Monterey Car Week 2023
August 30, 2023Big waves were made at this year’s Monterey Car Week…
The Rolls-Royce Spectre made its North American debut as the brand’s first fully-electric offering. This ultra-luxury electric coupe is the first step towards their goal of full electrification by 2030.
Another British icon, Bentley launched the Bentayga Extended Wheelbase Mulliner. Serving as their new luxury flagship, the Mulliner features a Double Diamond front grille, unique 22-inch wheels and nearly 4,000 possible tri-tone interior color combinations.
Also making appearances were some new rides from the other side of the Pacific…
Acura revived the ZDX nameplate, now their first all-electric model. Built on GM’s Ultium platform, it uses the same 102 kilowatt-hour battery from the Cadillac LYRIQ. There will be single-motor and dual-motor A-Spec trims, plus a 500 horsepower Type S variant, making it Acura’s most powerful SUV ever.
INFINITI pulled the curtains back on their QX Monograph Concept, which flaunts their evolving design language and new 3D-emblem. The QX Monograph is relatively minimalist, inspired by the brand’s Japanese heritage.
And in American auto news at Monterey…
Ford surprised everyone with the 2025 Mustang GTD. This street-legal performance car uses a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 for an estimated 800 horsepower, paired to a rear-mounted 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Suspension changes and aero elements are extensive, key to Ford’s targeted sub-7-minute Nurburgring lap times.
Finally, Cadillac showed the Escalade IQ, bringing this iconic nameplate into the electric age. Its 200 kilowatt-hour battery pack powers the dual-motor all-wheel system for an estimated 450 miles of range and up to 750 horsepower.
And that’s it for this week’s Motor News.