Salon Privé is preparing to make history at Blenheim Palace this September with a major change to its prestigious Concours competition. This year, the Concours d’Excellence will take centre stage with an exciting development: for the first time in the event’s 21-year history, two separate Best of Show trophies will be awarded.

The new format reflects the changing tastes of collectors. Rather than asking a pre-war coach-built masterpiece to compete directly against a cutting-edge hypercar, Salon Privé will celebrate excellence in two distinct categories.

As a result, the event will crown winners in both the Concours d’Élégance and the newly expanded Concours d’Excellence. It will recognise the finest examples of classic and modern automotive design.

Why Salon Privé Is Changing Its Concours Format

The collector car market has changed dramatically over the past two decades.

Classic automobiles remain highly prized. However, limited-production supercars and hypercars have also become highly collectable. Many now enjoy the same level of appreciation as traditional concours entries.

Salon Privé believes the time has come to recognise these vehicles on equal terms.

Instead of selecting one overall champion, the event will now present:

Best of Show – Concours d’Élégance for classic cars built up to 2000

Best of Show – Concours d’Excellence for collector supercars and hypercars produced between 2001 and 2026

Both trophies will be presented during the Gala Dinner on Thursday evening. This will place modern collector cars alongside some of the world’s finest classics.

Classics Continue to Lead the Way

Although the competition is expanding, Salon Privé has made it clear that the Concours d’Élégance remains its highest traditional honour.

This category celebrates exceptional classic motor cars, with originality, presentation and historical importance continuing to play a central role.

The winner will also continue to represent Salon Privé at The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Awards. However, organisers have confirmed they may nominate either Best of Show winner in future years. This is because the collector market continues to evolve.

Modern Collector Cars Receive Their Own Spotlight

The new Concours d’Excellence reflects the growing influence of modern performance cars within the collector community.

Earlier this year, Salon Privé announced two new concours classes designed specifically for these exceptional machines:

Limited Production Supercars

Hypercar Heaven

Together, these categories celebrate vehicles that have shaped performance car development during the last 25 years.

To ensure fair judging, the competition will use the internationally recognised M100 judging system. Unlike traditional concours scoring, which places strong emphasis on originality, the M100 framework assesses contemporary collector cars using criteria better suited to modern engineering, craftsmanship and design.

Judging will take place across 2 and 3 September 2026.

Rimac Nevera Time Attack Makes Concours History

One of the biggest attractions at Salon Privé 2026 will be the arrival of the 2025 Rimac Nevera Time Attack.

It will become the first fully electric vehicle ever to compete in the Salon Privé Concours.

That achievement alone marks an important moment for the event. Yet this particular Nevera has an impressive story of its own.

Only 12 Time Attack editions were produced worldwide. This example is the sole car finished in a striking red and black colour scheme.

It also completed the longest journey ever undertaken in a Nevera. This journey covered approximately 2,700 kilometres from Yorkshire to Croatia’s Dalmatian coast. The achievement received personal recognition from Rimac founder Mate Rimac, further adding to the car’s significance.

Rare BMW Skytop Confirmed for the UK

Another highlight will be the arrival of the 2026 BMW Skytop, one of BMW’s most exclusive modern road cars.

Originally revealed as a concept at Villa d’Este, the Skytop attracted such strong demand that BMW approved a limited production run.

Only 50 examples will be built worldwide.

Even more remarkably, just two cars are expected to come to the UK.

The Skytop combines bespoke coach-built styling with a 617bhp twin-turbocharged V8. This makes it both an engineering showcase and a highly desirable collector’s car.

It will compete in the Limited Production Supercars class for the new Concours d’Excellence title.

Lamborghini Prototype Offers a Rare Piece of History

The 2019 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 Prototype 1 is another standout entry.

Unlike most development prototypes, which are dismantled once testing ends, this car survived.

It served as Lamborghini’s original engineering and development vehicle. The car completed more than 47,000 kilometres of factory testing before being restored by the manufacturer.

Today, it remains road legal and privately owned.

Its appearance at Salon Privé offers visitors a rare opportunity to see an important chapter in Lamborghini’s hybrid development programme.

The Sián will compete in the Hypercar Heaven class as it challenges for the inaugural Concours d’Excellence Best of Show award.

A New Chapter for the World’s Finest Collector Cars

According to Salon Privé Chairman and co-founder Andrew Bagley, the decision reflects how collecting has changed.

While beautifully coach-built classics remain central to the event, today’s enthusiasts increasingly value limited-production supercars and hypercars for their engineering, rarity and cultural importance.

By recognising both groups separately, Salon Privé aims to celebrate each on its own merits. This means the event no longer forces fundamentally different vehicles into direct competition.

The result is a Concours that better reflects today’s collector market. At the same time, it preserves the heritage that has defined Salon Privé for more than two decades.

What This Means for Salon Privé’s Future

The introduction of two Best of Show awards could mark an important turning point for concours events around the world.

Modern collector cars continue to rise in value and prestige. As manufacturers produce increasingly exclusive limited editions, these vehicles are becoming an established part of automotive history. They are no longer simply the latest performance models.

Salon Privé’s revised format recognises that shift without reducing the importance of traditional classics.

By celebrating both eras equally, the event broadens its appeal while remaining true to the elegance and exclusivity that have made it one of the UK’s leading concours gatherings.

Conclusion

Salon Privé 2026 promises to be one of the most significant editions in the event’s history. Introducing separate Best of Show trophies acknowledges how the collector car world has changed. At the same time it preserves the traditions that made the Concours famous.

From the historic arrival of the fully electric Rimac Nevera Time Attack to the exclusive BMW Skytop and the remarkable Lamborghini Sián Prototype, this year’s event offers an exceptional mix of heritage and innovation.

What do you think of Salon Privé’s new judging format? Should modern hypercars compete separately from classic collector cars? Which entry are you most looking forward to seeing at Blenheim Palace? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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