Top 5 Monterey Car Week Reveals

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance serves as the pinnacle of a week-long series of events that shine a spotlight on automobiles through celebration, reverence, and exultation. While the final days of the 2023 Monterey Car Week predominantly center on automotive history, the broader spectrum of events, including The Quail and exclusive private unveilings across Monterey, California, direct their focus toward the prospective horizon of luxury motoring.

This year, a resounding theme emerged: an unwavering pursuit of speed, regardless of expense. Sure, this seems a likely trend, however there were a few surprises sprinkled in the mix. Outlined below are our selections for the foremost five unveilings from the 2023 Monterey Car Week, encapsulating a dynamic blend of innovation, style, and performance:

5: BAC Mono Supercar

Teased last week, BAC showcased their single-seater Mono Supercar.  At the heart of the new Mono is a naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter powertrain optimized to deliver the perfect amount of power and torque for a high-performance car that is agile and dynamic, both on-road and on-track. This translates to the powertrain, which revs to a rousing 8,000rpm, developing 311hp and 231 lb-ft of torque.  Did we mention it’s going to be street-legal?

4: Pininfarina B95

The B95, the all-electric “Barchetta” (that’s the “B” in the name) supercar that will put out 1,900 horsepower. 0-60 will take less than two seconds, with a top speed 186 mph. It will be a limited edition of 10 units in 2025, each to sell for $4.8 million. The 95 refers to the 95th anniversary of the Pininfarina SpA design house.

3: Mercedes-AMG GT

Let’s be honest here – it looks a lot like the previous generation.  Not that it’s particularly a bad thing, however it almost feels like just a face-lift.  Sure, the spy shots didn’t leave much to the imagination, but I was hoping for more of a design change.  I’m happy it retains a V8, however it now has AWD, and an option for back seats, making it a 2+2, or a grand tourer, or NOT what the GTS was when it was first unveiled back in 2014.

2: Lotus Type 66

A big surprise was the Lotus Type 66, as a new, ultra-exclusive low-volume dedicated track-car. It brings to life a ‘lost Lotus’ drawing board program from the brand’s world-renowned motorsport heritage, combining it with today’s state-of-the-art racing technology and components.  The Type 66 has been launched in Lotus’ 75th anniversary year and is testament to the brand’s desire to reimagine the best elements of its heritage, updating them in the most exhilarating way possible. Absolutely obsessed.

1: Ford Mustang GTD

Undoubtedly the biggest surprise of the 2023 Monterey Car Week (even though press photos were leaked a few days early), is the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD.  The primary alterations over the GT3 are clearly cosmetic, featuring a plethora of additional aerodynamic elements, vents, and an array of authentic race car aesthetics. However, the GTD’s true essence goes beyond its surface-level enhancements.

Distinctively tailored to the Mustang platform, the foundational components of the GTD set it apart. Nestled beneath the hood lies a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine aimed at achieving an impressive 800 horsepower channeled to the rear wheels. While this element, combined with the automatic dual-clutch transmission, might evoke memories of the recent GT500, the intrigue deepens here. The aforementioned dual-clutch transmission, now boasting 8 gears, is ingeniously positioned as a transaxle at the rear and is coupled with a carbon fiber driveshaft. This integration contributes to an almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution, marking a pivotal point of fascination.

The goal of the Mustang GTD?  A sub seven-minute lap around the Nürburgring.  Sign us up.