A “concours d’elegance,” meaning a competition of elegance, is a French idea that was the basis for today’s prestigious car shows. It began in the 17th Century with a Parisian parade of aristocrats’ horse-drawn carriages. Today’s concours d’elegance events have evolved into glamorous exhibitions of classic cars, supercars and ultra-luxurious vehicles. Now in only its third year, the Chantilly Concours d’Elegance draws some of the most innovative new concepts along with the most elite cars from all over the world.
Hosted at Chateau de Chantilly, the event features more than just cars. There’s a Concours d’Etat, with stylish cars from all over the world. The host location is a premier location for art as it is home to countless masterpieces and manuscripts. High-end fashion designers pair up with manufacturers, making this Concours event the most “haute couture” of them all.
The 2016 Chantilly Concours d’Elegance was held on September 4th. A total of 850 vehicles were entered in the show. Judges had to select just a few that stood out about the rest.
Check out these 10 incredible automotive specimens from the show:
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Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Lamborghini Miura P400 was prominently featured at the Chantilly Concours. At the time of its release in 1966, the Miura was the fastest known production car. P400 describes the powertrain: “Posteriore 4-liter.” It’s a V-12 engine that produces 350 horsepower, transversely mounted behind the driver and cast as one piece with the gearbox.
It’s widely accepted that the Lamborghini Miura began the trend of mid-engine two-seater sports cars, and its sexy, sleek appearance is still gorgeous by today’s standards.
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The 2016 winner of the “Prix Public” award, or viewer’s choice award, at the Chantilly Concours was the Vision Mercedes Maybach 6. After making its debut at Monterey Car Week, it once again stole the show in Chantilly. This concept is a glimpse into the future for Mercedes Maybach, while incorporating throwbacks to the glorious classic Mercedes-Benz coupes of days past.
The gullwing design is iconically Mercedes, while the interior is like something out of “The Fifth Element.” Futuristic controls and seating are revealed when the doors are opened. Sitting in the driver’s seat, you’d almost expect the car to be flown, not driven.
On display at the Chantilly Concours was a 1957 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta Competizione TdF, winning the “Tour de France 1951-1964” class. It’s the long wheelbase example of the Ferrari 250GT, aptly nicknamed Tour de France after the model competed in the 10-day race. Only 77 TdF models were built, many of which were track-bound cars.
The Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta Competizione features a 3.0-liter V-12 engine. It combined classic sports car design with a lightweight engine. The 250 designation is actually the displacement (in cc’s) of a single cylinder!
A famous engine builder from France began building ultra-luxury cars in the 1920s. This 1926 Torpedo Sport was one such example. Taking cues from prestigious manufacturers like Rolls-Royce, the Torpedo Sport was a coach you wanted to be seen in. It was powered by a six-cylinder 3.0-liter engine, although performance was definitely not its main attraction. This particular George Irat took home the Authenticity Prize from Chantilly for its original condition and patina of age, which have both come to be highly valued in today’s classic car scene.
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The Aston Martin DB4 GTZ from the early 1960s is a stripped-down version of the DB4 GT…literally. Zagato lightened the DB4 GT to make it faster and nimbler. Many steel parts were replaced with aluminum. Some items, like the bumpers, were simply removed.
The DB4 GTZ has a straight-six 3.7-liter engine with dual spark ignition, pumping out 314 hp. The Aston Martin DB4 GTZ is capable of 0-60 miles per hour in 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 154 mph. That’s still very respectable, even by today’s standards.
Meet your Best in Show co-winner. The DS E-Tense is a luxury electric coupe, the brainchild of European manufacturer Peugeot-Citroen. It was first unveiled this year in Geneva with much fanfare. It’s easy to see why, both on the outside and inside, as well as underneath.
The DS E-Tense’s striking design was inspired by jewelry, which is why sharp angles, diamond shapes, and sharp contrasts are prevalent. The seats feature a watchband design and there’s even a watch integrated into the interior that can be removed and worn. What makes the E-Tense tick is an electric powertrain. Electric motors producing 396 horsepower make the DS luxury car a four-second-to-sixty all-wheel-drive performance car. Watch out Tesla!
A bespoke McLaren 570GT sat on display in Chantilly as well, paired well with the classy fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier. The Special Operations team at McLaren put a few touches on the recently-released 570GT that sets it apart. Piano-black accents adorn the door sills and bumper insert. The exhaust is 30 percent lighter than stock, and heat shields are coated with golden titanium nitride tint to discolor tastefully with heat.
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An homage to the DB4 GTZ, the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato has gone from concept to production. A limited run of 99 vehicles will be built. Aston Martin has collaborated with the Italian design company four times before. Perhaps the sexiest model to ever come out of Aston Martin, the Vanquish Zagato is so much more than just looks.
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vNearly 600 horsepower from its 6-liter V-12 engine push the Vanquish Zagato to 60 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds. The bodywork is made of carbon fiber panels to reduce weight. The roofline features the now-iconic double bubble, which originally came about because Zagato racing drivers needed a little extra space for their helmets in the tight confines of the cabin.
The pinnacle of the Rolls-Royce lineup, the Wraith Black Badge is the most sultry car you can imagine. While black is nothing new to Rolls, blacked-out chrome, badges, and wheels are intended to appeal to a younger ultra-wealthy demographic. In addition, the Wraith Black Badge is tuned to produce 40 extra horsepower, rounding it up to just over 600hp. The transmission gets a remapping for swifter response, and the brakes are larger for improved stopping power. Bentley Continental GT Speed, you have a competitor!
Sharing the spotlight with the DS E-Tense as Best in Show co-winner, the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Berlinetta is a spectacular specimen. Coachwork was created by Touring, and it’s exquisite. It embodies the heart of the Grand Touring style because the 8C was not only fast, but comfortable. It has a long chassis for smooth cruising and a V-8 for plenty of power and acceleration. Only 32 were ever built. This Alfa perfectly embodies an era of elegance and backs it up with high performance. It would have been the perfect way to enjoy the last year before war struck the continent and the world…
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