Much of the focus at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will be on the 70th anniversary of the Chevrolet Corvette, but that’s not the only manufacturer set to celebrate a milestone next week. Aston Martin will continue their 110th anniversary celebrations, while McLaren will party for the 60th anniversary of their founding by Bruce McLaren. Maserati will also be on hand to highlight 75 years of the GranTurismo and will do so with the world premiere of the MCXtrema.
Maserati's New MCXtrema in Monterey
The MC20-based hypercar from Maserati known as the MCXtrema will make its world debut at The Quail, alongside the North American debuts of the one-off GranTurismo Luce and Prisma. The Italian manufacturer will start the week with the House of Maserati, offering guests the greatest in hospitality and an opportunity to see a wide array of Maseratis.
The GrandTurismo PrimaSerie and GranTurismo Folgore will be on display and test drivers will be available to experience the GranTurismo line as well as the MC20. Maserati’s Gen3 Tipo Folgore, their first all-electric race car that competed in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will also be on display.
Just after 9:00 AM PT on Friday, August 18 the limited production, radically styled MCXtrema hypercar will be unveiled at The Quail. The model was designed for top performance on the track, its power plant producing 730 horsepower. Maserati will build just 62 examples of the MCXtrema.
McLaren at Monterey Car Week 2023
Not to be outdone, McLaren will be at The Quail and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. A number of Can-Am, Indy and Formula 1 race cars will be displayed to celebrate six decades of dedication to racing. The first Formula 1 car built by McLaren, the M2B will make a rare public appearance along with the 1973 McLaren M16C that was driven by Jonny Rutherford, a 1974 McLaren M23 driven by Emerson Fittipaldi, and a 1992 McLaren MP4-7A powered by the last of Honda’s V12 engines that took Ayrton Senna to victory at Monaco that year.
McLaren will also display the new 750S Spider and the first of 25 production examples of the shockingly quick Solus GT. Those cars will also be joined by the 1970 McLaren M8D Can-Am car that Denny Hulme drove – a car that helped McLaren score 43 wins and five consecutive championships between 1967 and 1971.
The 750S is powered by a 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 that produces 740 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. Offering more power and being lighter weight than the outgoing 720S, the 750S runs from 0 to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and is 425 lbs lighter than its closest competitor at its dry weight.
The Solus GT was a highlight of Monterey Car Week in 2022 and is featured in the Gran Turismo video game series. It’s powered by a 5.2L V10 that exceeds 10,000 rpm and is paired with a seven-speed sequential transmission that delivers 829 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. It’s no surprise that all of the 25 examples set to be built have been sold considering the style and performance that were on clear display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month, at which the Solus GT won the timed hillclimb, covering the 1.16 mile course in 45.342 seconds.
Keeping with the theme of racing history and modern excellence, McLaren will also be showing one of their current-year MCL60 Formula 1 cars. Along with the historic McLaren race cars previously mentioned, with many more expected to be on hand, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance will witness one of the largest gatherings of historic McLarens ever assembled.
Aston Martin Celebrates in Monterey 2023
Aston Martin will once again host the Aston Martin Club 1913, where their Valhalla VR experience will be offered to owners of the genuine Aston Martin Valhalla, the first hybrid supercar built by the British manufacturer. Monterey Car Week will also see the North American premiere of the Aston Martin Valour – a front-engine V12-powered sports car believed to be the only such car available with a manual transmission.
Not to be shown up by McLaren or Maserati, Aston Martin will also reveal an all-new model at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on Friday, August 18 along with the DBX707, claimed to be the world’s most powerful SUV. Following their appearances at The Quail, both cars will move to Pebble Beach for the weekend.
Invited guests at the Aston Martin Club 1913, located on the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach will be able to see the Valour, DB12, DBX707, and even the AMR23 Formula 1 car while enjoying, “ultra-luxury hospitality.”