Top Marques Monaco 2025: The Art of Speed and Sophistication

Sufia Kiekbaeva

In a principality where excellence is an expectation rather than an aspiration, the 20th edition of Top Marques Monaco offered a masterclass in curated luxury. From 7 to 11 May 2025, the Grimaldi Forum opened its doors to collectors, innovators, and connoisseurs of velocity and design, presenting a meticulously assembled lineup of the world’s rarest automobiles, bespoke timepieces, and hyper‑tailored innovations.

The gravitational pull of this year’s edition lay not only in its global unveilings—ten in total—but in the evolving character of the event itself. No longer simply a supercar exhibition, Top Marques has evolved into a full-spectrum luxury experience, where heritage, futurism, and craftsmanship coexist in a uniquely Monegasque harmony.

Among the most discussed premieres was the Laffite LM1 “Monaco Edition”—a 1,000-horsepower, V8 mild-hybrid track-only supercar draped in a design echoing the Monegasque flag. The model’s philanthropic connection to the Princesses Charlene and Stéphanie foundations added a meaningful counterbalance to its fierce aesthetics. It shared the spotlight with the elegantly reimagined Aston Martin Vanquish Volante and the revivalist Saoutchik Legacy, whose silhouette paid homage to the vanished artisans of French automotive haute couture.

The Classic Cars Hall offered a slower, richer tempo—anchored by legends such as the 1964 Iso Grifo A3C and a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT California SWB, the latter valued at over €14 million. These were more than vintage vehicles; they were cultural artefacts, brought into dialogue with the present through immaculate preservation and provenance.

In parallel, the show extended its reach beyond four wheels. A 12-metre Brabus motorhome priced at €1.2 million stood as a sculptural testament to modern nomadism, while luxury horology and fine jewellery by names like Astréas, Terzihan, and C.C. Watches drew discerning eyes and discreet transactions.

This year also marked a strategic expansion: the integration of Top Marques into Informa’s global luxury events portfolio, with whispers of a Middle Eastern edition already in motion. It’s a move that could recalibrate the geography of prestige automotive gatherings, bringing Monaco’s signature elegance to new capitals of wealth.

And yet, amidst the carbon-fibre exteriors and velvet VIP lounges, the festival retained a measure of warmth and accessibility. LEGO masterclasses, the Carspotter Awards, and interactive family installations spoke to a broader, more inclusive idea of aspiration. Influencer GMK’s guest appearances underscored the show's increasing dialogue with digital culture, where automotive dreams are as likely to be forged on TikTok as on the tarmac of Monte Carlo.

Attendance surpassed 30,000 this year, a milestone that affirms Top Marques’ dual identity as both insider conclave and public theatre. For those who navigate the intersection of engineering and elegance, it remains an annual pilgrimage—intensely photographed, discreetly transacted, and always impeccably timed.