Monterey Car Week has no shortage of attractions, but Motorlux has been building a reputation for being one of its most immersive. Equal parts concours, culinary showcase and social gathering, the Wednesday night event early in the week leans into atmosphere as much as machinery—pairing Michelin-starred cuisine, 90+ point wines and curated automotive classes under the lights at the Monterey Jet Center.
For 2026, the formula remains, but the specifics have gotten even more interesting with the confirmation of this year’s classes.
WHAT TO EXPECT ALL ABOUT THAT CLASS
Among the themed displays—ranging from Bugatti’s “Le Pur Sang des Automobiles” to a 65th anniversary celebration of the Jaguar E-Type—it’s the inclusion of Group B rally cars that grabs our attention most.
For Audi aficionados, that’s likely the hook.
Group B is the era that helped cement Audi’s postwar place in motorsport history, where the Audi Sport quattro S1 and its short-wheelbase aggression redefined what was possible on loose surfaces. Group B is where competition and spectacle collided in a way that still feels unmatched today. Seeing those cars outside of a museum setting—presented as part of a broader lifestyle event rather than a strictly historic one—adds a different kind of relevance… and I’d wager that’s true even if no Audi offerings show up.
Will Audi models show up? That’s TBD. Motorlux organizer Hagerty hasn’t confirmed participation at this time and there aren’t a lot of genuine Group B Audi rally cars readily available in the USA. One known domestic example attended last year, albeit rolling across Bonhams auction stage. There’s also the one that belongs to Dirtfish owner Steve Rimmer, but that car was at The Quail in 2024 and just completed a run in Los Angeles at the Petersen Museum so there may be less motivation for Steve to bring his car.
Of course, that’s all conjecture, but it’s also context of what we know. As we read the class description, any Group B homologated Audi rally car will do, meaning quattro Rallye, Sport quattro S1 or Sport quattro S1 E2.
THE MOTORLUX APPROACH
Motorlux doesn’t operate like a traditional show field. The event is built around curated “vignettes,” where cars, food and design are intertwined. French-inspired Bugatti heritage sits alongside British icons, while bespoke luxury experiences round out the evening.
The addition of Group B machinery fits that format well.
FOR AUDI AFICIONADOS
If you’re already making the trip to Monterey for Car Week, Motorlux becomes an easy if not inexpensive add—not because it’s Audi-specific, but because it offers something adjacent that still resonates given the impressiveness and diversity of its lineup.
Audi’s identity has long been tied to moments like Group B. Even as the brand moves deeper into electrification and Formula 1, that rally-era DNA remains one of the clearest expressions of what made enthusiasts care in the first place.
Motorlux gives that era a stage, even if it’s sharing it with Bugattis, Jaguars and private jets.
THE TAKEAWAY
Not every stop at Monterey Car Week needs to be brand-pure to be worthwhile. Sometimes the value is in the overlap—the way different eras and disciplines intersect in a single space.
Motorlux 2026 looks like one of those moments.
And if Group B is part of the equation, it’s one that’s definitely worth seeing in person.