Mercedes-Benz showed a smattering of vehicles both electric and not. The German automaker brought its Maybach EQS electric SUV, as well as the Maybach Night Series and Vision One-Eleven concept, a modern take on the historic C111 supercar. It also unveiled its new Mercedes-AMG GT, the successor to the powerful and sleek coupe it first started making in 2015—now with optional four seats. A special edition of the Mercedes-AMG SL made an appearance, too: the 2024 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Manufaktur Big Sur, available solely for the U.S. market in limited numbers.
That AMG GT will have plenty of company in the internal combustion segment. Despite advancements in power and range for battery-powered vehicles, ICE engines retain the bulk of car sales worldwide. Consumers in Monterey saw the 2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante, the open-top version of the Aston Martin DB12, with a twin-turbo V-8 engine producing 670 hp. The car can run 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Top speed is 202 mph. Pricing will start around $265,000. The British brand also displayed a jewel-toned Valour, a special-edition V-12 limited to 110 units.
There was also the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS, a mid-engine roadster producing 493 hp and 331 pound-feet of torque, priced at $162,150. It arrives at dealerships in spring, 2024. Lotus showed a new track-only Lotus Type 66 powered by a mid-mounted V-8 producing 830 hp and 550 pound-feet of torque.
RUF, the former Porsche tuner cum independent manufacturer making Porsche-like vehicles on their own bodies and chassis —and which also makes performance parts for various Porsche models—debuted a new design study in honor of the Porsche 911’s 60th anniversary. The Bavarian manufacturer will also show two new vehicles: the RUF R Spyder, a design concept inspired by classic sports roadsters, and the RUF BTR Twin, a twin-turbo variant of the BTR2 sports car. Pricing has yet to be announced on the new vehicles, but, for reference, a 1997 RUF BTR2 sold for $720,000 at a Gooding & Co. auction in May.
McLaren showed the 2024 McLaren 750S, a lighter and more powerful version of the outgoing 720S. It drops 66 pounds and gains 30 hp, along with other improvements, to help it surpass its predecessor. The 750S coupe starts at $331,740; the Spider version starts at $352,740.
Maserati revealed the Maserati MCXtrema. Built only for the track, it is based on the existing $212,000 MC20 V-6 sportscar but offers additional technical specifications and 730 hp. It is limited to just 62 units made.
Hennessey debuted the $3 million Venom F5 Revolution Roadster, a limited-production variant of its Texas-Made $2.1 million Hypercar. Those cars use a twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V-8 engine and claim a whopping 1,817 hp.
Danish brand Zenvo Automotive pubically revealed its Zenvo Automotive Aurora, expected to have a 2.3-second 0-62 mph time and a top speed of more than 280 mph. The €2,590,000 ($2.8 million) supercar comes in two different variants, and it has a combined powertrain of a 6.6-liter quad-turbocharged V-12 engine and an electric motor producing a total of 1,850 hp. It can travel 35 kilometers (21 miles) on pure electric power. Production begins in 2025.
Ford, meanwhile, debuted the $300,000 Ford Mustang GTD, an 800-hp V-8 coupe the company says will begin deliveries in late 2024.
Czinger Vehicles revealed the Blackbird, the latest iteration of its 3D-printed 21C, a $2 million hypercar with a turbocharged V-8 engine. The Los Angeles-based company is calling the 1,350bhp vehicle a “founders’ edition” that pays homage to American innovation and the SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane.
