With summer now in bloom, and a prestigious event seemingly taking place every week, it wouldn’t take long for you and your machine to rack up some serious miles as you meander from iconic shorelines through to architectural masterpieces alike. Last weekend saw Sweden pick up where the shimmering waves of Lake Como left off, as the motoring world headed to the dream-like surroundings of Norrviken Gardens in Båstad for The Aurora Concours 2025. For only its second year in running, this laidback yet oh-so-stylish event has grown in size, quality and popularity, with an estimated 15,000 visitors flocking to the manicured gardens across the weekend.
Among the sea of supercars and icons, which included some of the world’s rarest machines from McLaren, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz and just about everything in between, like last year, there was one home-grown brand that took centre stage. Koenigsegg’s outrageous creations could be seen at every corner of the mansion’s grounds, with crowds swarming to one in particular – the Sadair's Spear, which had its world premiere at the event. Named in celebration of the horse that Jesko von Koenigsegg rode during his final race in 1976, the car is designed to be 100% focused on outstanding track performance and all-out power, with only 30 examples being produced. The brand’s founder Christian von Koenigsegg could be seen soaking up the atmosphere and spending some time with his adoring fans throughout the weekend, proving that the Aurora Concours really did showcase the very best of Sweden’s supercar scene!
Whether you experienced them battling it out at Le Mans, or witnessed them in the museum, the chance to come face-to-face with a BMW Art Car is an unforgettable moment. The Aurora Concours is all about making those seemingly impossible dreams a reality, with BMW Classic presenting four of arguably the most striking Art Cars at the event. Andy Warhol’s hand-painted BMW M1 could be seen alongside a fan favourite – Jeff Koon’s M3 GT2, which gives the illusion of top speed, despite being parked up! For fans of art, BMW’s icons and motorsport history alike, seeing such special machines all together, surrounded by a truly gorgeous setting, is exactly what makes this event so enjoyable!
With the event in full swing, the thousands of visitors were treated to a carefully curated array of cars that weren’t just parked and admired all weekend, but driven along some of the region's breathtaking scenery on the Aurora Tour. Iconic BMW 507s, modern-era RUFs, mid-century Ferrari masterpieces and sleek supercars all took part in the drive, which spanned winding open roads as well as tricky woodland lanes, ending with a blast along an open airfield that allowed the cars to chase after their top speeds.
After the tyre smoke and adrenaline had subsided, it was time for the competition to really begin along the manicured lawns of Norrviken Gardens. The Aurora Concours is, as the name suggests, a chance for some of the finest machinery to go head-to-head infront of a panel of industry-leading judges, and it seems the heat was on to find the best in show. Against stiff competition, winners in each carefully curated class emerged, including Best of Show in the classic car category going to a vibrant 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400. This fully restored early “thin chassis” example was finished in Rossa Miura, with its V12 rebuilt to factory spec and interior re-trimmed in Italy. On the other end of the scale, the 2025 Koenigsegg CC850 claimed Best of Show in the Hypercar category. This just so happened to be the very first customer-delivered CC850, finished in a matching specification to the first-ever production Koenigsegg, creating a perfect link between the Swedish brand’s past and future.
The awards came thick and fast, with the ‘Restomod Glory’ award going to the 2025 Kimera EVO38 “Aurora”, which was unveiled for the first time at the event. A favourite among the Classic Driver team claimed the Zagato Class – an Iso Rivolta GTZ. This aluminum-bodied, supercharged V8 machine boasts hand built coachwork by Zagato and serves as a modern tribute to the Iso Grifo A3/C. Other awards were given to the Talbot-Lago T14 LS, a perfectly-specced Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder, and a one-of-29 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Alloy” from 1956. The coveted Jury’s Choice award went to the 1938 Lancia Astura Gran Lusso by Pininfarina, which is believed to be the first of just five or six made. First shown in Berlin in 1939, then hidden in Sweden for decades, this incredible machine is a true survivor with Art Deco elegance at its core.
After its success at the 2024 event, Aurora Talks returned to give a welcome break for those looking to sit back and absorb a wealth of fascinating facts and anecdotes from industry insiders. Classic Driver’s CEO JP Rathgen was once again on hand to fill the stage with laughs and stories, alongside a plethora of influential guest speakers who all brought their own experiences and memories of the cars they love. Here’s how JP summarised The Aurora Concours, “In just two years, the Aurora team has pulled off an event that many wouldn’t be able to achieve in five. We are beyond happy to be part of the Aurora Concours family and to be involved in this amazing journey. Celebrating the greatest megacars alongside rare and exceptional classic cars - all in one event - is simply extraordinary.”
Photos by Keno Zache
