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Newport, R.I. – Aug. 6, 2025 – The Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week is back for another year, and organizers say this is the most ambitious edition yet. The four-day celebration of the automobile runs Oct. 1-4, with more than 150 judged cars at Fort Adams State Park, a new Supercar category, and several free events for the public.
The event began in 2019 with a simple mission: teach people about Newport’s deep ties to early American motoring. That history stretches back to the Gilded Age, when wealthy residents like Willie K. Vanderbilt raced imported sports cars on a horse track that now serves as Middletown Airport. The Vanderbilt Cup, born there in 1904, became the first major trophy in American auto racing and remained a fixture until 1968.
Today, the week is regarded as one of the world’s top concours events. “You’ll see beautiful styling and craftsmanship, and cars that are not only rare but important to the history of the motor car,” said Nic Waller, president of Audrain Group.
The biggest change for this year is the dedicated Supercar class. Waller describes these machines as “the most extravagant and showy automobiles in the world,” built in small numbers with engineering that pushes far beyond road-legal limits.
“Supercars test the very limits of what you can drive on the road,” Waller said. “See one on the street and within one minute people will be pulling out their phones and taking pictures.”
The class will skew toward raw power and radical design, with brands such as Bugatti, Lamborghini, Ferrari, and McLaren expected to feature heavily. These are vehicles that rarely appear together outside private collections or auto shows.
A total of 75 Supercars will take to Newport’s streets on Oct. 1, starting at Fort Adams and cruising along Ocean Drive. For many spectators, this will be the first chance to see these cars in motion rather than behind a velvet rope.
Another notable addition is a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, featuring four classes of American-built cars from the 1920s through the 1970s.
“There will be Chryslers, Lincolns, Shelbys, and sporting cars, as well as beautiful pre-war Packards,” Waller said. “These are really rare cars that you won’t see anywhere else.”
The display is part of a broader effort to highlight American automotive heritage, from elegant pre-war touring cars to the muscle-car era that defined a generation.
Beyond the judging field, the week includes a black-tie gala inspired by the original Casino Royale, hosted by Jay Leno. The event will take place at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and is expected to draw celebrity car collectors and industry executives.
There will also be a garden party at Rough Point, the former Newport mansion of Doris Duke, and a series of seminars covering topics like automotive design, restoration, and collecting. The Concours Village at the International Tennis Hall of Fame will feature a curated selection of historic vehicles from the Audrain Automobile Museum, along with vendors, food, and beverages.
While several signature events require tickets, organizers stressed that the public will have ample free access.
On Oct. 2-3, a special history of the Corvette will be displayed at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. That exhibit includes the 1967 Corvette Stingray still owned by President Joe Biden, a crowd favorite in previous years.
Cars participating in the Tour d’Elegance will also be parked along Bellevue Avenue, opposite the Audrain Automobile Museum, making it easy for passersby to see pre-war classics and modern exotics without entering the main grounds.
Perhaps the most popular free event remains “Cars & Coffee,” held at Fort Adams on Oct. 3. Organizers expect more than 1,000 cars to be on display, ranging from daily drivers to rare collectibles. Admission is free, and the atmosphere is deliberately low-key so families can wander, chat with owners, and enjoy the scenery.
Two road tours will highlight the week. The Supercars take to the streets Oct. 1 along Ocean Drive, and the Concours d’Elegance entries follow on Oct. 3. That route begins at Second Beach in Middletown, winds through the back roads of Aquidneck Island, crosses into Little Compton, then returns via Thames Street and Ocean Drive to Bellevue Avenue.
Waller said the tours appeal to both enthusiasts and casual visitors because they capture the romance of these machines. “Nobody has a story about their refrigerator, but everybody has a story about their car,” he said, quoting a line Jay Leno often uses. “We’ve taken that idea and broadened it out. If you love cars, you’ve got to be here.”
Organizers point to rising attendance and interest each year. What started as a niche gathering of collectors has turned into a destination event that brings vintage car lovers from across the country and beyond to Rhode Island.
Newport’s place in automotive history is well documented, but Waller says the week’s real purpose is simpler: to show that cars are more than machines. They are art, engineering, and memory.
“This week is a celebration of the car in all aspects,” he said. “Newport was very instrumental in the beginning of motor racing. It has a really important place in the history of the automobile in the U.S., if not the world.”
With the expanded Supercar class, the American anniversary display, and an array of free public offerings, the 2025 edition looks set to build on that legacy — and give visitors plenty of reasons to stop, stare, and snap a photo.
For a full schedule and ticketing details, visit audrainconcours.com.
