Monterey Auto Week

Tensor Robocar: The First Level 4 Self-Driving Vehicle Designed for Private Ownership

Tensor emerges as the world’s first company to design and market a Level 4 autonomous vehicle specifically for private ownership. Unlike the robotaxi-focused approach that has dominated the industry, Tensor’s philosophy centers on “Own Your Autonomy,” a vision where individuals possess their own Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) agents rather than relying on fleet-based services. The company’s core mission extends beyond traditional automotive boundaries, positioning the Tensor Robocar as an embodied personal AGI that empowers owners with time, freedom, and autonomy. This approach challenges the prevailing industry assumption that autonomous vehicles must operate as shared fleet assets to achieve economic viability. Tensor’s origins trace back to AutoX, founded in August 2016 by Jianxiong Xiao, a former MIT PhD and Princeton University

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The Secret Experiences of Monterey Car Week 2025

While Monterey Car Week’s public events capture global attention, the automotive world’s most coveted experiences unfold behind gated driveways and within private estates scattered across the Peninsula. These invitation-only gatherings, whispered about on social media and accessible only to industry insiders and loyal customers of luxury car manufacturers represent the true pinnacle of automotive exclusivity. Beyond the manicured lawns of Pebble Beach lies a parallel universe of secret events that automotive journalists and social media accounts only hint at in cryptic posts. These gatherings operate on an unspoken hierarchy where access depends less on wealth and more on relationships within the collector community. From Range Rover’s hillside mansion transformations to Ferrari’s private villa celebrations, dubbed Casa Ferrari, the Peninsula becomes

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The 28th Annual Bonhams Quail Auction Returns to Carmel

The prestigious Bonhams Quail Auction arrives at Quail Lodge’s West Farm Field, marking the 28th year of this celebrated automotive event. Located at 27050 Rancho San Carlos Road in Carmel, the preview auction starts at 10:00 AM PDT August 13, and the live auction begins August 15, 2025. WHERE:  Quail Lodge’s West Farm Field27050 Rancho San Carlos RoadCarmel, CA 93923 LIVE AUCTION: Friday, August 15, 2025 at 10am PDT PREVIEWWednesday, August 13, 9am – 6pmThursday, August 14, 9am – 6pmFriday, August 15, 8:30am – 11am Photos: Michael Kahn. Modern Hypercars Lead the Sale The 2025 auction centers around The Future Classics Collection, a remarkable assembly of 24 modern vehicles valued at over $30 million, all offered without reserve. This unprecedented

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Automobilia Collectors Expo & Auction: A Must Visit for Monterey Car Week

The Automobilia Collectors Expo, held from August 11–13, 2025, during Monterey Car Week, marks a new chapter in automotive culture, blending rare collectibles, community, and a live auction that has quickly become a must-attend event for enthusiasts and industry leaders alike. Located at Embassy Suites Monterey Bay in Seaside, CA, the Expo is one of the largest event of its kind in North America, drawing collectors and vendors from around the world for an immersive celebration of automotive history and memorabilia. The Expo features more than 425 rare lots, ranging from vintage posters and scale models to original artwork, period rally plates, badges, and showroom displays. Over 27 top-tier dealers guarantee an authentic and eclectic mix curated for both seasoned

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Monterey Car Week 2025: Events Schedule

Monterey Car Week returns August 8-17, 2025, with ten days of world class automotive events spanning the Monterey Peninsula. This events schedule and guide provides event listings with addresses, times, and pricing to help you navigate this legendary celebration of automotive excellence. Events by Date Friday, August 8 Saturday, August 9 Sunday, August 10 Monday, August 11 Tuesday, August 12 Wednesday, August 13 Thursday, August 14 Friday, August 15 Saturday, August 16 Sunday, August 17 Events by City Carmel Carmel Valley Monterey Pacific Grove Pebble Beach Salinas Seaside Free Events Only 14 Completely Free Events Paid Events by Price $89 – $400 Range $650 – $750 Range $800+ Premium Events Variable Pricing (TBD) Most auctions and specialty events have pricing

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#267, The Voice: John Kraman talks Mecum Auctions, Monterey

John Kraman knows the car auction business as well as a broadcaster. He’s the senior member of the Mecum Auctions team and the only announcer who’s been on all 16 years of the country’s largest automobile auctions broadcast. He’s our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. With broadcast colleagues and varied responsibility crew, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Kraman the auction’s participation Aug. 17-19 in Monterey Auto Week. Mecum is the only daytime auction during what is now nearly a two-week celebration on the Monterey Peninsula of all things automotive. The Monterey stop on the Mecum Auctions nearly yearlong circuit is the company’s smallest in volume. About 600 vehicles are sold in three days. But

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Celebrity cars, big money in Monterey Auto Week

Michael Schumacher, the retired seven-time Formula One world titlist, hasn’t been in public for nearly a decade. He suffered major head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013 and was placed into a medically induced coma. But Schumacher’s unmatched career legacy remains, in keen focus via his son Mick, a current F1 competitor. Among the cars the elder Schumacher drove is a Ferrari F300, Chassis No. 187. It was driven by the German champion in his four victories during his 1998 World Championship season. Equipped with a 3.0-liter V-10 engine, a maximum engine speed of 17,500 rpm and producing 800 horsepower, the supercar will be among several celebrity vehicles offered for auction in August during Monterey Auto Week. Like real

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#233, WeatherTech Raceway set for Monterey Auto Week

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:40 — 42.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has a diverse annual motorsports calendar. It began this year in April with the Trans Am Superfest and continues through mid-October with the Velocity Invitational. Next month is the busiest time of the year with the iconic facility heavy into the mix of Monterey Auto Week. Barry Toepke, Director of Heritage Events & Public Relations at WeatherTech Raceway, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. A guest three times previously, Toepke shares with co-host Bruce Aldrich in Episode #233 the upcoming schedule, notably the Monterey Pre-Reunion (Aug. 13-14) and Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (Aug. 17-20). The annual

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Monterey Auto Week returned to glory with cars galore

Monterey Auto Week has a problem, and it’s about as good as it gets. After a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19, the return edition ended Sunday, August 15 with the 70th anniversary of the Concours d’Elegance. It was the grand finale to a now 10-day occasion of about 30 events. And therein the issue for automotive enthusiasts gathering on the Monterey Peninsula: Where do we go and what do we all do first? How do we prioritize? Isn’t it great to have choices? Bruce Aldrich and I have represented The Weekly Driver website and podcast at Monterey Auto Week for several years. I’ve attended various auto shows, racing, auctions and related events on the peninsula since 1987 while contributing content

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#193, Monterey Auto Week: Classic cars, Classic owners

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:50 — 41.0MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More Donald Osborne is an opera singer, museum CEO, international business owner and one of the voices of the Concours on the Avenue in Carmel, California. He knows cars and people and the gift of gab. Osborne recently returned from Europe but in plenty of time for Monterey Auto Week. The coronavirus and its variants are in different stages in Italy and England, where he attended globally renowned automotive events. On Tuesday morning, Aug. 10, the proprietor of Audrain Auto Museum in Newport, R.I., was in his usual perch nearly the judging platform on Ocean Avenue, looking dapper in his official blazer, bowtie and

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Monterey Auto Week: sensory overload for all things cars

Monterey Auto Week is the umbrella name for all things automotive collectively presented for 10 days during mid-August. It all began with the Pebble Beach Road Race in 1950. The races were called “The Del Monte Trophy” and were held on the twisty, leafy and narrow Pebble Beach roads. The series lasted until 1956. The Concours d’Elegance, now the world-renowned finale to international collections of races, rallies, auctions, memorabilia and car debuts, began as an afterthought. Now, Monterey Auto Week attendees have to make decisions. Where does a visitor go first? How many events can be taken in on any given day? Here’s a calendar of events for the 2021 edition of Monterey Auto Week. For details of events, click

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Bobby Rahal set to celebrate Indy Cars at Rolex Reunion

Bobby Rahal, the three-time Indy 500 winner who also won three consecutive Indy Car races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca beginning in 1985 will have a feature role at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Rahal will be part of the celebration of a historic Indy Car group that originally competed between 1963 and 1978. It will be run for the first time in an exhibition August 12-15 during Monterey Auto Week. The introduction of rear-engine Indy Cars, starting at the Indianapolis 500 in 1963, changed the sport. A front-engine car and its driver would never win the Indy 500 again after 1965. Rahal, who has Rahal Straight at the Laguna Seca racetrack named for him, will debut his recently restored

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Kaiser Darrin, 1954: Best Of Show At Concours On The Avenue

It was one of the first cars I noticed, and after looking at an estimated 200 other vehicles, the 1954 Kaiser Darrin was still my favorite at the recently concluded Monterey Auto Week. The Concours on the Avenue in Carmel was only presented for the second year in 2008. But it has come into its own, particularly with cars like the Darrin Owner John Nirenstein of Tiburon, California, showcased it on Tuesday, Aug. 12, the second day of the event. Kaiser Darrin: Art Decco on wheels Nirenstein, participating in the event for the first time. He bought the car 10 years ago and took 22 months to restore it. While soft jazz played in the background, the car got plenty

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#189, Sandra Button: Queen of the Pebble Beach Concours

Sandra Button has judged thousands of cars, Bentley to Bugatti, Maserati to Mercedes-Benz. But a masterpiece from yesteryear can still give the chairwoman of the Pebble Beach Concours a jolt. It happens early Sunday mornings when 200 cars emerge at Pebble Beach Golf Links for the annual homage to automotive beauty and tradition. “I have seen cars drive onto the field from the mist and thought, ‘that’s the one; that’s got a run for the roses,’ “said Button. Sometimes, I’m right and sometimes I’m not. Sometimes, they don’t even make it out of their class. “But I’ve been surprised many, many times seeing a car come around the corner onto the field and saying, ‘wow, what is that?’ It didn’t

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#188, Broadcaster John Kraman talks Mecum Auctions

John Kraman spends his work career immersed in automotive auctions. He’s the lead TV commentator and analyst for NBCSN during Mecum Auction broadcasts. He can barely curb his enthusiasm. There’s no doubt the broadcaster is ready for the return of the three-day Mecum Auction during Classic Car Week beginning Aug. 12. Kraman is my guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is on vacation, so Kraman and I discuss the upcoming Mecum Auction during Monterey Auto Week. “This pandemic really hasn’t slowed us down,” said Kraman. “We have been on the go. Our foot has been on the gas pedal, making adjustments to scheduling and having some safety issues we’ve had to deal with at

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Toyota Tacoma legacy: No. 1 million set for Mecum Auctions

Well into its mid-20s, it’s time for a Toyota Tacoma celebration. One truck fan may get the biggest gift — the one-millionth unit of the iconic small pickup truck. It was assembled Oct. 4, 2019, in San Antonio, Texas, and has been driven only 158 miles. The truck, which may reach a value of $100,000, will be for sale during Mecum Auctions‘ three-day presence at Monterey Auto Week, Aug. 12-14. A 1995 Toyota Tacoma cost between $17,000 and $19,000 new. Carrying lot #R285, the Army Green TRD Pro model will come with a letter from Toyota verifying its production number. That should help to solidify its value, as will the fact that this thing is nearly factory fresh. Toyota Tacoma:

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