What to Expect at 2017 Monterey Car Week

Summer is close to ending, which means it’s time for fancy cars in a fancy place.

The 2017 Monterey Car Week is just around the corner, with a handful of events, auctions, and races for automotive enthusiasts of all types to enjoy. AutoGuide.com will be covering all the automotive debuts live from 2017 Monterey Car Week, making a stop at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on August 18 and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 20. But there is a lot more to see and enjoy throughout the week if you’re in Monterey. There aren’t a lot of new car or concept car debuts planned, but there are a few North American debuts of cars we’ve seen before at auto shows abroad.

2017 Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Coverage

Here are some interesting things to expect from this year’s event.

There will be hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cars being auctioned off at 2017 Monterey Car Week. We could probably fill up a book with notable cars crossing the auction block including several classic Ferraris and the first McLaren F1 to ever become street legal in the U.S. There’s also the rare 2006 Lamborghini Concept S (seen above) and a pair of classic Mercedes 300 SLs.

Bentley won’t have anything new to show off, but the EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept will be making its North American debut after bowing earlier this year at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. The British automaker will also show off its new Continental Supersports, the Continental GT V8 S, Flying Spur W12 S, Mulsanne Speed, and Bentayga W12. Joining the EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept in making their North American debuts are three Bentayga variants: the Mulliner, Black, and Activity editions.

BMW has already teased a new roadster concept for 2017 Monterey Car Week, which will likely preview the upcoming new Z4 that shares its platform with the Toyota Supra successor. The German automaker will also show off its Concept 8 Series Coupe at both The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The concept, which previews the upcoming 8 Series, debuted in May at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and will be making its North American debut at 2017 Monterey Car Week.

Infiniti is arguably already stealing the show from other automakers by introducing its Prototype 9 ahead of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The open-wheeled, electric retro roadster prototype is already getting plenty of buzz online and we can’t wait to check it out in person. The Japanese automaker will also have a custom-built Prince R380 on display, which is believed to be the only surviving R380 in existence. According to Infiniti, Prince Motor Company is considered to be Japan’s original builder of premium automobiles, and its legacy can be traced to Infiniti Motor Company and its current model line.

The stunning Jaguar XE SV Project 8 will make its North American debut at Monterey Car Week, bringing its 592 horsepower and aggressive styling to Northern California. The sedan was first unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June as a two-seater (seen above) and it will be joined by a four-seater U.S.-spec Velocity Blue version. Best of all, Jaguar will be putting them on the track at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca.

If you don’t recognize the name Ken Okuyama, you might want to keep that to yourself. That’s because Okuyama has contributed to the design of some of the world’s most famous cars, including the Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari P4/5, and the 996-generation Porsche 911. Now, the Japanese designer is unveiling his own vehicle called the Kode 0-Zero at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on August 18. It’s a one-off V12-powered supercar and you can bet we’ll be there to check it out.

Mercedes-Maybach has been teasing something special for the summer, and it’s likely debuting at 2017 Monterey Car Week. The new concept car is believed to be a convertible version of the Vision 6 Concept that bowed at last year’s event, suggesting both the coupe and convertible are heading to production. We’ll know more later this week, but for now, there’s a video you can watch, previewing the concept.