A 1960 Ferrari 250 SWB California Spider fetched over $18 million, while Porsche 911s and American muscle cars saw record bids. RM Sotheby's, Bonhams, and Gooding & Company reported strong totals, proving Monterey remains the planet's most influential collector marketplace.

Ultimately, Monterey Car Week 2025 will be remembered as the year Chrysler celebrated its century, Lamborghini pushed hybridization to its limits, Acura previewed its electric mainstream, Jaguar turned a color debut into a cultural statement, Range Rover sold lifestyle as much as SUVs, and BMW bridged art with performance. Monterey remains the world's automotive opera: equal parts nostalgia, aspiration, and innovation.