Pebble Beach weekend has returned in full force this year. Automakers are showing a slew of new product changes out among the lawns and beachsides of the Monterey peninsula.
And stealing the spotlight this year: electric vehicles.
An annual cluster of events traditionally known for displays of sky-high-horsepower sports cars and rarified exotica, the venues this year will unveil EV versions of vehicles that can perform (and will likely cost) at breathtaking levels.
Muscling into Rolls-Royce pricing territory: The small-batch Range Rover SV Carmel Edition stickers at $345,000 — roughly $75,000 more than a 2023 Range Rover with all the options boxes checked. In comparison, the 2022 Rolls-Royce Cullinan crossover has a starting price of $348,000.
A north star for Acura’s upcoming EV design: Acura has unveiled a concept for its first electric vehicle, to be built through a partnership between Honda Motor Co. and General Motors, and said the production model will bear the name of a popular but discontinued vehicle — the ZDX.
McLaren Solus GT, somewhere between fantasy and reality: The 25-vehicle production run is pre-sold, and deliveries begin next year. McLaren did not disclose pricing, but a source estimated it at $3 million to $4 million. The single-seater Solus GT brings to life a futuristic McLaren concept featured in the Gran Turismo Sport video game.
Lucid Air Sapphire sedan with 1,200 hp launches at $249k: The Lucid Air Sapphire, unveiled at Monterey Car Week Friday, has a track-tuned suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes and will vie for the title of the fastest sedan in the world with the Tesla Model S Plaid. Both advertise a zero-to-60 in under two seconds.
Kia EV6 GT boasts 576 hp of muscle: Kia America on Friday unveiled a performance-aimed Kia EV6 GT that will offer a breathtaking 576 hp and 546 pound-feet of torque when it arrives as a 2023 model.
Lincoln Model L100 concept meant to inspire future products: Ford’s luxury brand on Thursday unveiled the Model L100 concept, a self-driving sedan that’s longer than the extended-length Navigator L and powered by a solid-state battery.
Rebirth of a classic Aston? The Aston Martin’s DBR22 concept is meant to evoke the Aston Martin DBR1 and the DB3S, an aluminum-bodied 1950s race car that ran at Le Mans.